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MattRhodesArt — Dune House Atreides on Caladan

Published: 2015-09-24 21:35:25 +0000 UTC; Views: 51120; Favourites: 1182; Downloads: 451
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Description

I finally gave in to the siren song of Dune and was dashed upon the rocks like so many concept artists before me. There just isn't time to render these, but I’m reasonably pleased with the linework, so here they are!

Some context: I fell into a Dune-hole recently which started by stumbling across the INCREDIBLE art from what would have been Jodorowsky’s Dune film. That inspired me to re-watch the David Lynch movie again (one of my favorites). At that point, I had to read the book again. In the middle of my read-through, I watched a couple Tarsem Singh movies and my brain made a connection that I couldn’t shake loose:

I want a 4 hour Dune movie designed by Tarsem Singh’s crew (production designer, art director, costume designer, cinematographer, etc…)

So, in order to get that thought out of my brain, I took a clumsy swing at designing the cast of Dune through the lens of Tarsem Singh’s crew. To me, that meant making each character an operatic or theatrical expression of their role in the story. Visual storytelling cranked to eleven. 

Caladan

I thought the Atreides  on Caladan should look “water rich”. I wanted to design a visual language that looked like it was born out of generations of ruling a tropical paradise.

Dr. Yueh – The diamond mark of his conditioning becomes a mask, but it’s not %100 effective so it doesn’t cover one eye.

Thufir Hawat – The Juice of Sapho is held in a small vial near his mouth, always near him. He may once have fit his ceremonial armor better, but he’s no less dangerous.

Gurney Halleck – Patrick Stewart was perfect in this role, but in the book he’s described as being a pretty ugly guy. He has blades all over him, and his clothing is tied down tightly for sparring.

Paul – He wears the Atreides Hawke at his breast, with one “red wing” cape over his shoulder. He is dressed for life on his water-rich homeland.

Reverend Mother Helen Gaius Mohiam – She carries branching staff to represent diverging bloodlines.  Her collar echoes the Emperor’s own crest. I wanted to design a motif for the Bene Gesserit with several meanings. Her hair is tonsured like a monk’s, but they wear a braided mohawk like a horses mane to make reference to their ongoing breeding program. They also wear fine chains connected to piercings from their eyes, ears and mouths. This is a visual representation of their constant focus on observation, listening and influence through speech.

Duke Leto – He is described as having a face like a bird of prey, so I exaggerated that. He wears the Atreides Hawke on his chest, with two red wing capes behind him.

The Lady Jessica – She has the Bene Gesserit hair (tonsured with a horses mane mowhawk) and piercings (connecting eyes, hears and mouth). She has a modified version of the Atreides Hawk crest, forming a more elegant cape. 

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Comments: 31

thorimthestormlord [2023-07-13 10:41:03 +0000 UTC]

👍: 1 ⏩: 0

Monkshood-LaRue [2022-04-24 12:01:43 +0000 UTC]

👍: 1 ⏩: 1

MattRhodesArt In reply to Monkshood-LaRue [2022-04-25 16:12:14 +0000 UTC]

👍: 1 ⏩: 0

NishaSnakeNoodle [2020-09-26 05:50:27 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Ophiguris [2017-11-26 00:04:36 +0000 UTC]

These concepts and styles of yours immediately remind me of Aeon Flux!
I could easily see these fit into a similarly styled cartoon adaptation of Dune :0!

👍: 1 ⏩: 0

Zahgatu [2017-07-25 05:37:30 +0000 UTC]

Really nice,but where is Duncan,where's Gurney face scar? 

👍: 1 ⏩: 0

GBLXVIII [2017-04-13 17:19:47 +0000 UTC]

   

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

YuryMilovidov [2017-01-26 21:06:02 +0000 UTC]

Simply amazing!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Mogwai-toejam [2017-01-24 05:53:02 +0000 UTC]

Wow!  I'm so used to Patrick Stewart that I didn't think of Gurney looking like that!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ZeroEnna56 [2016-08-14 20:53:51 +0000 UTC]

That's really wonderful 

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Wallaceclan [2016-06-03 20:03:43 +0000 UTC]

Where's Duncan Idaho?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LorenzoFerrari2002 In reply to Wallaceclan [2022-04-23 20:58:14 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

doktorno [2016-04-23 07:36:04 +0000 UTC]

"Dune" is my favourite mix of SF-Fantasy themes. And it did aged well! Too bad that sequel novels were loosing their bliss with each new volume...

And your designs reminds me French comics from 1970-80's.

👍: 1 ⏩: 1

MattRhodesArt In reply to doktorno [2016-04-24 03:22:41 +0000 UTC]

Ha, thank you. Being compared to 70's-80's french comics is a big compliment. 

👍: 1 ⏩: 1

doktorno In reply to MattRhodesArt [2016-04-24 11:08:36 +0000 UTC]

I know, I know. And I guess you saw designs for Yodorowsky's  "Dune" by Moebius.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

MattRhodesArt In reply to doktorno [2016-04-24 14:25:58 +0000 UTC]

I mention that in the description, yes

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

madkingad [2016-02-10 00:23:32 +0000 UTC]

I would pledge toward this on kickstarter...  

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

RebellingLemming [2016-01-26 02:11:23 +0000 UTC]

Amazing style!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Tazio-Bettin [2015-12-17 23:08:01 +0000 UTC]

You basically redefined my vision of Dune but... where's Duncan?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Grigori77 In reply to Tazio-Bettin [2016-05-06 17:53:12 +0000 UTC]

I second the notion.  Duncan's the best character in the saga.  Otherwise very cool take on these characters.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

AntniEllison [2015-11-12 18:13:49 +0000 UTC]

Love your work so much man. Looks amazing as usual.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Marethyn [2015-09-30 11:53:27 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful work and designs

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SpectorKnight [2015-09-30 04:19:26 +0000 UTC]

The style and the thought put into the designs of these characters is extraordinary! Inspired work!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Vanguard3000 [2015-09-29 13:44:43 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic work on all three Dune pieces!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ameliageika [2015-09-28 14:58:43 +0000 UTC]

Very reminiscent of some of the concepts Jodorowski (sp?) was working with.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

doktorno In reply to ameliageika [2016-04-24 16:14:50 +0000 UTC]

For me too www.sonyclassics.com/jodorowsk…

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

fluff-lynn [2015-09-28 13:20:31 +0000 UTC]

I never watched the old Dune movie (I just couldn't bring myself to like how the actors/characters in it looked...), but I personally really enjoyed the mini-series~ and the actors in it also looked great~

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Keyan-Korshunov [2015-09-25 23:56:05 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

GrimweaverArt [2015-09-25 20:52:38 +0000 UTC]

Cousin Frank would be very pleased to see these ! <3 

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Eclaring [2015-09-25 13:51:07 +0000 UTC]

Lovely designs and shapes!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

StruggBuggStudios [2015-09-24 23:42:43 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous, gorgeous!

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