Maya Magazine Cover - Microplastics
Microplastic has been known to be accumulating in oceans, but they have now been found in the placenta. These plastics were tiny (5-10 micrometers) enough to be carried through the bloodstream which meant that the plastic particles could have entered the baby’s body through the umbilical cord. The plastics were found to be pigmented, implying that the plastics came from paints, adhesive, plasters, finger paints, polymers, and cosmetics. Although these babies were born healthy, there is a pressing concern for the possible long term effects.
Media - Magazine cover
Audience - General public
Medium - Ai, Ps, Maya
Timeline - Feb. to April 2021
Production.
Brainstorm.
Main idea - Organic babies are no more, man-made microplastic found in the human placenta.
Treatment idea - Draw a baby in amniotic sac connected to a placenta. But the placenta will be replaced by a crushed plastic bottle.
With Marc Dryer’s feedback, the direction of the cover was to include a fetus and a plastic bag instead of the placenta.
Initial sketches.
Color draft.
Lighting was an important factor in my cover. I wanted a glow behind the fetus and sub-surface scattering to highlight the embryo.
Maya initial render.
Final version.
Added motion blur on the umbilical cord and adjusted saturation of the fetus.