Oscar Schmidt Autoharp
For this project, I designed a highly detailed 3D model of the iconic Autoharp by Oscar Schmidt. This work was an exploration of realism, lighting, and texturing, with a focus on achieving a professional-quality finish suitable for both artistic and technical showcases.
I created this model in Blender and rendered it in Cycles to capture every nuance of the original instrument. The renders showcase a photorealistic finish, emphasizing textures, lighting, and material accuracy.
The Autoharp was first invented in the late 1800s. It was created as an easier-to-play alternative to the guitar, making music accessible to households without musicians.
The wood, metal, and plastic textures, as well as the logo, were created using a combination of Photoshop and Substance Painter.
Shortly after the popularization of the radio, the Autoharp's popularity rapidly declined, leading it to become the largely forgotten instrument it is today.
Modeling the Autoharp involved blocking out its basic form using simple shapes to establish proportions, then adding details like the bridge, strings, and tuning pegs. The plastic bridge and wooden body were modeled separately for precision, with the surface refined through subdivision surface techniques to achieve smooth, realistic curves.
The 36 strings were modeled using curves, then converted low poly cylinders to ensure that they were the exact width and wrapped around their respective tuning peg realistically.