Behind The Scenes: Cyber Ruins (Patreon)

After some journeys into the world of popular culture, I wanted to create something more original and not tied to any existing world. And again, if you sometimes lack inspiration, you can look into your older works for that spark.

But here, I took a bit different approach. Instead of looking at my diorama layouts, I explored the characters. I just imagined, which of the characters could work in a single settings, whether for a game or a movie. I picked Isabella the Explorer (character from the course), Mad Scientist and Shaman (course character too). I imagined a setting, where Isabella can go on a mission to explore, backed up by a scientist character safely in the HQ. She could easily meet the shaman character in a jungle environment and help him solve some local troubles.

This unexpected alliance offered me an idea to join the ancient jungle environment with high-tech fantasy and led me to explore the combination of my ancient ruins works and hard surface sci-fi layouts.

Visit the full Pinboard here

I looked up a few references on Pinterest and didn't stray away from the existing IP's like Horizon. This step serves purely as and information gathering exercise, so I don't miss on any promising ideas out there.

I've pulled up several examples of alien ruins and got all kinds of ideas like glowing artifacts, hovering monoliths and geometrical alien structures.

I wouldn't be able to come up with the layout if not for at least basic sketch. Right as I started to fill the layout with all of these ideas, it was clear I have to leave out some of them. It simply wouldn't be readable and lot of elements would clash. So at least I had something saved for the later, that I can use to expand on this world setting.

To sum it up, if you don't know what to create, either look back on your works or some other gallery, but switch gears. Looking for a new environment? Try studying characters and come up with suitable environment. Or vice versa. And if you suddenly have too much ideas, save some for later, pick just two or three main elements and leave them some space to shine :)

You can watch the process video on Youtube

So that's it for the latest illustration and I hope it will help you with your own work.

See you in the next one! :)