My readers know that I am an enthusiast of rich well-imagined worldbuilding. So when I stumbled across the work of artist and writer Sam Hogg, it’ll come as no surprise that I found myself enthralled. Her concept work is excellent, but I’ve become a bit obsessed with her high-fantasy project, The Whaler Girl.

This is visual worldbuilding at its best. Hogg captures and constructs a rich tapestry of a setting and inhabits it with fully imagined places, creatures, and characters. It’s something I strive for in my work, and here it feels so effortless which only makes it more enthralling and inspiring. These locations and characters don’t come across as templates, they feel like real people, and we can see hints of their story playing throughout the work. The sense of place is palpable and the shifts in style only cement that further, we’re exploring a world after all and worlds are not limited to a single style. As I moved through the project I found myself eager to learn more. I want to know all about Eidy’s story, and Saul’s troubles, and how a young whaler girl from Varlsbeyn ended up as a pirate courtesan. You will too.

With Sam Hogg’s permission, I’ve shared a few of my favorite pieces below. (Honestly, it was really difficult choosing, for each of these there were at least four more.) You can click on any image to view it larger.

Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Whaler Girls”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Lanyra”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Varlsbeyn Summer”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Saul”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Tidal”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Kalam Masad”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Eidy, Dark Marchant Design”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Beware the dark jellyfish”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Varlsbeyn”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Old Twohorn”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “Courtesans Quarters”
Sam Hogg – The Whaler Girl – “First Visit”

This is just a small fraction of The Whaler Girl. You can see much more of the world and Hogg’s work on her website. Be sure to join me in following her on Twitter. Don’t forget to follow her excellent Instagram account, not only does she share work frequently, but it’s also often accompanied by evocative vignettes that only adds to the depth and richness of the story. Finally, you can buy prints of all this work from her store and hang the world of The Whaler Girl on your walls.

If you like Sam Hogg’s work, be sure to check out some of the other artists who I’ve found inspiring in the past. While there’s certainly a theme to the art that inspires me, you’ll find lots of different styles, tones, and moods.