Greetings, Artisan!

I hope your art is going well,

One of the most enjoyable things to do as an artist, is to make things. To create our own worlds and projects.

So many artists out there today are creating their own 'IP'... original 'Intellectual Property'.

This has always seemed to be a strange label to give a collection of art

In my latest Drawing Codex video, I wanted to talk about and explore the difference between worldbuilding as a creative exercise and building IP with a specific purpose in mind. (While I create a fantasy illustration in real time.)

You can check it out below:

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Here are some thoughts that I have found useful when it comes to building my own worlds:

Why Build Worlds?

People today are creating their own IP – developing personal worlds and characters – but often without any clear goal.

I have found Intellectual property only has value when it's actually used for something.

This might seem obvious, but I see so many artists (myself included at times) who get caught up in endless worldbuilding without considering what the world is actually for.

Now, the value of IP today is huge. It underpins all of entertainment. The ideas do matter.

The sheer number of adaptations and sequels coming out of Hollywood should give some indication of how important IP is.

But often we think that simply creating an imaginary world (or a series of concept art pieces) means we are building the same epic value.

The Value Is in the Application

Think about the worlds we all love – Star Wars, Warhammer 40K, Star Trek. These worlds were built to support specific stories and themes:

• Star Wars: At its core, Star Wars explores spirituality (the Force) versus technology in a dystopian future. The Millennium Falcon – old, constantly breaking down – reinforces these themes perfectly. It represents unreliable technology that requires faith to operate.
• Warhammer 40K: The extensive, grim lore creates a perfect backdrop for epic battles. Every aspect of this universe supports endless war and conflict.
• Star Trek: Explores humanity's place in a technological future. The alien races represent different aspects of humanity, letting us explore human qualities through contrast.

The lore supports the actual products – whether films, games, or novels. Without those products, the worldbuilding itself has little real value.

We love the stories of J.R.R. Tolkien developing endless history and lore for his world of Middle Earth. This is great when it works.

When the history and lore are a major part of the appeal, it becomes a central part of what people love about the books.

But most of the time endless fantasy names and places and past events fall flat. Unless they relate to a good story, it can just make things hard to understand.

Different Mediums Demand Different Worlds

Another critical idea to pay attention to, is that the medium you're building for matters:

• Books thrive on what people think – perfect for internal monologue
• Movies show what people do – visual storytelling is their strength
• Games require interactive elements and clear player motivation

The rules of your world need to serve the medium they're intended for.

Aesthetics Alone Don't Cut It

Unfortunately creating a cool aesthetic won't get you far.

We love cool art and cool styles as artists, but this doesn't translate very well into value.

In today's world (especially with AI), aesthetics are easily copied. Art directors can put your work on a mood board and have someone else create something similar. Style isn't copyrightable.

What makes IP valuable is the combination of high-concept ideas with their actual manifestation in a product. Today, many ideas for movie pitches are first tested in other mediums. A comic can be more valuable than a pitch deck.

The more work that's already manifested into something tangible, the more valuable it becomes.

What's Your Worldbuilding FOR?

If you're working on your own ideas and projects (or thinking about starting one), consider these questions:

• What specific medium might work best for your world?
• What story or experience does your world enable that couldn't exist elsewhere?
• What core theme does your 'IP' help explore?

Lore should exist for something tangible and meaningful. Without that purpose, it's just random floating concepts.

There is nothing wrong with simply enjoying the process of making stuff but when you are putting a lot of time into your project, it's good to consider where it's going.

I'm really interested to hear your thoughts on this. Do you agree? Are you currently building your own worlds? Hit reply and let me know.

Tim

Here is a copy of the image I made in the video:

The techniques I use to create this are all in The Line and Color Academy.

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