Invisible Cities: Interior Shot Progress

So... painting leaves/trees turned out to be trickier than I was anticipating. Spent a few hours this morning looking through tutorials, experimenting with different brushes and layers etc, and even downloaded a few new brushes, but I think I've finally found a way of creating masses of leaves that I'm happy with. The birch trees on the left were my first attempt at trees, and the partial branch on the right I'm particularly pleased with.

Close-up of overhanging partial branch - used 5 layers and 3 different brushes 

Invisible Cities: Interior Shot Final Plan

I'm so excited about this viewpoint, definitely my favourite of the 3. Here's my finished plan, with all the different plant layers, now to just start filling it all in tomorrow!

Invisible Cities: Baucis Shot Developments

Exterior Establishing Shot viewpoint, still need to add in some extra buildings within the dome. I've had a lot of issues with sorting out layers and how to actually put elements together in these compositions because I am still very new when it comes to Photoshop and this doesn't help with the fact that I have a lot of overlapping structures. I think I'll need to go back to this and break the main building up into separate layers to be able to put in buildings, and add the side telescope platforms. 

Had similar layering difficulties with this shot. In the end I thought it better to restart, also because I really wasn't happy with the angle, it just looked too flat and small. 

This is the remade viewpoint, all layers sorted and just waiting to add in the accommodation buildings at the back then the smaller details like carts, vines and platforms. Also need to add some tree forms within the domes. Will do colour comps of this but already have a good idea of my colour scheme. 

My interior is largely based off of this thumbnail I did at the very beginning of the project. The idea of having multiple levels within the domes has really stuck with me.

My accommodation buildings are largely based off of this quick sketch in my book. Will be hexagonal with a dome on top, continuing the theme, and the windows are small but wide to conserve glass for the domes, and the buildings have platforms (some open air, some with domes) as personal gardens to provide as much greenery in the city as possible, and also make use of as much space as possible. 

However, I do feel like I'm definitely developing my knowledge and skill in Photoshop, I feel a lot more confident and capable with it than even just a few days ago. Cant wait to start adding the finer details, just need to re-layer a few things and duplicate in some more buildings. 

(It's such a good feeling to be actually enjoying set work for once. Even with previous art courses I don't think I've ever really experienced as much enthusiasm as I have with this about learning a new skill before.) 

Invisible Cities: Extra Influence Map - Baucis Structures & Buildings

I found the interior and exterior influence maps extremely helpful for gathering inspiration and organising it in a clear and visual way, so felt creating one for just the structures of my city would be helpful for me at this point in the project where I'm really starting to hone in on developing my city in greater detail. (Plus I got quite a few new ideas today after the life drawing tutorial and felt just writing them down wasn't quite enough).

Also, South Korea's planned "Eco-Dome", part of their "Ecorium Project". 

The plans for the wetland area are just gorgeous. Maybe Baucis should have some free-growing areas around the rivers/canals? Community spaces. (New plans now incoming!)

Invisible Cities: Baucis Influence Map - Interior

Here is my completed influence map for the interior digital painting of my chosen Calvino city.

Stemming from my interest in the city of Baucis I found myself thinking a lot about botanics, in particular the growth of them in a controlled environment, originating from the description of Baucis' inhabitants "having already everything they need up there". I've drawn inspiration from such places as the Eden Project and other such large greenhouse spaces, genetic laboratories (cue Jurassic World reference) and aquariums. 

Invisible Cities - Thumbnails 103 - 117 - Tamara, Thekla

Invisible Cities - Thumbnails 81 - 102 - Octavia, Phyllis, Sophronia

Invisible Cities - Thumbnails 66 - 80 - Leonia, Moriana

Invisible Cities - Thumbnails 48 - 65 - Esmeralda, Fedora, Isaura

Invisible Cities - Thumbnails 33 - 47 - Despina, Ersilia

Invisible Cities - Thumbnails 17 - 32 - Baucis, Diomira

Invisible Cities: Thumbnails 1-16 - Anastasia, Argia, Armilla.

(I need to find a way of increasing the contrast between my pencil lines and the paper as my scanner's made them appear quite faint, but without making the paper have a very orange/yellow tint. - will re upload/update post when I work this out). 

(I initially started working in pen, then decided I would prefer to be more sketchy and work quicker with pencil, to get my ideas down quickly and not worry so much about every line looking great and being in the exact right place)