A game concept art example showing a scientist’s experiment. An obstinate scholar tries to animate a statue using unethical means and magical powers.
This exercise is based on a “mad scientist” prompt kindly sent by the Trialforge team. Thank you!! 🧪
Software: Blender, Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint
A Renaissance-themed “mad scientist” concept
Chains attached to ceiling and walls by heavy metal rings. Were those used to transport the statue, which broke the staircase and floors on its way to the altar? Or are the chains for containing the statue, once it is animated? I left this part of the narrative ambiguous.
My main intent was to express that, for some reason, the workers still find it necessary to keep the statue chained. I wanted several paintings and windows lined up on the walls, as if watching the scientist and workers.
Gameplay-wise, a player could use the windows to hide, shoot from, climb, set up traps, etc. Do the walls need custom, intricate architecture details? Added ‘fake’ shadows to improve readability.
Production shot + close-ups
Do you think this experiment would be successful? What would ‘successful’ mean in this context? And what outcomes do you imagine for this scene? I’m a fan of gentle endings, but I think this take on a scientist’s laboratory is pretty grim, profane, and tragic!
Development
First roughs and ideas
I wanted large tanks, tubes, machines, or creatures to serve as the main focal element in the environment. I explored naga/mermaids, and 70’s scientists using radiation to animate a statue.
Image references and moods
Chosen concepts and story
I unified the “scientist tries to animate a statue” theme using historical figures and locations in Portugal as inspiration for this fictional Kingdom and story.
The altar area is based on the Jerónimos Monastery, the large statue is based on a real statue of D. Afonso, a Portuguese king, and the submerged tomb is based on Vasco da Gama’s tomb. I created new designs for the characters, but kept their motifs of a king/authority military statue + an explorer’s tomb.
Exploring the idea of an apparent noble goal being achieved through wrong conduct.
An “end justifies the means” take on the scientist and their experiment.
A scholar desecrates holy ground to help their kingdom win a war, or revive a golden era.
They ask the crown for a secluded place to research ancient legends. Once funded, they try to revive an historical hero through a statue.
3D modeling
Building a human-sized figure and using it as a reference to scale important objects (the statue, tomb, tools and books).
I’m anchoring visual narrative on the idea of a third-person view of a player character exploring the church altar.
The scientist is using water + magical artifacts (crystals) to conduct powers from a historical figure tomb into the statue.
I modeled base furniture (bookshelves, barrels, benches, desks) to fill the scene. Broke the stone staircase; statue and altar are joined by a water stream.
Piled benches, expensive shelf as bridge = wickedness, despair, obstinacy.
I picked a camera angle that shows walls, the statue, tombs, and the scientist and workers’ clutter.
At this stage I can draw alternate designs or new objects on top of the scene.
If I have time or according to the project’s needs, I’ll polish and redraw lines to add more /life/ to the final concept.
Callouts
Alternate statue versions
Production shot painting process
Leave a Reply