Human Evolution

Hominid reconstructions for Desperta Ferro

Client- Desperta Ferro Ediciones.

Production time- 3 weeks

2018

I decided to learn ZBrush to enhance my paleontological reconstructions, as this organic modeling tool is ideal for representing complex forms with a high level of detail. To apply my new skills, I chose a species that could create a personal connection with the viewer: Australopithecus boisei, a hominid at the base of human evolution, where glimpses of individuality and expression begin to emerge.

Have you ever observed a gorilla through the glass of its enclosure at a zoo? Who is observing whom? What thoughts lie behind that gaze?These questions stayed with me throughout the hours I spent developing this image, aiming not only to capture the anatomy but also the presence and introspection of this distant ancestor.

Months later, this illustration was featured in an article in Desperta Ferro magazine, marking the beginning of a collaboration that continues to this day.

Australopithecus boisei portrait.

For this reconstruction, the OH5 remains from Olduvai were used as the base, upon which the various facial muscles were positioned. This foundation served as the basis for the initial facial reconstruction, which was later refined in collaboration with specialists from Desperta Ferro magazine. Finally, facial hair was applied, using modern primates as a reference for the closest related group.

Reconstruction of the musculature based on the OH5 skeletal remains.

Facial hair explorations in Zbrush.

After establishing this initial contact with Desperta Ferro, I was invited to illustrate a scene featuring Homo habilis using the earliest tools of the human lineage. This illustration was designed to accompany a collection of different types of Oldowan lithic industry in the form of a simple infographic. This project allowed me to explore not only a facial reconstruction but a full-body depiction, once again created using ZBrush and refined with overpainting in Photoshop.

Composition of Homo habilis with a colletion of Oldowan lithic industry, as shown in a single page of Desperta Ferro magazine.

For the depiction of lithic industry pieces, I decided to expand upon the classical technique used to document archaeological findings, which relies on line drawings shaded with stippling. While preserving these fundamental elements of lines and dots, I enhanced the illustrations by incorporating color to represent the different materials in a more realistic and informative way.

Detail of the visual treatment of the lithic industry illustrations, using line and point enhanced with a realistic color palette with focus on the texture of the material.

These projects were a direct result of the evolution of techniques used in previous projects, where very basic models generated with ZBrush were later refined in Photoshop to achieve the desired level of detail. A good example of this approach was the portrait of Ardipithecus ramidus I illustrated for Quo México magazine in 2014, In which the hair was rendered using custom brushes created in Photoshop for the effect.

Portrait of Ardipithecus ramidus created for Quo México magazine in the early years of my career.

ROMÁN GARCÍA MORA

illustrator · 3D Art · infographic

Email: romangarciamora@gmail.com
Instragram @romangarciamora

© Román García Mora 2022

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