LUKOMORYE creatures and folk costumes, texture study and initial character concepts. A.K. 2019.
LUKOMORYE is a legendary island in Slavic mythology, and a setting of popular Russian fairytales. The centerstage of the island is an ancient oak tree populated by mythical creatures, and surrounded by magical ocean waters.
Started as a series of quick illustrations and texture studies based on my nature photographs, the project turned into a visual story, featuring costumes and puppets of my design.
The visual direction of Lukomorye was heavily influenced by things I loved as a kid (hiding under a giant blanket, playing with puppets, collecting shells and twigs while out in nature); I wanted it to look whimsical and playful, but with a shroud of mystery and melancholia, like revisiting waning childhood memories. I also really love the idea of darker interpretation of fairy tales, giving a slightly gothic twist to familiar stories.
Initial pencil sketches of Lukomorye characters. A.K. 2019
The moodboard, concept and material explorations for the ocean spirit in LUKOMORYE, featuring my photos of collected shells, study of shape and light, and initial sketches. A.K. 2019
The Ocean concept sketches exploring interpretations of the Russian folk dress, pencil on paper.
The Ocean concept sketches (continued), pencil on paper.
The Ocean mask prototype.
The design of the Ocean character was inspired by the work of the Russian fairytale illustrators Ivan Bilibin and Victor Vasnetsov, as well as Slavic folk and carnival costumes.
The final version of the Ocean features a traditional Russian headdress ("kokoshnik") with a carnival-inspired mask for the aded mystique and a hand-painted silk veil.
The Ocean refined pencil sketch, A.K.
Digital color rendering with revised shells, A.K.
Final costume made by me, A.K., modeled by @ejanekalabina2019
The Oak character was inspired by a very particular piece of wood from my collection. It made me think of Tolkien's giant walking trees and a similar character in Russian folklore - Leshiy. My initial concept sketches featured a mask, but I decided against it in the interest of making the character less human-like and more like a magical walking tree.
The final version of the costume consists of a giant hat embellished with repurposed organza and a hand-dyed jumpsuit.
The oak refined concept sketch, A.K. 2019
The oak final costume. Design, fabrication and photography by me; worn by @dmitriyivanov | A.K. 2019
The oak final costume. Design, fabrication and photography by me; worn by @dmitriyivanov | A.K. 2019
The full Lukomorye ensemble features the Ocean and the Oak as personified characters with the classical folklore creatures Baba Yaga and Koshei the Deathless as puppets, as well as the puppeteer-narrator (in the original Lukomorye poem , the stories are narrated by a magical cat who lives in the tree).
Baba Yaga concept, mixed media collage | Lukomorye by A.K.
Baba Yaga puppet | Lukomorye by A.K
Koshei the Deathless puppet pining over his ocean treasures | Lukomorye by A.K
The Oak | Lukomorye by A.K
The Ocean and the Oak ("On seashore far") | Lukomorye by A.K
The marvels of Lukomorye | Lukomorye by A.K
Concept sketch for Rusalka | Lukomorye by A.K
Concept sketch, Lukomorye creatures | Lukomorye by A.K
The Narrator and Koshei the Deathless puppet | Lukomorye by A.K
Backview of the Ocean gown, hand-painted silk | Lukomorye by A.K
Front view of the OCean gown, hand-painted silk | Lukomorye by A.K
Bonus: Behind the scenes with the Oak!
