Steampunky Thoughts...

This post is for three reasons:
1. To detail a few of my thoughts on the design category of Steampunk
2. To publish my thoughts in a public format so as in order to garner criticism and comments
3. To finally add another selection to the compendium of art-related posts on Illustration
3a. To perhaps dazzle someone with my genius

Also, this was rather haphazardly thrown together. Forgive me if I repeat myself, or leave thoughts half-complete, or if I do not create a comprehensive view of the subject.

I believe that the most basic urge to man (in spite of Freud) is the urge to dominion. Dominion is a fact present in both fallen and regenerate man, in that both desire to build kingdoms that will endure, only the Christian builds the Kingdom of God for the sole glory of God, while the fallen man builds his own microcosm kingdom for his own glory.

Steampunk is about dominion. Steampunk is about everybody being an inventor, a genius, with a desire to make a better world. Steampunk can illustrate the true motives of men because it provides a method for everyone to bring their deepest thoughts into total reality. This last part holds true to science fiction in general, but within the realm of the Steampunk Dominion, everyone has a chance to let their most secret fantasies to light. Steampunk is about artistic inventiveness.

From what I have seen, steampunk is typically used to illustrate rugged individualism, radical hippiness, or merely express avant-garde artistic impulse, aside from the general science fiction aspects of the genre. This needn't be so, and the genre can easily be redeemed by a quick mind and a nimble literary skill to write stories that are about family, loyalty, truth, goodness and faith.

Anyways, just a ramble of thoughts.

-Johnny

Storyboarding

Yet another project that I've storyboarded, my second this year. This was for a book trailer that was just recently produced by Gillian Adams for her Out Of Darkness Rising novella, which comes out this summer.
 Interpreting a script is one of the funnest things that I do. It's also one of the most frustrating things I do. Fortunately, this project didn't require high frustration levels. The script was straightforward and had some notes from Gillian expressing certain angles that she wanted, but overall she let me have creative reign. This is really cool, because then I get to be a sort of pre-production director.
 I was actually fairly busy when this cropped up. I had two other projects pending that I knew were going to require a ton of work. But it had swords, serpents and capes... How could I pass it up? Practice drawing my favorite genre with an extra helping of publicity? Yes ma'am!!!
 Here are a few examples...

This sequence was fun because it's simply one dolly sequence. It was fun to be creative and come up with cool shots. Not that they were pulled off, but hey, they were fun to draw.

A study in silhouettes and lighting.

This scene was cool to do because of all the framing opportunities. I wanted the dudes in black robes to be ominous, imposing and always present, conveying the fact that no one can get away. 

Overall, a fantastic experience. I absolutely loved every second I spent drawing these.

I can't believe I get to do this.

By the way, if you want to find out more about Gillian and her new book, click here: http://ofbattlesdragonsandswordsofadamant.blogspot.com/

-Johnny