Render A Surreal Sci-Fi Character

Illustrator Audra Auclair taps into the influence of music to inspire a cyborg femme concept with bright hues and expressive lines.

I’m often asked how I get my ideas. I honestly recycle a lot of my favourite features/themes to fit what I’m trying to express in an artwork. Preferring a balance of beauty, edge and the surreal, I use the human form to hint at undertones of emotions.

You can express a lot through something that appears merely aesthetic. A mask is a nod towards disassociation, a huge third eye expresses existentialism, a demon’s horns symbolise the dark side of humanity, and bright colour is used as a juxtaposition against dark undertones.

Using anatomy in this way isn’t new, but that’s okay. To me, art is firstly a form of therapy, secondly a relationship, and thirdly a skill/job. Artists usually desire to be unique, but it’s important to remember that most ideas have been done before. If you relieve yourself of that pressure, you allow yourself to experiment and grow. Let your brain take you where it naturally wants to go.

If you can’t express what you wish to, then it’s likely you need to focus on fundamentals. Learning fundamentals helps considerably when exploring surrealism. If you’re too stiff and focused on fundamentals you should loosen up in a sketchbook or use abstraction to create new shapes and ideas. My workshop will show you the technical side of how I created my cover art and explain my inspiration behind it.

1 Inspiration and concept

Music, emotions, nature and societal issues have driven my art in the past. I know I want to create a character that’s robotic and cold, but is balanced with natural vibrant elements. To help me get into this mind space I listen to Grimes and Kimbra. Their music channels the feelings I want to communicate with this image.

2 Drawing loose thumbnails