The best part of being an artist? Early prime access!
Temple Prime
Let me know your favorite part(s) of their design!
A little window into my design process and inspiration under the cut (WF1999 spoilers!) ⬇️
If you know anything me, you know I love Temple. Every new tidbit of lore I find out about them carries so much inspiration, so what better way to honor that than priming them?
When starting out this concept, I had a couple of main source inspirations: some of my early drafts for various other half-designed Temple cosmetics (I've been working very hard on a deluxe and an heirloom as well but haven't quite settled on a finalized design for either yet), the nonbinary flag color palette, and Flare's appearance pre-proto serum. I also wanted to keep their silhouette as close to the original Temple as possible, while still transforming them a little.
The first roadblock I hit with this design, however, is the very question that has plagued me with every Temple cosmetic I've ever attempted:
How does one improve perfection?
The problem with sticking too close to the original Temple design as a reference, is that they are too well-designed (thank you, Kaz, from the bottom of my heart). Usually when designing a cosmetic for a character, I would think of the changes I'd make to their design, and start there. However, Temple just had to be the exception to the rule (as usual), so I turned my whole process on its head. Instead of an improvement and polish to a design, Temple Prime was a complete reimagination while still keeping their essence true to Temple.
I've only been playing Warframe for a bit over a year now, but from what I have learned about the game and its lore, Prime Warframes are exactly what it says on the tin - the Warframe, in their prime. Often (looking at you, Lavos) plated in Orokin gold, yes, but at their strongest and most robust nonetheless. So what does Temple's prime look like? That answer was easy - Temple and the Rippers, organizing a tour dedicated to putting Viktor Vodyanoi in his place and inspiring the people of Höllvania to rise up and stand up for themselves. That drive, the desire to spit in the face of oppressors and kindle the sparks of rebellion, that is Temple's core. So when Flare's comet drops them off at Pluto Terminus for the Night of the Naga Drums, there they will be, transformed, reborn in glitter and fire to fight alongside Octavia Prime for the children wronged by men who thought themselves gods.
With all that in mind, I drew my heart out. I've had some minor tweaks along the way, but for the most part, I ended up sticking very close to my original concept, a doodle I made in a notebook while at work. These refinements have ended up taking months due to some stuff going on IRL, but this has been a labor of love in progress since The Old Peace, and I am so excited to finally be able to share Temple Prime with all of you. ❤️
