Sketch Prompts Nov 2012

Here are some rough sketches I did from prompts sent to me via Tumblr, to the draw children of pairs of various pre-existing fictional characters.

I had a lot of fun with these, as I was given a lot of different mixes to try out (you might notice I snuck a familiar face or two into the mix!)
Each character featured here is the result of a different prompt (except the blue-haired characters, who are siblings)

New Background Concept

A new background sketch I've been working on, of the ruined cottage. 

I'm trying to get a more mysterious feel.
I wanted there to be a lot of strips of light, to suggest trees in the distance.

New Background sketches

These are some new designs for the park in my film, based on a storybook style.
I began with the photos I took of my local park as a starting point - I blocked in the main shapes in the photos with big watercolour brushes on photoshop, then sketched some details over the loose shapes.

Background Concept Sketches

Some rough colour sketches of possible backgrounds for my film:

I've always found creating backgrounds quite difficult, so I tried out a lot of stuff here. 

Personally, I like the purple one at the bottom.

Also, here's another sketch of the Queen, this time from the front:

More Fairy Concept Sketches

Some sketches that sprung out of my adventures in colour:

Another sketch of the fairy Queen, finally she's looking how I imagined her.
I was really inspired by the artwork of Elric of Melnibone, a series of fantasy novels. Yoshitaka Amano did a lot of work on this series, and his artwork from this period is very sharp; set in dark fantasy landscapes with figures shrouded in or emerging from the shadows.

I still have to figure out which fairy Queen she is: Titania seems too overdone.  So will she be a Gloriana, Meabh or Lorelai? Decisions, decisions.

Here's another sketch of Alva, now in sepia tones.

More Colour Tests

A chart of colour tests for the little (as yet unnamed) imp:

Alva Colour Tests

A test of possible colour schemes for Alva.
Originally, the character was going to be totally monochrome, but I thought that choosing a bold, simple colourscheme would create more visual punch.
I love working with colour, especially rich, vibrant colour combinations.

Film Concept Art

I've been doing some more early sketches for my 4th year film:

I am getting closer to the look I want for the film, and nailing down how the main players will look.

Designs of trees:

These trees are based on the art nouveau style to fit with the general period of the piece. 

Some sketches of my main character, Alva:

Alva is a kind of goofy character, not very elegant, with big expressions. 

Test designs of supporting characters

"The Fairy Queene":

The Queen of the fairies needed to be a contrast to Alva, very refined and regal.

Since earlier sketches, I've pared her features down, giving her less wild expressions than other characters.

A pixie/imp:

This character is very small, but I didn't want him to be too cutesy, because that wouldn't fit with his cheeky, somewhat abrasive demeanor. I think he came out looking a tad like a scruffier cousin of the Rice Krispies elves...

More Movie Concept art

Here is some more concept artwork for my upcoming film, some visual tests:

This is a test render of a background I've been working on - a forest. It's a very a different setting to the Art Deco city, but I'm trying to keep some visual cohesiveness by taking inspiration from Art Nouveau, Deco's more flowery cousin. The trees were designed to be stylised, using real trees as a basis then simplifying their shapes.

These are some quick character sketches of another character (and small fairy).  She is based on Cate Blanchette (as Galadriel, naturally), and a little of Julia Roberts too. Her colour scheme was inspired by artwork of Elric of Melniboné, the main character in a series of novels by Michael Moorcock.