Waterfall Temple
Environment Design • Background Study
Waterfall Temple is an environment design and study exploring worldbuilding and envirornmental elements in storytelling. Inspired by East Asian architecture and waterfall landscapes, this project combines different styles of inspiration to create a unique setting. The goal was to develop a visually interesting environment that could function both as a standalone background illustration and as an animated establishing shot.
Software
Clip Studio Paint
Adobe After Effects
Duration
Approximately 6 Hours
Perspective
The project began with a simple perspective study to establish the foundation of the environment. Large geometric forms were used to determine the overall scale of the island and create a foundation for the tempe before moving into any detailed construction.
Environment Foundation
After establishing perspective, the composition was developed through a rough environment sketch. The focus during this stage was creating a strong outline and balancing the temple against the surrounding landscape elements, including the waterfall and bridge. This was the first iteration. It was very challenging drawing in perspective and I did struggle with knowing exactly where the placement would be. This initial draft was ultimately revised under several reiterations.
First Color Pass
Once the composition placement was finalized, a basic color pass was introduced to establish the overall mood. I experimented with royal blue and gold, but ultimately decided to utilize more of the red family to compliment the cherry blossoms and the bridge which I always planned to be red. Using the warmer architectural tones, they were paired with cooler water and sky colors to create a separation while maintaining a soft aesthetic.
Reflection
This project provided valuable practice in environment building and taking in perspective with architectural design. Future iterations would focus on adding additional depth through layered foreground elements, and incorporating more advanced environmental effects and adding motion for the flower petals and the waterfall.
