Movies and fantasy stories have depicted artificial limbs in unique ways from Gazelle’s lethal limbs in ???Kingsman: The Secret Service??? and Yang???s arm turned weapon in RWBY, and the designs have always fascinated me. However, that type of mechanical drawing, including fantasy, is foreign to me. I???m not a big weapons artist, it’s always been a weaker skill of mine.??
For the illustration, I wasn???t too concerned about the method but more interested in the concept. I was debating drawing an original character of mine, her story was that she is a fighter that wields a rapier with the ability to turn into a whip. She would then get herself involved in a situation where her forearms were removed from her body, but the saving grace and skill of a mechanic/inventor, she would then receive artificial arms that could transform into her former weapon. I have always wanted to depict those arms visually, but that still feels too much of a jump for me. Plus I would like more time to think of the practicality of the situation.??
Instead, I went for the concept of, what if I was in need of an artificial limb? Fortunately for me all of my main limbs are still intact and functional however, I was born with microtia in my left ear. There are different levels of microtia but for my situation, my outer year ear was never properly developed, luckily for me the inner ear is well and functional. But since there is no way for sound to enter I am left being unable to hear from my left side. Despite the circumstances, since the inner ear is functional I underwent a specific surgery (which I already have!) which will allow me to hear through vibrations.??
Modern medicine is doing one hell of a good job and I???m thankful for the doctor and nurses that have helped me along the way, but the modern designs come nowhere close to satisfying my interest in fantasy. So I combined the two concepts to form an artificial ear! Practicality wise, it???s a little bulky, but I would feel so badass to have that on the side of my head! The concept of the piece is that it will roughly be bigger than the size of a regular ear. Sound is processed through the large circle portion and sound will travel similarly as a regular ear. There is a filter for maintenance to prevent dust and other random debris from getting in. This ear can also connect to your personal devices and with a light tap, you can switch between devices you have already synced to. The lights will indicate system connection, battery life, potential errors, and adjust the volume. You can also turn this device on or off because I am a fan of selective hearing. And like any ear, you should be allowed the option to accessorize as indicated by the red bits!??
I have no intention of preaching this concept to the people and making it a reality, but it???s a fun idea to think about, plus it’s not too often when you get someone to depict an artificial ear in illustration.