YAGA'S SWAMP
Best of Term - Environment Design
Gnomon school of Visual Effects
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CREDITS:
This is an original concept based on The Tale of Vasilisa the Brave
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AWARDS:
This piece was awarded Gnomon's Best of Term in the Environment Design category
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SOFTWARE:
Maya, Substance Painter, Zbrush, Photoshop, Nuke
Project Details
How can a complex theme be communicated through a single frame? This piece was an exercise in visual storytelling, the subject being Baba Yaga's swamp as described in The Tale of Vasilisa the Brave. Baba Yaga's appearance in fable typically indicates an impending crossroads for a hero, giving rise to one of the most challenging themes to convey - fate. One way of pulling this off was through the composition of each element within the scene. The idea was to give the viewer the sensation that the only way to go is forward, by crowding the edges and forcing them cross the threshold.
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Chaos is another theme associated with Baba Yaga. She is neither good nor bad, and in stead represents the natural order of things. It's difficult to find uniformity in a natural setting, by that logic, I took care to avoid the use of any parallel lines or repetitive objects throughout composition. However, I still wanted that sense of "natural order" to read strongly. I formed the environment to frame the subject tighter as the image recedes, like a funnel always directing the viewer back toward the house and further reinforcing the theme of impending fate. Every rock and branch of the swamp urges you toward your destiny, and while you may be lost one thing is certain, you are meant to be here.
Baba Yaga's House is one of her most immediately recognizable icons, mainly due to the giant chicken legs. When designing my house I knew I needed to include the legs, but I wanted to find other ways to make it feel more alive as well. One such way was including the eye-shaped window. False eyes are common in nature for the purpose of intimidation and perceived awareness and ended up being an excellent addition to my design. I also wanted the house to resemble the form of a chicken in its profile, extending the back like a tail and adding beak-like entryway. This also helped with weight balance. I kept the boards loose, as if the constant motion causes them to shift and bend, and added roots and debris to the bottom to help round out the base giving the house a more organic and slightly egg-like silhouette.