One of the many things I do to stem writer’s block and keep the creative juices flowing is surfing (insert link) deviantART. Just by checking out the most popular submissions over the last eight hours every couple of days is more than enough to give some flash of insight into a story arc that may be waiting to burst, or un-stall one waiting to carry on. It may not be a full-fledged story, but a component on one I’m currently working on – scenery scenes are spectacular for this. In my own way, I’d like to recognize these artists for truly amazing artwork, be it photography, ink on canvas, or manipulated photons in digital form.
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| Chinese Monestary by Daniel Kvasznicza |
Chinese Monestary by Daniel Kvasznicza (inetgrafx on DeviantArt), really emotes and epic scale, a scope to the structure and its position in the mountains, overlooking and protecting the valley below. The multiple pagodas and towers hint at a series of structures built upon the next, demonstrating the structures age. The lower levels show smaller sub-structures for logistical functions, storage and for the peasant caste. The high ridges on either side protect the structure from the flanks, the only real approach hinted at from the far side, under the watchful eye of the parapets and upper pagodas. You may not have noticed how deep the structure is; truly near city sized. If you look hard enough at the smaller structures dead center you catch glimpses of people moving about, providing a reference for just how massive this castle truly is.
The emotional connection with this picture is quick and deep. My fantasy manuscript is set in a quasi-Japanese setting with heavy influences from Chinese and Korean culture and history. The samurai that rule the J’in Empire would very likely have constructed something like this in a crucial mountain pass, or a high feature overlooking a key valley. A structure such as this was the inspiration for a castle that was attacked by a goblin invasion force, the results entirely lop-sided and favouring the goblins. The result of this begged the question: How would a herd-like race typically favouring stampeding charges en masse have the capability to destroy such a formidable structure? The answer to this question is the subversive and driving force behind the antagonists and their agenda.
The inspiration this piece provides is just spectacular. The majesty and detail of the work takes you right into it.
Check out the other works, professional and personal on his website, linked in the comments below the DeviantArt piece. He also has quite a varied and impressive list of credits! Working with a company out of Montreal, Quebec, Meduzarts has a series of works that will inspire and impress, with a client list and project files that will equally raise your eyebrows. If I were ever to translate my fantasy setting into a book or role-playing game, I’d love to see this artist’s artwork play a major part in it. The fact he’s also from Canada doesn’t hurt either....
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