real worlds - final illustration progress (space bugs)

Final Illustration Progress - Space Bugs

Initial Idea

For this illustration, I had the initial idea to make it mirror my illustration for my Mazon Labs character. I wanted the two illustrations to depict the same scene from tow different perspectives. Each with the the other character somewhere within the background of the scene. I wanted to depict a scene with my Space Bug character, the Scypholae, hunting my Mazon Labs character. I wanted this illustration to depict this character as a scary create hunting its pray. 

After my meeting with Mantic Games, they gave me a few ideas and suggestions on how to depict this illustration. They gave me the idea of creating the scene possibly in a infrared environment, showcasing how this creature may see its surroundings, highlighting the Mazon Labs character hiding to showcase that it could possibly see through objects, or had some type of tracking abilities. I really liked this idea and wanted to further develop it.

Process

Originally, my idea was a complex scene showcasing both characters to mirror my first illustration of my Mazon Labs character. However, I felt I wouldn't have enough time to complete this idea how I wanted with the time I had left. Ultimately, I decided to scrap the idea and go for something else. 

Instead, I created a thumbnail that still fit the idea I was originally going for of still being taken from the same scene as my previous illustration. However, I decided to do a close up of the Scypholae seen in the background of my other illustration. In the previous illustration, the background is blurred making it hard to make out details of this creature. So i decided to create a more detailed close up of it!

I then neaten up my thumbnail and created a sketch to work from. I wanted it to be an offset angle to reflect the offset angle in my other piece too. I also wanted the pose to showcase the character looking inwards to the room (despite not really having any eyes) and reaching across the walls and doorframe. 

When I was happy with the sketch, I began adding the flat colours. I wanted to stick with a very similar colour palette to my other illustration to further ger across that they were taken from the same scene. I used very cool tones of blues, purples, and greys to create a moody dull and cold atmosphere. I also used brighter colours for the creatures body than what I used in the previous illustration, as this time the creature was the centre focus point.

When I was happy with the flat colour block out, I began adding things such as the gradients to its skin, as well as adjusting the opacity and overlay effects applied to the creatures hood to showcase that it is see-through.

Afterwards, I began rendering the body. I kept mostly with the cooler colour palette, using purple and blue to render, but this time i used a higher saturation with the colours I used. One of the main design features of this character is its Brightly coloured features in contrast to its darker skin tone. This is sourced from its inspiration of deep sea creatures, as well as the colours of many real jellyfish. The bright contrasting colours is seen commonly in many deep see creatures, and often indicates danger. I wanted the red colours in the design to not appear muddy, so i used shades of purple with a higher saturation to prevent this.

When I was happy with the rendering, I began adding the highlighted details of the design. The creatures has many patterns and details that stand out against its darker colour palate. To achieve this, I used the add overlay effect with a blue tone. This created an illuminated white/blue look to the patterns which stood out greatly against the rest of the design and scenery's colour palette.

Then, I neatened the body up once more and added an outline to certain areas, such as around the arms and legs where the highlighted areas where so they would really stand out against the surroundings. I also began rendering the mouth and brain area. I once again used shades of blue and purple, but in a much higher saturation to stand out against the background.

afterwards, I began working on the hood. I wanted to play around with opacity and lighting effects, as this area of the design is meant to be see-through and lets light reflect throughout it.

after some experimenting, I was happy with the way the hood looked. I applied lighting effects and highlights using the 'add' effect. I also added a subtle glow inside the top of the hood, to draw attention to it. I made the back part/underside of the hood appear darker, as it is casted against the darker background and doesn't have a light source coming from behind it unlike the front of the hood.

Now its time for my favourite part! Lighting effects! I added a glow to the centre of the body and brain. The light around the brain area really creatures and eye type of effect, making it look like the creature is looking towards the camera, and its prey. I also added lighting to the red parts of the arms to make them further stand out and contrast their surroundings. 

I then began to render the background and doorframe. For this, i used a more muted and cooler palette of blues and purples. The colours I used created a grey like effect which made the environment look dull, cold, and unsettling.

Finally, I began to add the final touches. I added things such as the creatures many tentacles. I messed around with different overlays, opacity, and effects, to really creature a mysterious and dangerous feeling to the creature.

After everything, it was time to add the final touches of overlays for the entire image and last bits of lighting and shadows. I added lighting around the doorframe, reflecting of the creatures glow. I also added a slight blue/purple tint to the entire image.

Final Piece

Below, is my final finished piece! I slightly altered a few more things, such as adding shadows  around the edges to draw viewers attention towards the centre of the piece, as well as adding different lighting streaks across the whole effect which gave it an 'underwater' type of feeling. Despite this scene not being underwater, I thought this effect worked really well especially considering my creature is inspired by a deep sea jellyfish.

I really like my usage of colour in this illustration. I think the vibrancy and bright colours of the creature work really well in contrast with the darker background. As well as this, I think the red stands out a lot within the full scene, drawing your eyes straight towards it. This is especially prominent in areas like the creatures brain and chest area, as the glow is very bright and eye-catching. I think I did a good job of creating a feeling of the creature hunting and looking at its prey with this pose and overall piece.

If I were to improve or change anything with this piece, I would've really like to have created my original idea. I do really like this piece, but I would've loved to experiment with my originally idea and create a really detailed scene showing the two characters, especially if I experimented with showcasing the scene in a different type of vision like infrared like I was suggested. The only reason I did not go with this idea was due to my time management and constraints. I think if I had more time or planned ahead, I would've been able to create a illustration of my original idea that I was happy with.

 I may potentially create this scene in the future though, as I am still really interested in this idea and would like to see it be put onto paper.