Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with several talented artists to commission key pieces that have helped shape the visual world of Merchant of Vision. While the characters and plotlines evolve through writing, the artwork provides a glimpse into the universe that often informs my creative process in unexpected ways.
The Journey of Commissioned Art: Collaborating with Dmytro Veseliy
One of the most impactful collaborations has been with Dmytro Veseliy, a talented artist from Ukraine whose work has truly enriched the Merchant of Vision universe. I first discovered Dmytro's work about four years ago and was immediately drawn to his ability to capture the vastness of space and the detailed intricacies of starships. His style was different from what I might have imagined initially, but that’s what made it so special—he brought new dimensions to my universe that I hadn’t considered.
One of my favorite pieces from Dmytro is a modified space liner commission. Originally, he had created a concept for a large starship, but we worked together to modify it into a huge space liner designed to ferry passengers across star systems. In an early draft of the story, this liner was going to be attacked by pirates, with Kars Vandor heroically saving the day. Though that particular storyline shifted over time, this piece of art remained, and it’s something I plan to use in the future. It’s simply too epic not to!
The Power of Visual Storytelling
The thing about commissioned artwork is that it does more than just illustrate an idea—it informs the world-building process. Seeing the space liner visualized on screen helped me think about how these types of ships would function in the Merchant of Vision universe. How would passengers live on board for weeks at a time? What kinds of luxuries and dangers might they face? The artwork gave me new ideas for settings, scenes, and even future storylines.
Commissioned art is often the first step toward deeper world-building. It's a tangible way to see your universe come to life, and I’ve found that it sometimes sparks new creative directions in my writing. It allows me to visualize the technology, environments, and characters in ways that inspire new narratives.
Map Reveals and World-Building
Maps are another vital aspect of building a believable, immersive universe. While today’s focus is on commissioned artwork, it’s worth mentioning how important maps have been in Merchant of Vision. Creating star maps that show the relationship between planets, trade routes, and faction territories has been essential for keeping the political dynamics clear.
At some point, I plan to reveal more maps from the Merchant of Vision universe. Whether it’s the inner systems or the remote outposts on the frontier, each map tells its own story about the people and powers vying for control. The same way commissioned art helps me visualize key characters or ships, maps give me a sense of how the galaxy operates—how far one world is from another, where the trade routes pass through, and where the danger zones lie.
Looking to the Future: Fan Art and Community
One of the things I’m most excited about as this series grows is seeing fan art emerge. As an author, there’s something incredibly special about seeing readers interpret the universe you’ve created in their own way. Fan art doesn’t just reflect the world—it enhances it, often highlighting aspects of the story or characters that I hadn’t fully appreciated.
I hope that as more readers dive into the Merchant of Vision universe, we’ll see some amazing fan creations—whether it’s a new take on a character like Kars Vandor, or an interpretation of a battle scene aboard the Terran Starfire. This kind of art builds a community, bringing people together to celebrate the same story in a collaborative, creative way.
What’s Next?
In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more commissioned pieces, map reveals, and even some sneak peeks of upcoming artwork tied to future storylines. Keep an eye on this blog for updates, and if you’re an artist or a fan with ideas or art of your own, feel free to reach out—I’d love to feature more community-driven content as this universe continues to expand.
Thanks for joining me on this journey into the visual world of Merchant of Vision. Until next time, keep dreaming, keep creating, and never stop imagining new worlds!
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