MOTHER TREE
My concept was ‘Solarity’ a post-apocalyptic dystopian Earth set in 3013. I wanted to create a dark, overgrown, and radioactive world. Set after a cataclysmic solar storm due to severe climate change, centered around mutant reptilians and man-eating plant life.
I've always loved reptiles, especially snakes, and been fascinated by nature and overgrown wildlife. Since a kid I've been a fan of sci fi and horror, as well as drawing morbid monsters and fictional worlds. This all inspired my concept ideas, and creative style approach.
I initially took influence from Blade Runner as well as from Mesoamerican architecture and culture, particularly Aztec patterns, statues, and temples. I also researched Hr Giger’s illustrative horror style present in the Alien franchise.
SOS
The Sons of Sol. A totalitarian race of mutant, sentient snake beings that have fused with the radiant plant life.
The Sons of Sol are birthed in a chrysalis through ectogenesis, these pods fruit from the Mother Tree.
Sol Stone
The Sol Stone, fragmented shards of solar chunks hurled from the sun into the Earth's crust. These incredible ores can reach millions of degrees in temperature and are harnessed to create immense solar energy.
Mutants
Humankind has gradually mutated from radiation exposure and living deep underground below the Earth's crust. Such as impaired vision and breathing, as well as a terminal fungal disease where the body slowly decomposes and sprouts into plants.
Mining for Sol Stones has become the sole source of income. Humans work from the age of ten and slave for weeks on end underground. Few work as Gardeners, an illegal trade where the sacred plant life is gardened and sold on the black market.
I took this project as an opportunity to dive back into my drawing days. With varied iterations, I roughly crafted illustrations, which helped me establish the style and elements of the world. This process led me to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, where I refined these sketched ideas.
Snakes survived this solar apocalypse by burrowing into the Earth's crust; these reptiles that didn't mutate into SOS morphed to reach colossal sizes. These creatures are viewed as divine deities and are worshipped across humankind.
Xiphos
These jellyfish-like sentient plants live off solar energy and can fly freely or plant themselves into the ground with their roots.
Xilophod
These carnivorous plants can grow up to 15m tall and are triple-headed, equipped with three jaws of razor-sharp teeth. These stationary predators are blind and instead rely on their extreme sense of hearing to hunt.
The SOS wear a thick exo skeleton of bone-like scales, this rigid skin offers defence and is nearly impenetrable. They also have a horned crown atop their heads, this number of horns establishes their status amongst the social hierarchy, the more complex the greater the power.
With no mouth, these beings rely on photosynthesis to survive, this gaped jaw allows for greater sun flow. They use their glands for echo communication; these haunting vibrations can pierce the sound barrier. The tentacle receptors above their head allow for great 360-degree sensory awareness.
Their clawed limbs are extendable and retractable; this versatile biology makes them incredibly weaponised and deadly.
The overgrown trees and plant life have been deeply incorporated into the architecture, fused into foundations and hollowed out for buildings. Humans live in tiny, jam-packed units deep underground beside the mines; these are built off of giant roots.
The SOS live high amongst the canopies in towering temples. This difference in altitude stands as a metaphor for the social hierarchy and injustice against mankind.
I experimented with digital illustration, painting techniques, and photo bashing. This creative method involved the combination of preexisting images and manipulating them into new pieces. Throughout this creation, I shifted to a more photo-realistic visual style.
The Mother tree of life, this mighty tree is sacred and fruits the chrysalis that birth the SOS. Here is the temple of sacrifice, the ritual ground where humans are sacrificed back to The Mother Tree.
Humans are sacrificed to return life to Mother Nature, this cycle of life is how the SOS are birthed.
This opportunity also helped me immensely improve my skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign.
