[Concept Art Discussion] - A Wider Look at The Morning Sun

[NSFW WARNING: There is some nudity present] 

Unlike the previous two Concept Art Discussion threads, this one is less about analyzing my technical decisions in my designs, and more about giving a broader look at the ideas behind Elayne Beaumont and her universe. I have a habit of playing my creative ideas very close to my chest, and I'll continue to do so, but I think adding some additional context to the ideas and it's characters will help to forge a better understanding and attraction to the idea. Thus far, I haven't gone particularly deep into the characters, who they are, or what they do.

There's a bit of technical talk, but very minimal. I just wanted to talk a bit more about the narrative, but just very lightly, to give a bit more of an impression of what's been goin' on with the idea as of late.

VAMPIRE QUEEN AND ELAYNE

One of the trickiest things about making a worthwhile story out of Elayne Beaumont's adventure is translating it from it's originally a simple premise: go to place & kill a vampire.

What's the narrative justification for why the story doesn't just start AT the final boss? Why is there any story to tell at all? There has to be a series of events that occur before the final fight. I think that's definitely one of the toughest elements to deal with considering the idea is pretty much the plot from an 8-bit video game (a medium not known for it's storytelling). 

The Vampire Queen stands out in the piece above thanks to principles of design 'Emphasis' and 'Contrast.' She has a dynamic triangular shape in the piece, and the rich blue makes her stand out against the soft pinks.

The villain has clearly been established as the Vampire Queen. It's... Practically right in the name, see how evil and villainous it sounds? As the antagonist, she needs to be a proactive force that poses enough of a threat that it encourages the protagonists to act. Fortunately, it's really easy to make vampires threatening.

The Vampire Queen lives a life of luxury, engaging in copious amounts of sex and mysterious black magic stuff. Because, y'know... Who doesn't want that lifestyle?

Of course, the denizens in this world live in constant fear of the Vampire Queen, as well as the forces of evil under her command. They take the form of wolves and bats, leaving their coffins at night to feed on the blood of the living. Men and women are abducted during the night to fuel the Queen's hedonistic lifestyle. It is rumored that the vampire's kiss has magic properties, rendering her captives entranced as they undergo transformation. Enthralled by the Vampire's magic, they become little more than servants to her will.

Elayne Beaumont, Our Hero

Elayne, a feared vampire hunter, travels the country to liberate it's people from the terror of vampires (and other demons too). Like the morning sun, she comes forth from the horizon to put an end to the evils that plague mankind.

Sooner or later, she'll end up face-to-face with the Vampire Queen herself. Until then, she'll have to work her way through the other demon lords and monsters that rise in the night. 

I didn't manually draw the this castle, but I did make a few edits to it. Get a nice look at Elayne's toned buns and thighs though.

Hunters are highly skilled in combat, and they possess an intense level of determination. Few people are as capable of destroying vampires, ghouls, and demons. Elayne Beaumont is particularly relentless in her endeavors to rid the world of it's monsters, having gained quite a reputation as a hunter. She is often known as The Morning Sun. 

A RIVAL APPROACHES

Elayne is a noteworthy vampire hunter, but she is not the only hunter in this world.

Some time ago, I showed off another hunter designed by Satellite 9. The most striking element of her design is her white coat. Her fashion power level is definitely high as a result, but that's not all her coat is good for. 

Her coat appears to be enchanted with the power of transformation. When she pulls her fluffy hood down, the hunter becomes a wolf - offering it's own set of advantages.

This is probably my first genuine transformation sequence.

I really like how she looks; she definitely stands out against Elayne aesthetically. She is still very much in progress though, so there is not much more to say about who she is as a player in this world. Still, this wolf transformation was a recent development that I found to be very cool, and I'm sure a number of you might think so too.

There are a few sketches of this hunter in the latter months of the 2018 Dropbox Archive folders, but there's also a few sketches of her in last month's (January 2019). Sat is one of my favourite artists, so it's very cool to have had her contributions to the concept.

THE CREATURE

Some time last year, I sketched a character based on the Frankenstein's monster, and I decided to revisit this concept.

I liked the idea of the character, but I was never entirely comfortable with it. It felt a bit too derivative design-wise, and I think I was trying too hard to make a badass-looking character. The massive breasts of the design felt out of place too, and it didn't mix well with the frame of her body. I think it was just too messy and incoherent a design.

I liked the face though (she kinda looks like Grace Jones), so that was something I really wanted to keep. The sharp angles help to create a face that looks gaunt and lacking vitality (perfect for a character that's not technically alive). The construction of the face being comprised of hard edges and rectangular shapes also suggests the idea of something manufactured, as opposed to natural & organic.

The focus on these kinds of shapes in the face were particularly important to me.

If we look at Boris Karloff's portrayal of The Monster from the Universal Monster Movies -- a portrayal that's definitely been a massive inspiration to all of the other portrayals of the character since then -- we can see just how prevalent hard, contrasting shapes are within the design. 

Two of the most obvious forms of this can be seen in the flat edge at the top of the head and in the overhanging brow line which casts a shadow over his eyes. We can also see this design phenomenon in the rigid angles of his jaw, the rectangular shapes in his shoulders, neck, and even the tiny rods in that neck. 

He is a bulky character filled with rectangular shapes all over. 

For a character that's supposed to be monstrous and artificial, I think maintaining these elements were particularly important. I felt like the slim shapes of her face did feel a bit at odds with the massive bulky body, however, so in the next sketch, I smoothed everything out just a bit. I think it feels more cohesive, but I'm not sure if it's necessarily the way to go just yet -- she still has to be a full two heads taller than Elayne though.

I like the prospect of giving her some scarred flesh.

The Creature's outfit has yet to be solidified, but I am fond of a tattered coat - which might help communicate the idea that she's a vagabond. In a previous design, straps were a prominent element, and I think there's still potential in that idea. It could suggest the concept of being held together -- much like how her own body is comprised of different parts held together.

An amputated arm has appeal, and would allows us to add some sort of tool or machinery connecting to her arm, helping to push the idea of being artificial. Her arm - and her weapon -- will be an extension of her character. 

The chainsaw is a classic "scary" weapon, no doubt made popular by monsters like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and enemies in Resident Evil. In addition to being cliché' horror, the chainsaw is a gardening tool, which ties nicely into who I believe The Creature was prior to the events of the story. Though perhaps something less cliché' and visceral is better...

Frankenstein's Monster has been traditionally portrayed as sympathetic, and I think our Creature should be the same. Rather than being a purely antagonistic force for Elayne Beaumont to defeat and move on passed, the Creature should be the protagonist of her own story. So, much like Elayne, she will also oppose the Vampire Queen.

Unlike Elayne, however, The Creature's goal is not necessarily to defeat the forces of evil, but rather, to simply reunite with the person she loved most -- Her creator (who was employed by the Vampire Queen). 

I think there's often this sense of contrast between the appearance of the monster and their nature as a character, underneath the anger and violence. That level of depth is something that typically appeals to me when it comes to characters as well.

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There's definitely some more stuff that I can say, but I'm still working some of that out and trying to find a way to articulate it. I would've liked to draw a good couple more pieces, but I am a bit pressed for time, so there's only so much I can do to get this out at a reliable time. Either way, I look forward to talking about the ideas more in the future - or just actually showing you them. There's a lot more I can say about these characters as far as their journeys go, but it might be better to just show that when I actually do the things.

Anyway, have a good one! Don't forget to eat & sleep.