Environment Design - The Horse and His Boy
This section shows my process for visually developing the environment for The Horse and His Boy. I did some small concept drawings with pen on paper, then explored various angles in procreate. I did multiple barn studies and here have the two final contenders - I ended up choosing the thatched roof as it better fit the description in the book.
Exterior drawing of the donkey stable with the horse character Bree grazing just outside. Warm evening light coming from the Western hills opposite the beach.
Drawing of the stable’s interior, including evening light coming in through the open doorway and cutout star window up above.
This aerial view of the environment includes both structures, a view of the eastern coastline, the creek that runs by the fishing hut, and the mountains in the distance that will eventually become the protagonists’ destination.
Based on the cultural influences of the story, I modeled this fishing hut after a Mediterranean style of house that has stucco walls and a flat, usable roof space. I stylized the fishing nets to look like spider webs to imply that this place is a trap.
Out of all my prelim sketches, these two models of the barn were my favorite. I ended up choosing the barn on the left because the thatched roof and lack of a fence better fit the descriptions given in the book.
Exploratory sketch of the view of the house from the coast line.
Exploratory sketch of the barn with the creek behind it.
Concept sketch for the island city of Tashbaan.