With this commission, I was pretty much given the freedom to run wild with ideas. We needed to find a way to have sasquatches fit into a futuristic setting for the welevos universe so we came up with the idea to make them a solarpunk species.

These sasquatches are very close to nature, but also embrace innovative technology. Their accessories and clothes are made from materials such as hemp, rope, wicker and a lot of their jewellery is crafted from seeds and leaves, but they also wear various solar-powered gadgets.

The one on the left is an entomologist who uses small insect drones to help him with his study of insects and how they interact with the biome as a whole.

The one on the right is a travelling elder who spreads her knowledge of nature and technology among younger generations. She has a robotic leg and the robot parrot on her staff is neurally linked to her solar-panel headdress. The parrot helps her with her memory issues as she ages so she can effectively pass on her knowledge of crafting and gadgetry.

With the welevos in general, I'm trying to find a way to have designs inspired by a mix of different cultures so that I am not lifting from one culture wholesale, sort-of similar to how The Last Airbender approached their design of different cultures. It's easy to fall into the trap of cultural appropriation and using tired tropes/cliches often seen in media, so I'm always open to constructive criticism when it comes to breaking these habits. Even with all of the research I do, there will always be blind spots.