Vignettes – 3D Scenes

Vignettes is a series of 3D scenes I’m creating to improve my skills in environmental storytelling and 3d composition, and gain experience with the new Unreal Engine 5.

I started with the intention to create a VR scene of my apartment, to try and explain my process and how I think, but after a short time working on it, I realized I wanted to go in another direction. I split the scene out into two: The 3AM version of my apartment that my anxiety presents me with, and a grounding moment at a bus stop during a rain storm.

I built the scene by starting with a series of thumbnail Points of Interest, mini 2d-compositions that the viewer might see, like a sewer grate, shopfront, the doorframe with light radiating through the cracks, or the flickering monitors. Then I created a 3d environment where all of that would fit together, and from these created loose digital concept paintings to capture the feeling and most important elements of the scenes.

With more time, I would have liked to have the Room scene build up instead of starting at full bore, because I believe that’s important when utilizing psychedelia, but instead the bus stop scene had to serve that role.

I’d like for this to be an ongoing project where I continue to build my skills and add new scenes!