iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alex Ries @alexries.com · 27/09/2026

I got slopped. Looks like shit lol

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 21/09/2026

Got a new idea to stop AI

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 19/09/2026

Alien of the Day: The Cinruss This image of the Cinruss is from a spread in 'Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials', one of my favourite books, and one of the first put out by Wayne in his early career. I find these fellows delightful!

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 17/09/2026

Typically iconic Terryl Whitlatch art.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 15/09/2026

zBrush users - I wonder if this sort of sculpting is possible? How is radial sculpting WITH symmetrical individual elements achieved?

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 13/09/2026

Fan art I produced some years ago for the Xeelee Sequence books by Stephen Baxter, some of my favorite space opera. It introduced me to a lot of mad Big Dumb Object ideas. This artwork is based on the description of the powerful Xeelee species in his most recent trilogy in the series.

Illustration of a blue ethereal alien meeting a woman

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 11/09/2026

Alien of the Day A lovely Selection from Masters of Orion 3! These have inspired some of my own designs as far back as high school. Particularly love the gas-bag Ethearian...

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 04/09/2026

I threw up in my mouth a little.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 04/09/2026

Lets game out this scenario: Would the US invade Canada to access their arable land and escape the desert? Would Russia wait everyone out and rule as Gods with all the farmland land? Or would instability make that impossible? How do the intact powers 'deal' with billions of refugees?

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 03/09/2026

Fascinating how 'you will all die in fire' is just a modestly trending topic lol

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 02/09/2026

Alien of the Day: The Gungans from Star Wars! Despite being maligned due to writing and tone issues in the films, the designs by Terryl Whitlatch I find very charming. The species worked better in animation, such as The Clone Wars series, where their slapstick played out more effectively.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 02/09/2026

My favorite movie at age 20 Not only did I love the movie, the DVD had 3 HOURS of amazing animation docos and tons of concept art.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 30/08/2026

Alien of the Day This GORGEOUS portrait of a bolt-tongue by Wayne Barlowe, from his famous book 'Expedition'. Superior use of textures; something very difficult to master in my experience!

Painting of an alien predator with a bright red arrow shaped tongue

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 27/08/2026

Yo this thing from Farscape is cool as hell.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 27/08/2026

Alien of the Day: Floaters! Jellyblimps hunted by Swordtails in the high atmosphere of Jupiter. The floating gas bag alien is a classic speculative trope in creature design... one I like to explore myself! From the 'National Geographic Picture Atlas of our Universe' Roy A. Gallant #scifiart

flying creatures fighting in the atmosphere of jupiter

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 26/08/2026

Alien of the Day: A martian fox critter! Its large ears can detect sound in the thin atmosphere, while its ears and tail both help keep it warm during the Martian nights, with thin legs adapted to the low gravity. From the Picture Atlas of our Universe; a favourite book of mine as a kid.

an illustration of a large eared martian creature.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 17/08/2026

Adventure Time had cool dragons yo

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 10/08/2026

From sketch to completion on the 'cryptosuchus' for Subnautica: Below Zero. The name means 'hidden crocodile', based on the brief which was that it lived hidden in the deep craggy reefs. I explored otter-like and more fish style locomotion... even deleted a pair of legs at one stage!

concept art for an alien crocodile like marine creature

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 27/07/2026

Do you think Kpop Demon Hunter's message about baring our hidden scars would have been more impactful if the main characters markings didn't look cool as hell?

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 27/07/2026

Concepts for the Arctic Peeper. This was one of the most fun projects on SN:BZ because the Peeper is so iconic; it was a joy to work with that design, and give it a few little stylistic flourishes.

concepts art of peeper fish for subnautica: below zero

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 08/07/2026

Got the very excellent Knights of Guinevere art book! Want to congratulate @danaterrace.bsky.social and the team for putting this together; I am so excited for the show!

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 08/07/2026

A Cresting Wave flying boat trading along the drowned coast near the Valley of Two-Sky River. Part of the ongoing Birrin Saga :)

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 30/06/2026

My flight back from Lady Elliott Island, one of the last pristine reefs in Australia. A melancholy followed my visit knowing what is coming with the great flood; and that all the eco-tourism wont help a multi meter sea evel rise. You can kind of kid yourself its not happening while you are there.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 29/06/2026

Cool fungi on a winter walk in Melbourne :)

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 24/06/2026

I must say I rather enjoyed The Backrooms!

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 22/06/2026

Some of my more... experimental takes on the Architects for Subnautica: Below Zero :)

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 21/06/2026

Being a Zooble is absolutely a win.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 17/06/2026

I like the idea of female and cross species Jem Hadar because it implies Odo may have had a partly liberalising effect on the Founders, perhaps releasing some of the control they had on client species. Maybe there are friendly Weyouns out there.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 14/06/2026

Exocomps have recovered from the Peanut Hamper debacle I see.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 14/06/2026

I think this is worth addressing, because Ai I does offer workflow speed ups. 1. It is brand toxic even as a capitalist artist to use, and brand is critical. 2. Not everyone wants to be a manager and its almost certainly not why most people become artists. 3. Your skills as an artist will decline

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 12/06/2026

The perfect woman doesnt exis…

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 12/06/2026

My first Amphibia piece and the characters that inspired it.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 12/06/2026

This is the most dork ass shit I have ever heard a grown man say.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 11/06/2026

I met a lovely gentleman.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 09/06/2026

Saw my first kreatures. No mantas so far.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 06/06/2026

The work I did for the Architects in Subnautica: Below Zero. They were unused but were very fun!

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 02/06/2026

We wanted to explore symbiosis and mutualism in Subnautica 2. These beings can survive alone, but in joining they create a central powerful water jet, and share nutrients and neurotransmitters via the attachment membranes.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 02/06/2026

A couple of my more... unusual designs for Subnautica: Below Zero. Remember those folding paper fortune tellers in school?

concept art of an alien marine sea creature for subnautica below zero

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 31/05/2026

Having Worf work for Section 31 basically makes him a dishonourable man, right?

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 30/05/2026

Theories on this new nightmare?

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 30/05/2026

Reporting live from X: what the fuck even is Conservative ideology at this point lol

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 30/05/2026

Look at these Trek aliens I love then.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 29/05/2026

Even so, the performances and artistry are so wonderful I still have a fondness for it.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 29/05/2026

I really think this film could have popped off with a pretty minor story change. One that would have better explored the theme of old hatreds, redemption, AND given AO3 types what they wanted.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 29/05/2026

Most Trekkies hate Into Darkness: fair enough. The reason I liked it was that it was about Starfleet reckoning with its increased militarism over peaceful exploration, as manifest with the Vengeance. That was a problem I had with the franchise as a whole, so appreciated the theme.

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Alex Ries @alexries.com · 29/05/2026

I designed these little UFO freakos.

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