Marzana Chowdhury

BFA New Media

Website: https://mzchowart.wixsite.com/conceptartist
Instagram: @thenerdist407

ARTIST STATEMENT: Tales of Another Land is a collection of illustrations and concepts based on my original designs exploring the different myths and legends in Eurasia. For this project, I took inspiration from folklore and myths to craft a fictional world so viewers can learn something new about the world around them. Tales of Another Land was first inspired by the World Turtle, a mythical creature found in Hindu, Chinese, and Indigenous American mythology. The World Turtle is a broad-backed turtle with four elephants standing on its back while supporting the world. I thought this was an interesting concept for a titan-like creature, so I made the turtle’s shell hollow to house a tropical rainforest, and the four elephants walk alongside the turtle as his vanguard.

I draw from photo reference and then incorporate qualities of the myth or culture researched, and after drawing multiple iterations or designs, move to creating character sheets and digitally painting the concept to show how it might look in game or in a movie. One of the greatest struggles in being a concept artist is in gathering research materials and then translating that information into a visual design that flows while incorporating creativity, logic, and functionality into a cohesive design. When people see my work, I want them to get a sense of curiosity, to delve further and explore more of the world I am creating. With my work I always ask, “How can I make this a fantasy scene or design more believable to ingrain a sense of realism so people will learn more about the world around them?” Tales of Another Land will give people an inside look into game and movie development and how these mediums are used to craft memorable stories.