Most shows are fairly secretive about production. Sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes tidbits are rare because TPTB fear the release of the dreaded “spoiler”. And what, exactly, constitutes a spoiler? Well, opinions vary but shows tend to err on the side of caution, preferring to keep most things under wraps. That means no set photos, script hints, or concept-to-completion insights in the lead up to broadcast. And I get it. But, from my experience working on Stargate, I always thought it a shame to hold off on those cool and informative “extras” until after the episodes aired because, at that point, you’re just preaching to the converted. I’d argue why not reward the converted with a few visual appetizers to bridge the lengthy gap between seasons? Now don’t get me wrong. I’m the last guy who’d want to ruin your viewing experience by spoiling the coming surprises in store, but I’d argue that there’s a difference between “teasers” and “spoilers”. I adhere to wiki’s definition of the spoiler: “an element of a disseminated summary or description of any piece of fiction that reveals any plot elements which threaten to give away important details concerning the turn of events of a dramatic episode“. You won’t find those on this blog. Teasers, on the other hand, are tasty little visuals to tide you over. Sort of like…
We needed a distinct-looking building for an upcoming episode and the Dark Matter Art Department knew just the man for the job. Illustrator Bartol Rendulic has contributed to the show since its inception, sketching a designing innumerable ships and space stations including our very own Raza.
In this case, Bart gave us a plethora of early concepts to choose from. We all gravitated to #5, above, but I ultimately thought it would make a better starship. What do you think?
#8 really stood out for us as well, an imposing building with a crystaline structure.
Lots to love in this batch too. #9 and #10 were favorites, although we thought #10 could use another tiny abutment higher up and to the right of the structure.
Some pretty inspired creations that are somewhat reminiscent of actual far-out buildings in Dubai.
Probably the most unique of the bunch. I was drawn to #14 because I thought it looked like a rabbit. Am I crazy?
#17 looks particularly fearsome. I’d imagine sky drivers getting impaled all the time.
Also very cool, this bunch reminded me of the Fortress of Solitude.
I tend to prefer symmetrical designs but there was something about these two.
Beautiful. For some reason, whenever I see these three, I imagine a trio of leggy woman in evening gowns. Of course, I reviewed these after our whisky club meeting so…
We ended up choosing #10 (with the minor alteration). We needed it sketched, in-story, and this was the first go by 1st Assistant Art Director Roxanne Borris. Ultimately, we decided we didn’t need to see the alleyway and should just feature the building. We wanted the sketch to be a little more detailed and closer to the original.
And Roxanne delivered (as usual).
Bart, meanwhile, brought his original vision to life in spectacular fashion:
Gorgeous, no?
From here, it’s off to visual effects whose job it will be to model, build, and bring the building to life.
But that’s a teaser for another blog entry.
http://bartoleum.deviantart.com/
Now that’s what I call a true teaser! Thank you for keeping us on the edge of our seats for season 2!
I like #5 design from the selection.
Very nice teasers for both the eyes and the brain. Now we wait…sigh.
Wow – I wish I had even a tiny bit of the creativity displayed here. I think they are all amazing! Your final choice is perfect, and I can’t wait to see it onscreen!
Oow wow! I love Bart’s sepia design style but that last concept illustration is just jaw dropping!!!
PS I kinda see a cormorant looking upwards in #14 (no whisky required!) A couple of designs could also double as weaponry perhaps?
And your ‘trio of leggy women’ (huh?!) would make interesting jewellery pendants, methinks…. But, as I said before…..oow wow!!
I totally saw the rabbit in that one before I even read about. And I agree about the leggy women in evening gowns ones. They all look great I think, so #10 is fine by me. Can’t wait to see it!!
#6 looks like it could be a gun to me horizontally, Bubba’s big brother maybe.
Love the colour one though, I have to ask how it stays with a bigger top than bottom. 🙂
Wow, these are gorgeous and it’s very cool to see the progression from sketch to detailed drawing. Such talent!
Considering I thought #5 was a sword or weapon of some kind, I love #10 especially with the added platforms/landing bays. The final image is awesome! And yes, #14 is a rabbit. Keep teasing away and who doesn’t like to be spoiled from time to time?
Well that was disappointing.
I mean, I loved the buildings, but with a blog title like that, I was kind of expecting an extremely early “season 2 teaser”… Trailer. Oh well, still really appreciated that post, I just felt cheated from my video.
So funny you should mention Dubai, Joe. As I browsed all the cool designs, the very first thought that popped into my mind was -WOW! Why? isn’t this guy Bart designing for architects creating new buildings in Saudi Arabia!
Feels like much of his building designs are significantly influenced by those often larger than life architectural abstract art sculptures of the persuasion one might sample installed in the outer central plaza of modern commercial buildings. I wonder which artists and architects he feels have the most influence on his own creations? Perhaps a lovely leisurely Sunday stroll over to his website to ask him is just what the doctor ordered for me eh!? 🙂
BTW: Enjoyed the rabbit as well. Seems inspired in part by alice in wonderland’s white rabbit and in part by the jack-o-lope??
Wow that final render blew my mind move over star wars here comes dark matter.
Really cool and awesome. Adding the color made it happen. Thanks for the tease.
Very STAR WARS-esque! And you’re right about Dubai. I was just thinking that just before I scrolled down to see you’d mentioned it! – Of course, it could still happen. It would certainly make for an interesting ICE-HOTEL!
😀
So many options…all of them awesome! Very cool! Thanks for sharing 😀
Now Joe ….. you’re not doing psych tests on the QT are you – similar to ink block tests but using Bart’s clever illustrations instead?
Rabbits …. Leggy ladies….. Spaceships or weapons? …. hmmm…. Vot haff vee here zen …?
Great way to get our imagination running while we wait for season 2 ! Gorgeous designs ! Have fun in the making and we’ll see it on screen for sure !
Gorgeous work, I would have had a VERY hard time chosing myself!!!
The illustrations are brill. I could see some aspects of these buildings being utilised for other concepts too.
Your teasers always hit the mark, Joe giving us something to consider and leave us wanting more, for me anyway.
‘reward the converted with a few visual appetisers’ – and that’s exactly what you do, and then some!
The bts footage that are on DVDs are great too because I like to know how the effect, etc of a particular scene came about, from start to the end result.
It’s the combination of pre-season teaser and end of episode bts info that makes me ‘tick’ ☺️
I originally thought those were drawings of some kind of weapons before reading farther.
Amazing work! I can’t wait for season 2!!!
Drea: I never did catch Dr Jo’s cat but I found a plethora of cat toys under the furniture. Jo’s back for the week, so I’m off duty from cat sitting.
Jo’s problems put mine into perspective. Now she’s trying to get her radiation treatments done in Memphis. Jo’s hoping to work part time, six weeks out of the eight weeks of treatment. Unfortunately, she’s having problems finding a hospital in Memphis that works with both her insurance and the dr. Thus, shining the light on the pros and cons of American healthcare. If she can’t find a Memphis radiation facility within her insurance network, then she’s looking at eight weeks in Texas without working. Please, keep her in your prayers.
My friends are back from Istanbul!!! I knew they’d have a good time but I was worried about a bombing (Istanbul had a suicide bomber just days before they arrived-10 people killed). I can’t wait to see what they bought! I’m so thankful they are safe.
Very cool, I like them all. Very weapony, like swords and spears.
Those are great! I like teasers (and I like spoilers, but I get why no spoilers).
I don’t have much to add except thanks for the teasers 🙂
Hi Joe
You gotta keep that guy. You ask for a couple of sketches and he gives you 20!
Nice choice on #10. The colour work up is fantastic. I felt a lot of then looked like Heron’s with their heads up.
Elminster
Beautiful artwork! Was some of the criteria to make the building tall, thin and sharp-edged? Upon first glance at the sepia sketches, I also thought they were weapons. Is there a reason for building up and not “wide”?
Just curious.
2cats
xo Sunday Fun! xo
So Barts Rabbit inspired me to do a fun google search for real life building structures shaped like animals.
I especially enjoyed the Fisheries Department in Hyderabad, India.
Check it out! 😀
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/buildings-shaped-like-animals
“I never did catch Dr Jo’s cat but I found a plethora of cat toys under the furniture.”
@Tam, Reminds me of a story, i think? either Carol or Randomness ?? shared with us a while back here on the blog. About how she was trying to catch a mouse in her house and ended up not only discovering a huge cache of things under the bed but, by the time she was done hunting, she realized she had given the room(s) thorough spotless cleanings in the process. 😀
Definitely keeping Jo in my heart and prayers daily.
Having been near death from serious illness in the past, which could have been avoided if I had wider insurance coverage, and more hospitals allowed for “outside of network” doctors (at least in serious, difficult to diagnose & treat health cases) I am unfortunately all too familiar with the pros and cons of the american health care system. Best anyone can do for Jo now is simply show her she is not alone and keep her laughing and reminded of the joys of life as much as possible. And if money becomes an issue for her I’ll definitely help you get a web fundraiser up and going, if you elect to do that. I’m sure Joe would gladly help us out via allowing us to promote it here as well. xo
On the upside, It is that extraordinarily difficult experience along with others that helped me put life in perspective, Give me a new way to look at things when I feel miserable and be Be highly appreciative of little things like a small animal spontaneously showing me unconditional love warmth and kindness, which completely turned things around and snapped me right out of my stressed out mood the other day! 🙂
@PonyTail @MaggieMayDay Updates?
All Hands on Deck for xo More Sunday Fun!! xo
Help vote Dark Matter into the finals at Mind Reelies!
You can vote once per hour! 🙂
Lost girl is winning right now so we need more folks voting for dark matter too! I’d be really kool if we could get them “both” into the finals! xo
http://themindreels.com/2016/01/27/reelies-round-1-week-4-favourite-group-cast-tv/
I love teasers, so thank you very much for sharing them with us. 🙂 Also, i don’t even mind spoilers, if i recall correctly my brother said to me once i was a spoiler queen, hehe, but i do understand that a show shouldn’t be spoiled. Loving the sketches and i love what you finally chose. The final sketch looks so good. Great job. 🙂
Stunning work, truly. I like how in the final concept drawing, some of his other buildings, possibly his favorites, are making a “final appearance”, as it were.
Maybe you should do a Q&A with Bartol sometime, too? I’d be interested to hear where he draws inspiration from and what kind of physical tools and tech he uses to create his drawings….
-Mike A.
I too was thinking “Star Wars” when I was looking at the art work. Stunning.
It’s November 2nd 2016, bottom of the 8th, Cubs And Indians just tied, rajai Davis just hit a home run. So did you. This is amazing to read and see concepts for the space elevator. Cool!!!!