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Professional Character Design For Film

The Making Of "Div" With Ehsan Bigloo

Description

Designing characters and creatures for film and TV can involve many processes. Ehsan Bigloo, nominated as 'Best Creature Designer' for two consecutive years by the Concept Art Association, presents his tried-and-tested workflow when designing awe-inspiring creatures for the entertainment industry. Developing his own IP, this workshop details the making of Dîv, a demon character with supernatural strength and power that takes on a roughly human shape yet channels dark, supernatural powers. 


Beginning right where Ehsan likes to start any new concept, the first chapters detail how he approaches finding the initial thumbnails, shapes, and forms of a new creature using pencils on paper. Sharing thoughtful insights into his strategies as well as how he handles client feedback in the industry, the first segment of Ehsan’s workshop will help change the way you consider concepting your next design from scratch. 


After laying down his initial ideas using traditional media on paper, Ehsan takes his chosen concept design into the digital world, taking the initial sketch/concept into a 3D form using ZBrush to block out the model as he works through to the final render using KeyShot. All the while offering his industry tips, tricks, and insights, from his many years of experience working in the entertainment industry as a Concept Artist. 


As a bonus chapter, Ehsan takes his final creature into the Unreal Engine to demonstrate, from a designer's perspective, the creative possibilities available to you when you import a character into Unreal and set up some atmospheric lighting. 


This workshop is designed for aspiring and professional Character/Creature Designers, Concept Artists, Digital Sculptors, IP developers, as well as anyone interested in visual character-based storytelling.


Duration: 3h 35m

Format: HD 1920x1080

Ehsan Bigloo

Sr. Concept Artist, Character FX Designer & Director

Ehsan Bigloo is a Senior Concept Designer specializing in creatures, characters, armor, costumes, and cinematic shot designs for the entertainment industry. He has worked on least 25 movies and 12 TV shows, including Men in Black: International, IT Chapter Two, Love and Monsters, Dark Phoenix, The Prey, Archive 81, Resident Alien, and Morbius


Ehsan was a one of the lead creature designers on The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power and also on Kingdon of the Planet of the Apes (2024). In addition to film and TV, he has created concept designs for AAA game companies, including EA BioWare, Wizards of The Coast, Archetype Entertainment, and Riot Games, to name a few. More recently, Ehsan worked at ASC as Lead Concept Artist on projects including the “DIVE,” “THE EYE: Calanthek,” and "Nexus" short films. 


He is currently working as a Freelance Concept Artist and Visual World Development Artist. He has worked with practical FX shops and is familiar with digital prosthetic designs and pre-production concepts for SPFX. Ehsan also has an extensive traditional art background in figurative drawing, clay sculpting, and oil painting, and specialized in surreal figurative art and human anatomy. He has always loved reading history, literature, movies and filmmaking and, growing up in the 80s, it was the behind-the-scenes insights into SFX movies like Alien, E.T., Star Wars, The Thing, and The Terminator that inspired him to become a high-end Hollywood creature designer and monster maker. 


Ehsan is a member of Visual Effects Society (VES) and Local 800 (ADG). Learn more him and see more of his work at Ehsan at ehsanbigloo.com.

  • In the over 30 years of my film effects industry experience, I have seen few new artists as skilled as Ehsan Bigloo. His understanding of traditional art and thorough knowledge of multiple digital applications and techniques have greatly impressed me. He would be a valuable member of any effects company.

    - Paul Mejias
    Special Effects Artist

  • Ehsan Bigloo stands a cut above as one of the most talented artists I’ve worked with. His ability to create awe-inspiring concept art that feels original and inspired has helped bring to life unforgettable characters and creatures across the entertainment industry. As a senior lead concept artist at ASC, Ehsan’s unparalleled dedication to the design process included in-depth exploration of a character’s purpose and motivation, allowing those discoveries to be reflected in the art. The result was an impressive portfolio of consistently stunning work that has been applauded by clients and industry leaders around the globe.

    - Aaron Sims
    Director and President of Aaron Sims Company