Shape Shepherds Vol. 1-3 (2018)

back in 2018, as a final class for college, i participated in an independent study with the intention of working towards zine-making and indie-printed media. what came out of it was "Shape Shepherds", a universe crafted around the central theme of extra-dimensional monsters invading our world and stealing the shapes of objects and people around us. 

after these volumes were released, I had intended to expand the universe, develop characters and a plot, and slowly start to do something more grandiose with the concept. however, i wasn't very proud of how it was turning out after 2018,  and the intended cosmic horror with a goofy spin fizzled out and rested in the back of the creative fridge as i moved on to other grandiose ideas.

looking back on the project today, it's unseen concepts still inspire me to some degree, and it feels worth archiving as one of my only "larger projects" that I did by myself.

included with the 2025 version of this collection is:

• the 3 original Volumes of Shape Shepherds
  • Vol. 1 - Shape Shepherds; a visual guide
    • (inspired by video game manuals and introductory pamphlets)
  • Vol. 2 - Shape Shepherds "Lost & Found"
    • (a collection of 3D renders representing the shepherds creating hoards out of shapes.)
  • Vol. 3 - "The Unofficial Shape Shepherds Guide to Survival"
    • an empathetic view on how to defend one's self from the extra-dimensional invaders, written by an awkward teenager from Ohio calling themselves "the expert". scanned pamphlet found at a local library.
• High Quality png renders seen in Vol. 1
• High Quality jpegs of pages in Vol. 2
• a folder of Bonus Materials! (2025 itch release exclusive wow!!)
  • Includes:
    • promotional collage renders i made for instagram around the time
    • sketches of the Volume 1 & 2 renders
    • cover thumbnails
    • early character sketches
    • ...and more!

you'll get a .ZIP with everything in it on download, with a bunch of txt files in a few of the folders providing commentary.