Scanned Thumbnails:

Here are some of the Newer thumbnails I have produced for the newer version of Octavia. Unfortunately the scanning quality isn't that good, probably due to the way I've drawn the images.


A newer design for the city, based on the idea of wind chimes and suspension based architecture.

Some architecture designs, there not amazing as buildings are not really my strong suit, I tried to incorporate some type of cog/mechanism into the work too try and give the buildings a bit more character and make them look more robust.

A design based off of the original, changing the chains for support beams, resembling bridges.

Some further random ideas from the day. 

Color Compositions for Octavia

Today I wanted to get a few color sketches down onto some of my more recent thumbnail's which will be uploaded shortly. I feel that some of the lighter greens and blue's seem to be working much more then the color palette of black and red that I was originally
using before I started to rethink my Ideas.

Take a look and see what you think? I could use the help right now. Personally I feel that 112 is my strongest design so far considering Jordan was the one who colored it.

Octavia Re-design

After the green-light, I took a day off, to generate new ideas a think of a setting that wasn't as gothic and dark as I was originally making. I eventually came up with a new design that I would like to share with everyone.

The scan isn't the best quality, due to the way I sketch but its better then a photo from my phone camera.

As you can see the design is vastly different from the other two larger images I created. Although I have retained the idea of the chains and the webs holding the city together and to the mountains.
I feel that this is a much more imaginative piece and is outside of my comfort zone and style.

There are still things I need to research and adapt but for a first idea this isn't too bad.

Further Thumbnails

I have a few left over sketches that I have forgotten to upload to my Blog so here they are now. Mainly abstract pieces like my digital ones so forgive the quality. I am also in the process of fixing my scanner so forgive the quality, I will re-upload when I have finished the repairs. 

Diomira: Alternate Reality and Ancient Greek inspiration.

I feel as though I should have a complete post detailing my ideas for the city Diomira and what Ideas and inspirations I want to include into my thumbnails and detailed images. Going off of the description for the city we don't get much in terms of the feel of the city, and what it's like within its walls.

After playing the game Wolfenstien: The New Order, a game in which the Nazi's won world war 2 after discovering hugely advanced technology and supernatural powers, as well as watching films like Frankenstein's army, in which doctor Frankenstein was a real scientist in Germany during the second world war (lots of Nazi's for some reason, might want to get some more original enemies directors) and created amalgamations of technology and soldiers to create new, militarized versions of his monster from the novel. This kind of fantasy story telling really gets me excited because I find other people's interpretations of events and world's hugely fascinating. Frankenstein as a Nazi doctor? awesome.

Taking this philosophy I created a world around the Idea that the world is still in the Ancient Greek era but their technology is vastly advanced compared to what it was, statues of gods are giant, metallic constructs that move and act as sentries instead of guards around the city, buildings are made of metal and look quite harsh, all except the giant diamond like domes that surround the city. Soldiers are outfitted with semi-mech suits that enhance their athletic abilities, generals riding mechanized horse's that sort of this.

This kind of world is much more interesting then the run of the mill description that Calvino has given but I hope to retain the original feel of the city that he imagined. I will be doing some sketches of the city that I want to create soon as well as visualizing some of the robotic inhabitants of the city as well.

Hope to have some work up on here as soon as possible.

Alternate Reality Idea

Whilst completing the thumbnails for one the cities I had an interesting Idea that I wanted to get some opinions on. Instead of just going on the descriptions of the cities themselves I was wondering if we could create a twist to the worlds for example. The city Diomira resemble's and old Greek or Egyptian city too me, with the huge god statues that are around the city, something you don't see in any modern city's nowadays (only in rare occasions). This paired with the huge domes that don't seem to fit the aesthetic I started to think of an alternate reality where technology had evolved much faster then culture. Similar to world's like the Wolfenstien games where the Nazi's discovered future technology and had access to supernatural and alien tech. Winning world war 2 and changing the world completely.

You could have a world where the Greek's where able to develop huge metallic city's with robotic guards, mech suits and chariots powered by steam, whilst still staying the way culturally that they would have been many years ago.

I find this to be a much more interesting idea then just looking at the city itself and trying to design it purely off of the description. So like I said at the start If I could get some kind of feedback on this and what you guys think, it would be a big help. Time to start sketching ideas. :)