Ashna Choudhury
3D Artist | Modeler | Programmer
The Cheese Bar
"Escape your worries and celebrate your joys down at the Cheese Bar! We are famous for our tasty beers, cocktails and cheese of all kinds. Open from 5PM - 12AM
As I work on developing and deepening my skills as a 3D Artist, I often get bogged down with the pressure to make work that will "stand out" or make a good portfolio piece. However what can be easily forgotten is that the best work is made when one is truly enjoying it. As Christina Faraj, Set Dresser at Pixar Animation Studios, said in a guest lecture I had the honor of attending, "Follow your Bliss!" When you follow your bliss, you grow the most as an artist.
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I came across the Cheese Bar concept art by some stroke of random luck, but when I did see it, I fell in love immediately. The artist, Soyun Park, did an incredible job in capturing my sense of curiosity, joy, magic, and yes my bliss, at the sight of a turned-over cardboard box filled with random items. I knew that it was a great piece to create, not just for my portfolio but for me.
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This project joyously became a collaboration piece with my close friend Beverly Pan. Not only is she one of the kindest and sweetest souls I have ever met, but she also happens to be one of the most talented Shading Artists I've ever had the pleasure of working with. I was deeply honored and humbled by her request to shade the Cheese Bar; I never imagined my modeling work could motivate and excite someone to work on a project the way that the original concept inspired me.
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Beverly and I both followed our bliss, and as a result, we made something wonderful.
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Responsible for: modeling, set dressing, exterior shading and lighting
Concept by Soyun Park | Shading by Beverly Pan
The original concept art by Soyun Park that inspired this project.
I came across this wonderful piece thanks to my co-worker and friend, Ali Yassin, who showed the concept as part of a Set Dressing Lecture we were giving for an Advanced Digital Animation Course.
It was love at first sight...I knew that I HAD to create this incredible set.
I first started by modeling all of the alcohol and beverage assets which admittedly proved to be a LOT of fun. It never occurred to me how unique bottle shapes can be and how some brands can be solely identified based on their distinct shape.
It was a fun excuse to google all kinds of creative and interesting drinks and incorporate them into the set. Beverly Pan, my close friend and Lead Shader on this project, did an incredible job in recreating a lot of the labels and logos seen on actual brands of alcohol while adding her personal touch to a lot of them.
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My personal favorites are Captain "Mouse"gan's Rum and Jacob n' Daniels Whiskey
It was abundantly clear from the concept that the artist had put a great deal of thought into the smallest (no pun intended) details.
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As I set out to model and set dress the rest of the piece I knew that I would have to adopt a similar line of thinking. What would mice use to build a shelf? What sort of seemingly mundane items would they treasure as decor? How would mice make something like a discarded cardboard box feel homely and welcoming?
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In the end, I had the most fun coming up with all kinds of creative answers to these questions and as a result the Cheese Bar became the warm and inviting place that the concept originally envisioned.
Some of my favorite additions were: the Soju keychain and hair clip as wall decor, hanging thimbles acting as the light source over the bar, popsicle sticks for swinging bar doors and the drink shelf, and the Cheese Assembly Station supported by a tin pencil case.
Finally, there was the exterior part of the set which for me solidified the warm and comforting feeling of this bar. The concept did a beautiful job in capturing the feeling of peering into a mysterious but beautiful and inviting world.
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I was incredibly happy with the final set, and combined with the lighting it really did recreate the wondrous magic and joy of the original piece.
