Artist Showcase: Celso Teixeira
A tribute to Derek Laufman’s "Crimson Fall" made with Shapelab
In 3D modeling, even veterans with decades of experience can hit a wall. For Celso Teixeira, a professional with 20 years in the craft – 16 of those in the animation industry – that wall appeared during a personal project inspired by Derek Laufman’s graphic novel, Crimson Fall. The solution didn’t come from the tools he had used for twenty years, but from a new perspective in VR. We spoke with Celso about his journey, his workflow, and how Shapelab became his “main sculpting tool” almost overnight.
Celso’s Journey to VR
Celso is no stranger to the evolution of 3D. Starting with 3D Studio Max, moving to Maya for industry work, and eventually adopting Blender for independent projects, he has seen it all. Throughout his career, ZBrush was his main “sidekick”. However, the shift to VR sculpting fundamentally changed his approach to character design.
“I knew about Shapelab before, but I ended up not trying it for years,” Celso says. “Now that I did, it turned out to be the best fit for my workflow and style.” After only a few months, Shapelab has already become his primary tool for blocking and designing characters.
The Project: Derek Laufman Character Statue
The inspiration for his latest project was personal. A fan of artist Derek Laufman, Celso wanted to sculpt the main character from Crimson Fall. When he learned Laufman would be attending Toronto Comicon, the study project turned into a mission: create a high-quality physical statue to present as a gift. The road wasn’t easy. Celso initially struggled with other tools, feeling frustrated and “bored”. That’s when he turned to Shapelab:
“Not only did it make the process fun again, I was able to get clean results way beyond what I was able to do with other VR sculpting tools.”
The Digital Workflow: From Paper to VR
Celso’s process is a blend of traditional and cutting-edge technology:
- Sketching: He begins on paper to set his mind on the right track.
- Blocking out in Shapelab: Jumping into VR, he keeps things “loose and gestural.” He treats digital spheres like lumps of clay, using the Move Brush to find the silhouette and the Pinch Tool to create sharp, stylized transitions.
- Refining in ZBrush: Once the gesture is set, he moves to ZBrush for a final polish, though he notes that as he gets more comfortable in Shapelab, the need for this step is shrinking.
- Modeling in Blender: For hard-surface elements like the lighthouse or the base of the diorama, he relies on Blender’s box modeling capabilities
VR vs. Desktop
Celso offers a unique analogy for why VR is his preferred starting point. He compares VR sculpting to working with warm, soft wax or oil-based clay.
“VR for me is the initial gesture sculpting… where you are free to easily explore proportions. As the clay cools down and hardens, we move on to carving tools—that stage for me is when I prefer to use pen and screen.”
Tips for the Next Generation
For those looking to dive into Shapelab, Celso recommends a “struggle first” approach. He suggests spending a session simply exploring the tools without expecting a result. “Only then, after some struggle, I watch tutorials. That way I tend to retain the information a lot better.”
A Successful Surprise
Despite a grueling schedule of all-nighters and 3D printing hurdles, Celso successfully delivered the statue to Derek Laufman at Comicon. The result was a stunning physical manifestation of Laufman’s 2D art, made possible by the speed and intuitive nature of VR sculpting. Watch the video of Celso’s process and the delivery below.
More Images
About the Artist
Celso Teixeira is a seasoned 3D artist and animator based in Ontario, with over two decades of experience in the industry. Having spent 16 years working in professional animation, Celso has mastered everything from 3D Studio Max and Maya to Blender and ZBrush. Today, he is a passionate advocate for the VR sculpting revolution, using tools like Shapelab to bridge the gap between traditional “clay-like” intuition and digital precision.
Learn more about the artist:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celsofx/
- Website: https://www.guara.ca/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@celsofx
Inspired to start your own journey in VR sculpting? Learn more about Shapelab and start creating your masterpieces today: