Project #2: Brainstorm

A few weeks ago, I attended a Faye Webster concert where I was captivated by a music video she projected during her performance. The whimsical, clay-like aesthetic of the 3D world felt like it belonged somewhere between a video game and a dreamscape. There was a childlike charm in the playful architecture and organic lettering that stuck with me. The experience reminded me of how digital spaces can evoke nostalgia, playfulness, and immersion all at once. As I dive into this project, I want to harness that sense of wonder to create something equally interactive and engaging.

In addition to my concert experience, I recently finished reading The Lord of the Rings series. The fantasy world of elves, goblins, and mystical beings feels especially relevant with Halloween approaching. This alignment of inspiration makes it the perfect time to design a holiday-themed TikTok filter. My idea is to model a pair of green elf or goblin ears that track a person’s head when they use the filter. The goal is to capture the magic and mischief of these fantasy creatures while keeping it accessible and lighthearted for a wide audience.

This project builds on my recent work in Blender, where I followed a tutorial to create a stylized cartoon head with pointed ears. The snapshot I shared reflects this early progress and serves as the foundation for the filter’s design. For the final product, I will isolate the ears from the head model and enhance them with intricate details and textures, giving them a vibrant green color. The decision to leave the ears unattached to a specific head is intentional, ensuring that the filter can be used by anyone, regardless of their race or skin tone.

Once modeled in Blender, these ears will be imported into TikTok’s Effect House, where I’ll integrate them into an interactive filter. The process of translating 3D assets into AR spaces feels like an exciting evolution of my digital art practice. This project allows me to explore not only 3D modeling but also the relationship between fantasy aesthetics and modern digital platforms. My hope is that the final filter captures both the whimsy of the Faye Webster video and the rich, fantastical energy that has stayed with me from Tolkien’s world.