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A blog dedicated to a graphic novel adaption of the Jules Verne novel of the same name.

[20000leaguesunderthesea]

[20000leaguesunderthesea]

Some concept sketches for the diver˚s lamps.

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Underwater study.

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Concept art of the diving suits for the staff of the ’Nautilus’.

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Some studies for the furniture of the grand saloon aboard the ’Nautilus’.

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Hi there, I had to do a workover of the color sketch of the dining room aboard the ’Nautilus’, and here is it. Couldn’t resist :).

[20000leaguesunderthesea]

A first color sketch of the dining room aboard the ’Nautilus’. The frame of the double door on the back is made of cast iron, while the fine twine work in the yellow tapestry fields is made of wrought iron. The yellow parts in the door itself are colored parts, or tapestry, no glass (the door is fully made of cast iron, though). The room has a glass roof electrically lit from behind. The moulding has two opposite archivolts with sea-related motif paintings (I spared the one in the field over the cupboard). There is red carpet on the floor (I didn’t give much attention to that, admittedly, in this sketch), and the walls are paneled with wood up to chest height from where there is yellow tapestry which goes up to the moulding made of wood, but painted in white. The yellow parts in the lower half of the door are brass baffle plates. I spared the door handles, but this is something easily to design when it comes to the final artwork in the comic. And there will have to be something like a small railing or so on the top of the table on the right - were’e on a ship and there should be some protection against things falling from surfaces, I guess. But that, too, will be easy to add in the final appearance in the graphic novel.

[20000leaguesunderthesea]

I did a colorized version of Pierre Arronax’ cabin aboard the ’Nautilus’ - you remember, I did a draft of that room to find out how Nemo would house ’guests’ on his ship here.

In the novel it is said Nemo not chintzy with accomodation of Arronax, Conseil and Ned Land, so the interior has to be a bit lavish, I think - and find that impression also in the colors.

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Draft for Arronax’ cabin aboard the ’Nautilus’.

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Nemo’s cabin aboard the ’Nautilus’ (draft from my sketchbook).

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Figuring out how to draw or paint an underwater landscape for the project. Especially the seweed and all the ’growing’ stuff will take some time to study, and also the ocean floor topography proofs to be a totally different field than I expected. I added some wrecks to make it a little bit more alluring to work out for me :).

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Artwork for Nemo’s pipe organ.

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’Nautilus’ design sketch.

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Nemo’s bathroom.

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Having finished work on a graphic novel adaption of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds” - to be released by Egmont Graphic Novel in January 2017 - it was time to choose a new major project to work on. Yes, it was important to go ahead with new ideas.... and I always was fascinated by Jules Verne’s books, topics and imagination. So starting to work on an adaption of Verne’s famous "20.000 Leagues under the Sea" was long due for me - and here’s to the start of a documentation of the working process. I hope you enjoy this ’fantastic journey’ with me and will also be a little patient, because I will only update if I have something significant to contribute that keeps this comic moving and on track. But, after all, you’ll be able to follow the REAL development here with that!

I think, this time it will become a bit more steampunky than "Worlds", because the topic totally allows it - yes, in some parts even asks for it, I think. It is mere steampunk in some parts, I guess, whilst keeping up a very grounded-in-reality-tone (not to lose sight of Verne’s specifically passionate writing style, of course). But don’t be afraid, I will do a lot of research and stay as truthful to everything period-related or style-referred in the novel as I did with "Worlds" - writing this now, I have to admit that you are only able proof my words on the Wells adaption not earlier than January ’17, almost 6 months to go! Haha! But maybe you understand my goal better when you take a look at the War of the Worlds blog:

www.derkriegderwelten.blogspot.de

or

www.derkriegderwelten.tumblr.com

Okay! I’m looking forward to the work on "20.000 Leagues"! And you can see first concept art above. I won’t tell you yet what’s on display here, though ;-).