The Art of

DESPINA
Robin Saker
Computer Animation Arts, Year 1
University for the Creative Arts, Rochester
Blogger: www.sakerandco.blogspot.co.uk

DESPINA (Harbour City)

When the camel driver sees, at the horizon
of the tableland, the pinnacles of the
skyscrapers come into view, the radar
antennae, the white and red wind-socks
flapping, the chimneys belching smoke, he
thinks of a ship; he knows it is a city, but
he thinks of it as a vessel that will take him
away from the desert, a windjammer about
to cat off, with the breeze already swelling
the sails, not yet unfurled, or a steamboat
with its boiler vibrating in the iron keel;
and he thinks of all the ports, the foreign
merchandise the cranes unload on the
docks, the taverns where crews of different
flags break bottles over one anothers
heads, the lighted, ground-floor windows,
each with a woman combing her hair.

For my Invisible Cities project I had to

develop three fully-resolved concept
paintings based on one of Italo Calvinos
Invisible Cities [1972], as if working in preproduction for a new CG-animated
adaptation of his work. Calvinos novel
contains descriptions of cities which are all
more-or-less reimagined visions of Venice,
Italy.
In these concept paintings, I had to convey
my ideas and theme for my city and
visually develop my concept for Diomira.

Influence Map: Exterior (Harbour

City)

Influence Map: Interior (Sailors

Tavern)

Early Despina Thumbnails

Digital Despina Thumbnails:

Exterior Establishing Shot

Digital Despina Thumbnails:

Exterior Establishing Shot

Digital Despina Thumbnails:

Exterior Low Angle Shot (Favela
Shot)

Digital Despina Thumbnails:

Exterior Low Angle Shot (Favela
Shot)

Digital Despina Thumbnails:

Exterior Low Angle Shot (Favela
Shot)

Digital Despina Thumbnails:

Interior Establishing Shot (Sailors Tavern)

Digital Despina Thumbnails:

Interior Establishing Shot (Sailors Tavern)

Despina B/W Compositions:

Components

Exterior Establishing Shot:

B/W Compositions

Exterior Establishing Shot:

B/W Compositions

Ship-Port Ideas from OGR Feedback

Ship-Port Ideas from OGR Feedback

Ship-Port Ideas from OGR Feedback

Despina: Sketchbook Plan

Despina: Sketchbook Plan

Despina: Components & Tracings for

Basis of Paintings

Exterior Establishing Shot (B/W)

Exterior Low Angle Shot (B/W)

Exterior Low Angle Shot (B/W)

Interior Establishing Shot (B/W)

Interior Establishing Shot (B/W)

Exterior Establishing Shot (B/W) Refined

Exterior Low Angle Shot (B/W) Refined

Interior Establishing Shot (B/W) Refined

Despina: Colour Referencing

Despina: Colour Referencing

Despina: Colour Referencing

Despina: Texture Referencing

Despina: Market Stalls

Despina: Control Room &

Favela Buildings

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Establishing Shot

(Harbour City)

Despina: Exterior Low Angle Shot

(Fish Market)

Despina: Exterior Low Angle Shot

(Fish Market)

Despina: Exterior Low Angle Shot

(Fish Market)

Despina: Exterior Low Angle Shot

(Fish Market)

Despina: Exterior Low Angle Shot

(Fish Market)

Despina: Exterior Low Angle Shot

(Fish Market)

Despina: Exterior Low Angle Shot

(Fish Market)

Despina: Exterior Low Angle Shot

(Fish Market)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)

Despina: Interior Establishing Shot

(Cargo Warehouse)