Weeks 31-34 - Reflective Journal

I first started working on the tree people, named the Ent-Wives - a female group seeking their lost male counterparts.

The feedback on my initial sketches (fig. 1) was that they didn't both read as "female", so I took a more stereotypically feminine approach to my design.

I wanted to experiment with the idea of the Ent-Wives bodies gradually being overtaken by plants, with parts of their human body being left before being entirely consumed.

Fig. 1: Spence, 2023. Initial Sketches.

Fig. 2: Spence, 2023. The Ent-Wives

Myself and my group all agreed that my third design was the strongest, and was the one that would be taken forward to be made into a final game piece.

Next, I worked on the fox people, the Lynandia Cartel - a desert dwelling group of vain, fox-like traders.

Fig. 3: Spence, 2023. The Lynandria Cartel

Fig. 4: Spence, 2023. Artifact Sketches

Various other pieces I worked on were the artifacts (fig. 4). The game was originally going to feature three types of artifact - blessed (fig. 5), cursed (fig. 6), and holy (fig. 7) - which each behaved differently in game. Unfortunately, due to time restraints with balancing, the designs for the cursed and holy artifact were put to one side, and the team focused on the blessed artifact.

Fig. 5: Spence, 2023. Blessed Artifact

Fig. 6: Spence, 2023. Cursed Artifact

Fig. 7: Spence, 2023. Holy Artifact

I also began some rough ideas for a background for the app, specifically art for when orcs obtained the artifact.

Fig. 8: Spence, 2023. Orc Background (1)

Fig. 9: Spence, 2023. Orc Background (2)

As it came into question whether or not we'd be using backgrounds at all, I began focusing on the Razorboar Clan - a group in a savanna type area, with a culture focused on farming and protecting their lands. I based their weapons on the ngulu from the Congo, as it reminded me of a scythe, making their weapons double as an agricultural tool.

Fig. 10: Spence, 2023. The Razorboar Clan

I also decided to try photobashing for the first time for this project. Photobashing is a technique that involves blending photographs and painting together to create a final piece. It's a good way to build noise and texture in an image, as well as make concepts quickly. As this had to be a more finalised piece, I spent about three days working on it to create the background for Artifacts of Linmarch. This image is present in the app, and would be present on a box the game would come in.

Fig. 11: Spence, 2023. Artifacts of Linmarch Photobash

Due to unforeseen circumstances arising with the other 2D artist in the group, I was tasked with completing the other faction designs - the fauns of the Longhorn Pack, the snake-folk of the Tailpit Tribe, and the bird people of the Dominion of Warclaws.

Fig. 12: Spence, 2023. Longhorn Face Sketches

Fig. 13: Spence, 2023. Longhorn Clothing Sketches

To help with the sudden increase in workload, a member of another team, James Thompson, created some concepts for the Warclaws and Tailpit Tribe (fig. 14 + 15). 

Fig. 14: Thompson, 2023. James' Warclaw Concepts

Fig. 15: Thompson, 2023. James' Tailpit Concepts

Fig. 16: Spence, 2023. Final Designs. 

References:

Images:

Figure 1. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Initial Sketches. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 2. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. The Ent-Wives. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 3. SPENCE, Nel. 2023.  The Lynandria Cartel. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 4. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Artifact Sketches. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 5. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Blesses Artifact. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 6. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Cursed Artifact. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 7. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Holy Artifact. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 8. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Orc Background (1). Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 9. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Orc Background (2). Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 10. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. The Razorboar Clan. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 11. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Artifacts of Linmarch Photobash. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 12. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Longhorn Face Sketches. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 13. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Longhorn Clothing Sketches. Private Collection: Nel Spence

Figure 14. THOMPSON, James. 2023. James' Warclaw Concepts. Private Collection: James Thompson

Figure 15. THOMPSON, James. 2023. James' Tailpit Concepts. Private Collection: James Thompson

Figure 16. SPENCE, Nel. 2023. Final Designs. Private Collection: Nel Spence