All images under the 'An Inspirational Concept Artist' blog posts belong to their respective owners and producers as named in the number and title of the blog post. I do not claim ownership over any of the pictures used in the Inspirational Concept Artist blog section.
Some of the concept art I have been looking at for inspiration for my character development is from artists such as 'Samwise', Peter Lee, and others who work for Blizzard Entertainment, the games production company which has already inspired me throughout the last few years.
Peter Lee's artwork for World of Warcraft has been unique and insightful for the world designers and the developers. The artwork is original and appropriately styalized, with the colouring varying depending on the mood the art wishes to set.
Above, the interior Auchindoun, in Terrokar Forest (artwork copyright Peter Lee). Below, the exterior of Auchindoun, in-game.
Peter Lee produces concept art outside of the Warcraft-related universe with varying subjects and concepts. He utilizes a fine vagueness to his work that allows the viewer to piece together the artwork with their imagination, drawing the eyes to keen details such as the skulls in the bottom-right corner and the stormy sky, creating atmosphere.
Above two pieces of artwork copyright Peter Lee / (and / or Blizzard Entertainment). Screenshot copyright of Blizzard Entertainment.
From the outing when we took pictures around within the museum I also focused on the architecture; and found myself inspired by archaic pillars and buildings reminiscent of the victorian era. I knew somewhat instantly I would be comfortable developing a character set in this age at least for this reason alone. I produced a moodboard from a series of research images of victorian clothing and combined it with my own ideas for a fantasy interpretation of a victorian styled era.
The character I wanted quickly took shape - a villain. However, the role and type of this villain would be one of wit, intelligence and wealth, rather than brute strength. The idea of a man who, in daylight, or to common knowledge, was good, whereas he was secretly some crime or cult lord. This idea invoked many early ideas of which I produced sketches - a maddened mage-experimentor who shifts his hands into claws, or the secretive leader of a cult of rising power within my character's early victorian-esque post-Edwardian-esque fantasy setting.
The idea of Dorian Dolosus (literally Dorian the Deciever) began to take root; the iconic aesthetic of his appearance being the wide-brimmed hat that would distinguish him even as a silhouette. The masking of his eyes also give him a mysterious appearance that is well deserved with his mysterious nature. With his hat off he assumes the role of a friendly noble man, which contrasts with his deceptive nature.
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