Byrne Robotics: Question For John-Tech Backgrounds

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Topic: Question For John-Tech Backgrounds

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Marc Thompson
Byrne Robotics Member
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Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 189

Posted: 07 June 2023 at 2:06pm \| IP Logged \| 1	post reply

One of the most consistent aspects of your art has been your skillful depiction of futuristic backgrounds. I’m thinking of spaceship interiors, AIM facilities, Sentinel bases and the like. I love that in spite of an abundance of detailed doohickeys, there is an order and flow to the larger composition. Would you be willing to share your process for

‘building” a tech background?

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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132226

Posted: 07 June 2023 at 2:46pm \| IP Logged \| 2	post reply

Squiggly lines! Lots of ‘em.

That’s in the layouts, of course. Then with pencil and/or ink, I tidy it up, sometimes assisted by a french curve.

The bottom line, tho, is don’t be afraid of it!

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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132226

Posted: 07 June 2023 at 5:11pm \| IP Logged \| 3	post reply

This question reminds me again of the first time Terry Austin and I were paired up, on STAR LORD.

In one panel I drew our hero flying onto the destroyed bridge of a starship. “Squiggly lines” for exploded instrument panels. Terry, not yet familiar with my quirks, turned my twisted metal into knobs, levers and buttons!

:-)

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Scott Sackett
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Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 405

Posted: 08 June 2023 at 12:34am \| IP Logged \| 4	post reply

I am a member of several online groups devoted to the aesthetic of 'Cassette-Futurism".

Generally, Cassette-Futurism is the future as imagined in the '70s.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CassetteFuturism

https://martin-fieber.de/blog/cassette-futurism/

https://johnhannonblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/14/cassette-fut urism/

To my eye, your spaceship controls, computer banks, any high-tech eviroment you've drawn always had that look to me.

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John Byrne
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Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132226

Posted: 08 June 2023 at 1:46am \| IP Logged \| 5	post reply

Not an unfair assessment. My tech basically starts with TOS STAR TREK, mixes in some 2001 and ALIEN, a dash of STAR WARS, and some Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Ron Cobb, Syd Mead, John Berkey and Moebius.

(Not intended as a comprehensive list.)

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Mike Benson
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Joined: 04 January 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 811

Posted: 08 June 2023 at 2:16am \| IP Logged \| 6	post reply

Hell of a list, comprehensive or not!

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