Top 30 Digital Characters created using Mari texture painting tools

Late last year Foundry released a new version of their 3D texture painting software – Mari 5.0. The release features fundamental USD advancements, improved artist tools, and enhanced procedural workflows to reduce pipeline friction and boost creative collaboration.

With all these crazy new features, we thought it would be a good idea to dig and find our favourite projects that Rookies have shared with the community. There were so many to choose from, but here are some of my faves.

Digi Double

Created by: Laura Salomoni
Member Level: rookie

I learnt a lot on this project, about both 3D related things and things on my face ! Overall, it was a very fun project which I enjoyed creating. I used Photoscan and R3DS Wrap for the modeling part, Mari and Photoshop for the texturing, Xgen for the grooming.

Zojja

Created by: Pascal Kuhn
Member Level: contender

This my fan remake of the character Zojja from Guild Wars 2. It's ready for rigging and there will be more to come!

MAYA - GRADUATION SHORT

Created by: Alice Deverchère
Member Level: contender

This is Maya, the other main character of our short.

Theurgy

Created by: Elena Giuliani
Member Level: player

This is my Foundation final project Theurgy, done at Think Tank Training Centre and based on the amazing homonym concept made by Zeen Chin

The Flamingo Witch - 3D Art

Created by: Belén Amat
Member Level: player

Project in which I had to create a render that ressembled as close as possible a concept art of our choice. I chose N. Kim's illustration specially because it had various elements that could make me test and improve my skills, including being able to get the mood of the concept.

ICARE - GRADUATION SHORT

Created by: Alice Deverchère
Member Level: contender

Hi, here's some renders of the lookdev of our main character, Icare ! Hope you'll like it.

Heliotrope

Created by: Robin Isola
Member Level: contender

This is a personal project I've worked on these past two month. I've experimented with hand-sculpted micro displacement with the help of a few alphas and brushes. Hope you enjoy it. Oh, and Heliotrope as in the flower. The purple one.

Mad Mouse

Created by: Nayoon Levitin
Member Level: debut

I am new to VFX. With this final project for my advanced term at Think Tank Online, my skills and ability to deliver were significantly accelerated. Although this was a challenge that cost me sleepless nights and stressful moments, I am proud of the final product.

Grandpa

Created by: David Kwahk
Member Level: contender

Project done in Tran Ma's Texturing & Shading 4 class at Gnomon. Based off a concept by Liang Mark, I haven't finished recreating the whole piece but I'm calling it done for now so I can focus on other projects before graduation. Tran was an amazing instructor and I learned so much in her class.

The Fishman

Created by: Audrey Savany
Member Level: player

Personnal project in collaboration with Elliot Renet

John Payne | Real-time Character

Created by: Adam James Marlow
Member Level: contender

This is a Real-time game character model that I worked on personally. The goal of this project was to try and see if I can achieve in areas that I know I needed help in. You will see below what I have learned. This Character is supported with guidance by Vertex School, Ryan Kingslien and its lovely community.

Peaky Blinders Tommy Shelby

Created by: Bilguun Vorshilov
Member Level: contender

By order of Peaky Blinder I enjoyed series so much and felt like I need to contribute something for upcoming season 6. Looking forward to next season. This is my fanart for Peaky Blinder. I used Zbrush for sculpting, XYZ texturing, Substance Painter, Mari for projection. Rendered in Arnold Maya. Cavalry Eeh.

Knight Girl

Created by: Clemens Niklos
Member Level: player

Some more Character practice. This one took me a bit longer, but i definitely learned a lot!

Face!

Created by: Tobias Krantz
Member Level: contender

I'm proud of this one! While it is far from perfect, I think it is a decent start. I did a lot for the first time this while making this character, and I can't wait to start a new project with the knowledge i gained to keep learning and improving.

Valdis 3D

Created by: Nathanaël Langlais
Member Level: player

for my Advance term at Think Tank Online, Based on the concept Valdis by Christophe Young

Dwarf - Redwin of the forge

Created by: Alexandre Fulgoni
Member Level: contender

He's a 3D version of my prefered character from the french comic book series "Nains" edited by Soleil Productions, Redwin of the forge. I really love this character, so, it was a pleasure to work on this project and a great occasion to use and combine all the knowledge I acquired on my past project.

Farmer Boy

Created by: Michele Ahn
Member Level: player

A concept made in collaboration using Yunxiang Zhou's apparel design

Biker

Created by: ARGENTIERI Flore
Member Level: contender

I did this project at first to do some hardsurface modeling and when I finish the motorbike I decided to do a character which can match with it to challenge myself a bit more. Zbrush/Mari/Xgen/Arnold

Head Lopper Fan art

Created by: Aly Farroukh
Member Level: contender

Hey guys! Here's my take on one of my favourite comic book characters Head Lopper by Andrew MacLean.

DIGIDOUBLE | Realistic self-portrait

Created by: Aurélie DURET
Member Level: rookie

School project made during my third year at ESMA Toulouse. It was the first time for me to work on a realistic humain-being render. Every advice is welcome, all your opinions matter to me and to allow me to always do better in the future !

Mononoke princess

Created by: Ruslan Saitov
Member Level: player

Hi guys. This is my most recent personal project. I made this princess being inspired by concept of @astri.lohne. I always loved anime movies by Hayao Miyazaki, especially Mononoke princess which reminds us who we are. To stop harm the nature, forgetting that we are part of it.

Warrior - Surfacing project

Created by: Alberto Aragonés
Member Level: rookie

After a huge work, I’ve finished this guy. I’ve enjoyed the process so much and I learnt due to the different behavior between the two main shaders -skin and helmet- , in the tricky environment that I chose. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/albertoaragones3d/ Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/alberto_aragones

Jacquesphoenix_Portrait

Created by: Zhang Xiaoyue
Member Level: debut

This is the final I did for texture and shading03 in Gnomon teacher by Yinglei Yang: https://ying-lei.com/tagged/portfolio#137210985043 Special thanks for my friend Jared https://www.artstation.com/jaredfischler and teacher Tran Ma

Geisha

Created by: Sean Gardner
Member Level: rookie

Hey Everyone, I’m just finishing up my first demo reel class Gnomon School for VFX, Games, and Animation. Here’s a look at my latest piece called “Geisha”. I really like this concept art. It was like a mix of Blade Runner and Cyber Punk. Hope you guys like it! Original work by Patipat Asavasena

Army Man

Created by: Sanam Jokar
Member Level: player

Hi everybody! I have done my Army man project! This is so chalenging project to me and took me about 20 days of 3D modeling , texturing, UV and look dev. I know this is not perfect and could be better and I 'm trying to improve my skills 2D concept by : Drew Hill

Takashi

Created by: Luca Pro Leonhardt
Member Level: contender

One of the first projects done at Animum 3D school, it initally consisted of a ethnicity study. However, I found that the bust alone looked a bit empty, so I decided to add some extra clothes to give him some character and story. The character was modeled in zBrush, details aplied in Mari, aswell as the base skin Albed

Gandalf the Grey

Created by: Hazel Chui
Member Level: contender

A hi-res character model for a school project. From this project, I managed to try out many new things such as Xgen and texturing with xyz. Reference art by Hossein Diba

CG Me

Created by: Court Guillaume
Member Level: player

School project : make a realistic digital double

Peter Zoppi Likeness

Created by: Alex Cortijo
Member Level: player

This is my second attempt at Peter's likeness after I took his class on CGMA a few months ago.

Rosguard-2026

Created by: Vladislav Kokorev
Member Level: contender

This is the concept of the character "Rosguard-2026". It was created as a private project. It runs on Unreal Engine 4.

Woh! I know that was a lot, but hopefully it's inspired you to go have a play with this incredible piece of software. Follow the link to find out more

Mari 5.0 | Foundry

Mari 5.0 is now available. Experience fundamental USD advancements, improved artist tools for painting and texturing, and enhanced procedural workflows to reduce pipeline friction and boost creative collaboration across look development and lighting teams.

Foundry