iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 07/09/2026

What a phenomenal marker test. Your Terra turned out so nicely. I like that little inclusion of a magicite necklace.

Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 15/05/2026

Clingy Critter - Tried to capture that fluffy fox vibe that @silverfox5213.bsky.social does so well Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. www.deviantart.com/unexpectedto...

Little foxy critter reaching up and trying to get attention.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 10/05/2026

Held in Wonder - A little fuzzy orange dude gazing upward. The usual sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot.

Fuzzy orange fantasy creature gazing upward with a smile and furrowed brows.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 09/05/2026

Rumblegor – shaggy desert foragers that travel in small family groups. Part of a personal series of wildlife on an alien world 🪐 Sculpted in #Zbrush & rendered in #Keyshot #3Dart #creaturedesign #aliencreature

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 07/05/2026

Longraze – gentle herd creatures that wander the open dunes in slow, loping steps. They gather at rare patches of scrub and grass, one grazing while another keep watch with soft, curious eyes. Would you pet one? Sculpted in #Zbrush & rendered in #Keyshot #3Dart #creaturedesign #aliencreature

Alien herd creatures softly grazing on plant life between desert dunes.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 06/05/2026

This one fought me a bit - not fully happy with the final look, but I explored a lot of design ideas along the way. Original post: www.deviantart.com/unexpectedto...

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 06/05/2026

Back to my desert planet menagerie. 🪐 Nightmane - a solitary, dusk‑born predator surveying from high dunes. Sculpted in #ZBrush & rendered in #KeyShot. #art #3Dart #creaturedesign #fantasy

A digitally sculpted creature stands on a dune under a star filled sky. It has a compact, feline body covered in fur and scales. Sculpted in ZBrush and rendered in KeyShot

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 05/05/2026

Put a ton of effort into this one, trying to figure out how to make the logo work, framing the ditto with a proper silhouette. Getting the materials to work as intended in Keyshot. Building unique panoramas in Keyshot... Link to my DA post www.deviantart.com/unexpectedto...

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 05/05/2026

This one began as “explaining a game badly” and spiraled into a full #Pokopía vignette. The Hammer is a nod to Dragon Quest Builders, and the logo borrows the circular motif from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. I love when a #Zbrush sculpt turns into a story about misguided persistence.

A 3D Keyshot render of Ditto, the small purple amorphous Pokémon, sitting on a flat ground under a vivid sunrise sky. The horizon glows orange and pink, fading upward into violet and deep purple clouds. Ditto faces the viewer with its simple dot eyes and straight line smile, holding a large wooden hammer upright in its left arm. The hammer’s head looks carved from a tree trunk, with visible rings and creamy ridged texture resembling a swirl of wood or frosting. To Ditto’s right floats a large circular emblem colored in shades of lavender and violet. Two thick arrows curve around its outer rim, forming a continuous loop. Inside the circle, centered text reads “That Time I Started a Cargo Cult” in playful purple and gold lettering. The composition is balanced between Ditto on the left and the emblem on the right, both illuminated by warm light from the setting sun. The overall mood is whimsical and serene, combining soft pastel colors with a sense of quiet determination. Small copyright text appears along the bottom edge crediting the artist and Pokémon creators.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 04/05/2026

Spent waaay too much time with #Pokopia so I sculpted out a #Peakychu in #Zbrush She struggles so much in-game, slowly walking upright, dragging her tail, struggling pulling herself up a single block. She keeps going even when she isn’t interacting with the player at all. #pikachu #pokemon

Peakychu is a Pikachu who is mostly grey-white in color. The red of her electrical sacs and the black tips of her ears are mostly drained of their color. Her ears droop down rather than point upright, and will perk up slightly when expressing excitement. Peakychu has slightly larger eyes compared to usual Pikachu. Her tail is notable in that it is much smaller compared to others of her species. The tail is also curved by the end, a trait all female Pikachu have.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 03/05/2026

‪ Probably my next best piece of a re-imagining series of wildlife on an alien world 🪐

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 03/05/2026

Sandstrider – thick‑furred desert dwellers known for their steady pace and expressive personalities. Would you pet one? Sculpted in #Zbrush & rendered in #Keyshot #art #3Dart #creaturedesign www.deviantart.com/unexpectedto...

A fluffy quadrupedal alien creature in a desert world setting.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 01/05/2026

Put a ton of care into the paint and surface texture on this little guy. Seeing the final render come alive with that energy was really satisfying. Probably the best piece out of a re-imagining series of wildlife on an alien world 🪐

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 01/05/2026

Frillpup – a tiny alien desert burrower with the energy & curiosity of a corgi puppy. These reptiles spend half their day tunneling under warm sand, the other half popping out to greet anything that moves. Would you pet one? Sculpted in #Zbrush & rendered in #Keyshot #art #3Dart #creaturedesign

A happy alien reptilian critter with the energy of a corgi. Sculpted in Zbrush and Rendered in Keyshot

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 27/04/2026

"Snootling Gardener" A whimsical snooted character 😉 www.deviantart.com/unexpectedto... Sculpted in #Zbrush and rendered in #Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 26/04/2026

"Concerned Loaf" A floofy stylized kitty design 😹 Sculpted in #Zbrush and rendered in #Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #catart

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 26/04/2026

Believe me, I feel the same way about your username. 😁 what are the chances?

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 13/03/2026

"Ridges of the Stratum" A wonky little sci-fi critter in a ridged rocky landscape. 🪐 Sculpted in #Zbrush and rendered in #Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 13/03/2026

Awful luck too... He also picks the worst places to vacation.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 02/03/2026

"Quiet Skyward Pause" Just a drake sorting out its own thoughts beneath the wide open sky. 🐉 Sculpted in #Zbrush and rendered in #Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 27/02/2026

"Curious Visitor" Just soft, quiet, and charming... and is convinced you will share your snack. Sculpted in #Zbrush and rendered in #Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 26/02/2026

"Wanderer of Clover Hollow" This time combined menagerie of creatures into a fantasy design. Sculpted in #Zbrush and rendered in #Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 20/02/2026

Here is one of my most recent kobolds, a snow kobold named Camellia. ❄️

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 20/02/2026

"Camellia of The Snowfield" Camellia doesn’t chase warmth. She carries it.... ❄️ A #kobold character I had been meaning to work on for a while. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 18/02/2026

"The Quiet Want" Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 15/02/2026

Whatever floats your stoat - needed to make this one. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 13/02/2026

Toasty Stoat - Deeply pleased with how this one turned out. Began with spare bits from the prior project and worked it into something that feels like a mascot for toast itself. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

A stoat holding a small piece of toast with the text Toasty Stoat

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 11/02/2026

The Little Custodian - A small moment of responsibility. A little fluffy kobold with a friend. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 11/02/2026

Reflective Bun - This bunny sits in gentle contemplation. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign #bunny #bnuuy

A bunny I 3d sculpted in zbrush and rendered in keyshot

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 09/02/2026

Delighted Realization - That moment of joyful surprise. Really pleased how this one turned out, it took way way longer than I ever expected. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign www.deviantart.com/unexpectedto...

A fluffy critter caught mid leap in utter delight.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 08/02/2026

Cloud Curator Crisis 🌨️ A panicked little fantasy critter skitters across the cloud tops Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 07/02/2026

I really want to thank you for sharing this Q&A here. It got me thinking about characters might feel about their creators and the sort of questions they would have. A really great thought experiment.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 07/02/2026

Miblin Wanderer - An excuse to sculpt a little explorer character exploring a fanciful environment 🌱 Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 05/02/2026

Purrfectly Fluffy - A little floof kitten for a cold winter day. ❄️ Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign #kitten

a whimsical kitten design sculpted in zbrush. Mostly white fluff 🙀

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 05/02/2026

Are You Done Eating That - A hungry little fantasy world critter. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 04/02/2026

Have you incorporated Bert's likeness into your production work? (Hopefully the answer doesn't violate any NDAs)

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 03/02/2026

The Unspoken Pause - A little hopeful critter waiting with bated breath. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 02/02/2026

Sleepbound Dreamer - A wooly little wanderer, just looking for the right place to doze off. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

A fuzzy fantasy character that looks tired yet is waving hello.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 30/01/2026

Frumpy Mushroom Moppet - Another little critter made from leftover Zbrush project bits. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

A fuzzy critter sitting on a fanciful mushroom design.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 30/01/2026

Snoutling - The remnants of a haphazard creative project. Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 28/01/2026

Gator Guffaw - Been meaning to make a character pointing a laughing and finally got around to it. 🐊 #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign #sculpture

A stylized alligator that is pointing and laughing
This piece was sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in KeyShot

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 28/01/2026

I'm just happy you posted this older creation. I like the look in her eyes, you have captured something that I see every day and sort of forget about. (it's this sort of overwhelmed glazed over look my ferret gets in the morning when he gets his egg yolk.)

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 28/01/2026

Drowsel - This cozy character finally found the right spot for it's pillow. 💤 Sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot. #art #3Dart #zbrush #creaturedesign #characterdesign

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 24/01/2026

Wow that has to be the most regal version of her that I have ever seen. Fantastic work on the original costume design, and the tear jewel motif... wow.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 14/01/2026

Trying to get back into the swing of things by posting here. 😮‍💨

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 27/12/2025

Neat little Instagram video. But wait... so Blinky Galadrigal was wrong!? ("Don't think. Become")

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 15/12/2025

Thank you so much for this long-awaited reveal of the Scions of Chump. 🧬

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 10/12/2025

Thank you so very much 🎈🎉

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 10/12/2025

Celebrating 4000 Days of Art Creations! 🎈🎉 www.deviantart.com/unexpectedto... Almost each and every creation was 3D sculpted in Zbrush and rendered in Keyshot.

Bunny character in a presentation pose next to the words "Celebrating 4000 Consecutive Days of Art"

This is to celebrate Michael S Gibbons art achievement of 4000 days in a row of digital art creation.

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Michael S Gibbons @unexpectedtoy.com · 08/12/2025

A little singing mole riding a lizard. Sculpted in #Zbrush and rendered in #Keyshot. #art #oc #characterdesign #digitalart #cartoony #fuzzy

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