Here’s a good example: and our next bridge.

I decide on a fitting cross-section acrossthe hole in our ear, then create two adjacent polygons [select + p]. Tada, a bridge.

Now I knife ‘em [‘Shift-k’] according to how many polygons I think I’ll need.

Tweak...

.. and then just fill in the gaps.

Here I’ve left a triangle selected: a good reminder to talk with your TD: if he’s a Maya-guy (sorry girls, but TD’s always seem to be guys) he just may have a tick about triangles. I’ve never gotten a good explanation why this is, but I suspect it has something to do with their childhood. ;-) Back to Lightwave!

Now that the geometry allows for all contours, tweak that stuff around and get happy with it in perspective.

Here (above) I’ve gone one step further and selected the cartilage along the rim for a smooth shift [Shift F]. Now we’re rocking!

To the left is our second good example, and our next bridge.

This one may not seem as logical as the first, but trust me. Three knife cuts and three polygons later we’ll have...

...this!

...A!

Ah, I see you’ve been listening!

‘B’ won’t get you arrested or anything, but it’s kind of like painting yourself into a corner. After filling the corner, you are forced to appease two contours at the same time - and if you’ve ever had two bosses telling you what to do, you’ll understand that this is not a joy-filled proposition.

And modeling should be enjoyable!

Building on the same steps as before and the bridge we’ve just made, we quickly close the upper half of the ear. (Below)

This is one tool I have to recommend. Not only does it sound groovy, it helps you to see the contours of your model. Simply apply it to problem areas and see how many 4-point-polygon variations are possible using six points. (Below)

.

So, enough small talk. Using the same approach as before, I fill the bottom half of the ear and smooth shift that cartilage knob that seems to sprout long, wiry hairs even as we speak. Well, this one does, because its gramps' ear.

Now I can pick up the tempo. Soon, we will be awash in polygons! Select the points consecutively around the edge of our ear and press ‘e’ to activate the nifty POZextender tool by David Ikeda. (Right)

Note: this image reveals that I previously used the make ply / smooth shift vartiation. Thank you David!

 

Extend the edges of the ear, stretch then extend again. Our ear grows in no time! (Below)

Coming soon !

The rest of the head is yet to come, bare with me...