Steampunk (Research)

What is steampunk?
Ermm... I not so sure what are the exact meaning of steampunk. From the research I did, it have the "combination of the science fiction and fantasy that includes social or technological ascpects of the 19th centure (the steam) usually with some deconstruction of re-imagining of, or rebellion against parts of it (the punk). "(Steampunk.com) 

To make it simple, the characteristic of steampunk are from the Victorian era , consist of gear machine to create steam and fantasy.

Looks at some picture I got from Google web :

Landscape
You can clearly see how the artist have beautifully design the landscape and their detailing of the machine. The colour skim that the artist used were the rusty range colour.
     

Airship
From what I observe through out the Google web, airship are commonly use in the steampunk design as a transport. "airships and balloons stay aloft by filling a large cavity with a lifting gas. For a complete article on these fantastic machine." (http://steampunk.wikia.com/wiki/Airship) I guess that is way airship are used as transportation in steampunk world.

     

Fahion
It also become a fahion in a reality world by using steampunk element
  
  

Tattoo
Steampunk tattoo design are amazing too.
     

Accessory
There are steampunk accessory. I wish to have one. (haha...)
     

There are steampunk movie too.
If you are interested to watch, here is the top 5 list of the movie that I gotten from a web.
(http://www.squidoo.com/steampunk-movies)

• The Prestige (2006) 
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sVPmj-FCwac

• The Golden Compass (2008)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oj61Q5KPues

• Van Helsing (2004)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mrOqCgDgXfQ

• Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xhyuey4xU3Q

• Lemony Snicket's a Series Of Unfortunate Events (2004)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XWB1HGnA3tA

Beside the western culture, there is also a Japanese animation director did a few steampunk anime. I love every single of his animation work from Studio Ghibli. His name is Hayao Miyazaki （宮崎 駿）.

Look at his lovely silver hair.
Haha... so old di still so handsome.
Don't see any wrinkle at his forehead. I'm sure he still have a young heart. (hehe...)

Howl's Moving Castle ハウルの動く城 (2004)

Story synopsis - "A love story between an 18-year-old girl named Sofî, cursed by a witch into an old woman's body, and a magician named Hauru. Under the curse, Sofî sets out to seek her fortune, which takes her to Hauru's strange moving castle. In the castle, Sophie meets Hauru's fire demon, named Karishifâ. Seeing that she is under a curse, the demon makes a deal with Sophie--if she breaks the contract he is under with Hauru, then Karushifâ will lift the curse that Sophie is under, and she will return to her 18-year-old shape." Written by Sophie Ball

Here is a few steampunk element that contain in Howl's Moving Castle.
I love how he created the moving castle. Every single movement of the castle are nicely animated.

   

Laputa: Castle in the Sky 天空の城ラピュタ (1986)

Story Sypnosis - "Legend has it that a flying castle called Laputa exists somewhere up in the sky. Pirates want to go to Laputa because of the treasures to be plundered, while other factions want to gain control of it on order to rule the world. A young girl named Sheeta holds what seems to be the key to Laputa in the form of a mysterious pendant she wears around her neck. The chase is on as to who can possess Sheeta first... and it's up to a young man named Pazu to protect her. " (Rowena Lim Lei, 2003)

A lot of amazing castle and spaceship.
      

That's more or less about the steampunk topic that I did.

So this is how I compose it using gestalt element.
Most of my work are from Hayao Miyazaki animation.