The Art of Alex Ries

The Tumblr of Alex Ries, creator of the Birrin project and concept artist on Subnautica: Below Zero

[alexriesart]

A creature I designed for Subnautica 2: the Hycean!

Inspired by pelagic snails like heteropods and siphonophores.

[alexriesart]

More art from Subnautica: Below Zero, in this case the little Pinnacarid.

The name was inspired by seals (Pinnipeds) and shrimp (Caridea), the latter taken from the name of Anomalocaris.

[alexriesart]

Unused Subnautica: Below Zero; these were to have evolved from the 'Sky Rays' of the first game.

Lethal, raptorial species that could grab prey (or players) from near the water's surface.

[alexriesart]

... So how we feelin' after the live action Tamatoa reveal-?

It was never going to be anything else.

[alexriesart]

hello alex! i was wondering, what's your opinion on the Skiedons from the roblox game Be an Alien: Renewal?

they're a sapient reptiloid species that live on the moon Kiray. they use copper for a lot of things, such as tools or buildings, similar to how we use iron. they used to be spacefaring with lots of advanced technology but an invading race of alien from a different galaxy called the Zorn had stolen a majority of the skiedon population for forced labor and slavery, and they also destroyed nearly all of their laboratories and their single large industrial hub city, and even possibly small sparse villages from the outskirts of the globe. this made the Skiedon race regress back into an era akin to the bronze age, and the skiedons had ran into the trees for safety which eventually made them evolve an arboreal lifestyle.

they speak a language called Skiedonic! labial consonants are forbidden because they have beaks instead of lips.

the skiedons are so amazing to me! i really like their appearance, especially their little antenna located near the bridge of their beak and their extra pair of (vestigial) arms on their upper chest. i love this alien species so so much and I've been fixating on them for months now :-)

all the images that appear after the 2rd pic are considered outdated, some are even from 2017 lol but they have a new remodel thats currently a work in progress and it looks fabulous, cant wait for it to be brought into the game soon!!!

I think they look cute! Bug birds.

[alexriesart]

What is the vocals and sounds of a birrin? Would it be similar to clicks like a dolphine, complex airways similar to a bird to make sounds like how a parrot does....ooorrr? Human-like vocals?

Because from the looks of it, they dont particularly have very articulate lips, considering the beaks of a birrin is hard like keratin

Or do they not speak at all? They do make sounds but mostly just roars or chirps?

Someone prolly already asked this question but i havent seen it yet so

Jurassic Park 3 raptors and birdsong.

[alexriesart]

since we're talking about dance, Can the birrin break it down?

Absolutely. Males often become particularly good at it.

[alexriesart]

Can birrin vomit?

And how.

[alexriesart]

I saw a recent post you made about Birrin language alphabet. I remember you saying years ago that you were still figuring out the language, so I'm glad you finally did!

On a different note, The symbols kinda remind me of kanji. Was that the inspiration behind them?

A combination of Kanji, Arabic and Hebrew all inspired some of the forms.

[alexriesart]

Hi Mr Alex. I have been following your work for a long time and i LOVE your art style and the Birrin since i learn about them in Curious Archive, such a unique spec evo inteligent speices. I also like all the small details you have been giving in the Tumblr, it gives such a inside to the culture and Birrin society (Such stuff i like actuall, the little society details, something like looking at what was the everyday of normal people in the past) i really Hope to buy your book but sadly not enought money. Keep Up the work and Hope you continue to expand the world!

I understand, economics are tough these days. Glad you enjoy my work :)

[alexriesart]

How do you pronounce birrin?

Curious Archive does it right!

[alexriesart]

Would Birrin be intimidated by how tall humans are?

Oh absolutely not.

[alexriesart]

When the early access drops for subnautica 2, are you going to be able to share any of the concept art you did for things in that release?

I am working on getting some approved for release :)

Ultimately the company decides whats OK to show as they want to avoid spoilers.

[alexriesart]

Do you have any high rez copies of the Children of Time fan art that is on your page? I'd like to buy one and print it for a nursery.

Sure! Drop me an email.

[alexriesart]

Do you have any tips for designing unique alien "flora"?

I have a free tutorial you can use! Here :)

[alexriesart]

Some of the many designs explored the Subnautica: Below Zeros 'sea monkeys'.

I was rather fond of the baby crabsquid direction :)

[alexriesart]

Concepts for the 'chelicerate' in Subnautica: Below Zero.

I got to channel camel spiders for this one, some of my favorite inspirations. Got them funky mouths.