One comment we consistently hear about Turtle Moon is: “The artwork is stunning!”
So, we thought we’d share more of the story behind it.
Creating the artwork for Turtle Moon was a pretty involved process - challenging at times, but also incredibly fun.
In the 7 minute video below, Christina takes you behind the scenes to share the original artwork, how it came together, and some of the challenges along the way.
Plus, there’s a quickfire Q&A below the video.
Quick artwork Q&A
What style did you choose? Storybook comic. We wanted players to feel like they were stepping into a real story.
What medium did you use? Hand-painted watercolour.
How is game illustration different to illustrating a book/adventure guide?
With a game, the artwork has to enhance the gameplay, not get in the way. Everything needs to be clear and easy to recognise, even on a small card.
What was the biggest challenge? The Turtle Puzzle! The four turtles needed to look like Leatherback, Hawksbill and Flatback turtles in the details, while keeping exactly the same layout so they could work as a puzzle. That took a lot of tweaking!
What is your favourite illustration? I love them all! But creating the six ranger characters and working out their different personalities was so much fun.
How many illustrations are there? Around 20 main illustrations, plus lots of separately painted backgrounds, details and smaller elements. And plenty of paintings that didn't make the final cut!
How long did it take? About 3–4 months, although it was quite stop-start. There was also a lot of work after the painting was finished, putting everything together in Photoshop for final edits and InDesign for the card layouts. Plus getting the fonts right (a big thank you to my brother for his expert help here).
Did anything have to be completely redone? Oh yes! Quite a few things. Some looked great as illustrations but didn't work once they became cards. Playtesting caught lots of those problems.
Would you do it again? Absolutely!
