The illustration Biker Girl is the visual centerpiece of the personal project Neon Drift, a cyberpunk universe blending anime and cinema. It depicts a messenger on a motorcycle during a break, assessing the safest route to avoid the police and rival gangs in the decaying city of New Eden. The side profile highlights the motorcycle design and the environment, with the red of the helmet contrasting against a greenish, deteriorated landscape.
Photobashing, 3DCoat, and a Ducati paying tribute to Akira 🏍️
The process combined photobashing, digital painting, and modeling in 3DCoat. The motorcycle is a tribute to Kaneda's in Akira, based on a modified Ducati Monster. The setting was inspired by Tokyo and Hong Kong, with high-tech architecture evoking a failed future. Photos of those cities were used to create a gritty, lived-in atmosphere, adjusting lighting with multiply and overlay modes, and adding neon with overexposure modes.
How to survive in New Eden without paying tolls or taxes 🚦
The protagonist knows that in New Eden, the police are as corrupt as the gangs, so her approach is more of a risk calculation than a casual ride. The red of her helmet and bike isn't just aesthetic: it's a magnet for stray bullets and fines. But hey, at least the alternate route has better neon views. Though, if you see someone in a similar jacket, better switch sidewalks.