Orpheus Watch: 3D Modeling, Gobos in Lighting, and Greek Mythology Influence

I have now modeled the Orpheus watch dial design, which I posted about in my last post, into a 41 mm watch case and added a suitable strap. I don’t have much to write about the modeling process, as most of the complexity above general 3D modeling was discussed in this last post.

One thing I will discuss briefly in this post is the use of ‘gobos’ in my lighting set-up, and an outline of the beautiful story of ‘Orpheus and Eurydice‘… the influence of the design. But first, let’s have a look at some finished renders of my Orpheus watch model. These were all fully 3D modeled, designed, blocked-out, and rendered by myself in Blender 4.1.

Some Renders of the Orpheus Watch:

So back to the writing, what do I mean about gobos in Lighting for blender and 3D rendering? Gobos, short for “go betweens,” are physical or digital devices used in lighting to create patterns or shapes by blocking, coloring, or diffusing light. In the context of Blender and 3D rendering, gobos are a crucial element for achieving specific lighting effects and adding visual interest to the scene. By using gobos, artists and designers can manipulate the light to cast intricate patterns, textures, or even simulate environmental conditions, ultimately enhancing the overall visual impact of the rendered images. Whether it’s creating dramatic shadows, simulating natural elements like leaves or raindrops, or adding a touch of whimsy with custom patterns, understanding and effectively using gobos can take lighting in blender and 3D rendering to the next level.

So you see that reflection of light coming into the image, it looks like light or moonlight coming through a window onto my watch…that is created by me using a gobo of a window in my scene. Neat, eh?

To show you a more obvious example: below is an image I have quickly constructed basically by placing some random objects into an open cube (an open corner of a room) – a chess piece, a lyre, and a cube. Then I have cast a light into this open cube, or room corner, and converted it into a ‘go-between’, or gobo, of a reaching hand. This gives the nice and desired effect of the shadow of a hand reaching in to grab one of the objects, and shows the effect and power of using a go-between:

So what about Orpheus and Eurydice? The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is a tragic love story from Greek mythology. It tells the tale of Orpheus, a talented musician, and his beloved wife Eurydice. According to the myth, Eurydice was bitten by a snake and died shortly after their wedding. Distraught by her death, Orpheus journeyed to the underworld to plead with Hades and Persephone to allow Eurydice to return to the land of the living. Moved by his music and his love for Eurydice, Hades and Persephone agreed to let her go on the condition that Orpheus would not look back at her until they both reached the upper world. However, unable to resist the temptation, Orpheus looked back, thus condemning Eurydice to remain in the underworld. The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has inspired numerous works of art, literature, and music, and it continues to captivate audiences with its timeless themes of love, loss, and the power of music.

Notice in the watch hour and minute hands, the hour overhang has a Lyre motif to represent Orpheus, and the minute has a motif in a leaf-style, to represent Eurydice. The intricate design of the Lyre motif symbolizes Orpheus’s musical talents and profound connection to music and poetry, reflecting his ability to charm even the gods with his melodies. The leaf-style motif in the minute hand represents Eurydice’s close bond with nature and the earth, often considered in some writings as tree nymph, as well as her untimely departure into the underworld. Thus, the watch serves as a poignant reminder of the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice, where every hour symbolizes Orpheus’s bittersweet journey of joy and loss as he continually yearns to reunite with his beloved, only to have her slip away from his grasp once more!

That’s it for today, I hope you enjoyed the post!

Have a great day!😊

Kind regards