Invisible Cities - Esmeralda 1d5a2h

THE ART

OF

INVISIBLE CITIES ESMERALDA

By Karolina Urlikyte

INTRODUCTION • For

our first project, we were asked to create city based on Italo Calvino’s fictional novel, called “Invisible Cities”. The novel describes the environment and space of imaginary cities, each city is unique and totally different from each other. Moreover, Calvino separated cities into categories, such as : Memory, Desire, Trading Cities and so on.

• While

I was exploring 19 Calvino’s cities and making thumbnails, one city caught my eye, Esmeralda. The city of “Trading”. This city was interesting and more appealing to me. So, I made decision to draw Esmeralda as my final digital artwork.

• This

city is describes as a city of water, cambered bridges and sewers. Also, this city is dual in colours and the environment. One side is full of light while other side city is opposite to that, mysterious and chaotic.

INFLUENCES • Since

Esmeralda is a city of water and sewers, I took some time finding the perfect images to have the same feeling as Esmeralda has, something mysterious and breath-taking at the same time.

•I

took images of Venice, since Calvino described, this is city as water, Venice was perfect for it. Buildings are sunk into the water and the atmosphere was covered in colourful lights..

• Also,

I took reference from some games that I have played, such as “Assassin's Creed” and “Bioshock: Infinity” (both images are in the middle). These art pieces really had what I wanted, both charming and mystic.

• With

the references and influences that I have gathered, it didn’t take much time for me to make my own city. Showing and re-telling the story of Esmeralda from 3 angles.

THUMBNAILS

THUMBNAILS WITH COLOUR KEYS

COMPLETE IMAGES

EXTERIOR ESTABLISHING

EXTERIOR ESTABLISHING CLOSE-UPS

EXTERIOR LOW-ANGLE

EXTERIOR LOW-ANGLE CLOSE-UPS

INTERIOR ESTABLISHING

INTERIOR ESTABLISHING CLOSE-UPS