Bret Linne - Production Design and Animation Blog: October 2011

Art301 - Concept Art - SciFi Project - Human Prop - Ark Power Core

This is a rough value study of the concept for the Power Core of the Ark. In the story that Eddie Smith gave us, the Ark that the human faction built was based on stolen or found alien technology. I chose to fit it into the aggressor's design aesthetic.

Art301 - Concept Art - SciFi Project - Alien Aggressor - Ships

Fighter concepts for the aggressor race in Ark of Solaris. I wanted to keep the idea of organic shapes, and radial and spiral patterns, since the aliens are octopus-snails. The theme of calciferous shells and bio-organic shapes is a recurring theme for this race's concepts. The spiral arms of the fighter spin as it flies and it fires its guns in a helix pattern.

Bomber ship thumbs and feeling out how the arms of this ship move and curve through space

Art301 - Concept Art - SciFi Project - Human Prop Development

Thumbs for props for the human faction. Magnetic boots and a firearm

Art301 - Concept Art - SciFi Project - Alien Protector Development

Working with pure silhouette, using only india ink and brush. I find this helps me move faster on concepting out an idea for silhouette value.

Rough concept of the a soldier class from the Protector race. I wanted them to look noble, intimidating and technologically advanced

Art301 - Concept Art - SciFi Project - Human Faction Development

I wanted the feel of humanity back in the 1800's, frontier like. The basic story was that humans had destroyed Earth (again) and the last of civilization was in this enormous ship called "the Ark". I felt a look of the cowboy and rough and tumble explorers of the frontier back in the 19th century would be appropriate. At the bottom right are the ideas that got used for further development.

Rough concept work for a soldier-class in the human faction. Still needs some work.

Art301 - Concept Art - SciFi Project - Alien Aggressor - Rough Concept

I wanted the alien aggressors to feel sinister, organic, and uncomfortable. In the last set of thumbs, I got to the idea of the creatures having cloaks which covers their anatomy for locomotion. I actually haven't figured out what that is, but they seem scarier by not understanding how they move.