"Are you telling me that you built a time machine... out of a DeLorean? — Marty McFly, Back to the Future
Back to the Future Time Machine illustration by Oktopolis: The Art of Brian Miller
The DeLorean DMC-12 became famous as the time machine in Back to the Future, but the car company was infamous well before Marty McFly fired-up the Flux Capacitor in 1985. Everyone remembers the excitement of seeing the car on-screen, the real story of the DeLorean is just as dramatic.
This project started life as artwork for a proposed anniversary Back to the Future Time Machine Hot Wheels vehicle to be released as a San Diego Comic Con exclusive. With comic cons shutting down due to the pandemic and the project cancelled I decided to complete the illustration anyway. As a life long Back to the Future fan this would be my love letter to the DeLorean time machine.
I wanted to channel the 1980's with synth wave colors and shapes inspired by classic 80's icons like Outrun, Miami Vice, and student fashion staple, the Trapper Keeper!
I designed a streamlined version of Hill Valley, including the icon courthouse clocktower with a New World Pictures-esque sunset to serve as the focal point of the background. From there I added some motion streaks doing my best to channel 80's anime mixed with some 8-bit sensibilities. Added a Tron-inspired glowing grid as well as some broken streaks in the sky for a finishing touch.
With the background mostly complete I turned my attention to the start of the Back to the Future, the DeLorean time machine. Using photographs of the movie cars as reference I set about drawing the Time Machine and the stylized flames using Adobe Draw for iPad.
I exported the drawing to Adobe Photoshop where I tweaked the colors and halftones while adding a few subtle gradients to better integrate the DeLorean time machine with the hyper stylized background.
With the Time Machine illustration finished I wanted to keep going and wondered if I should make a variant or maybe a second illustration.
In the end I decide to complete a second version with a non-Time Machine DeLorean. Redrawing the car from scratch using Adobe Draw for iPad. This mirror image serves as a fitting tribute to the DeLorean DMC-12 on the year of it's 40th Anniversary.
Approximately 9,000 cars were made between January 1981 and December 1982 though some of the cars were sold in the U.S. as 1983 models. A significant number of the original cars are still on the road and there is an active enthusiast community and car clubs supporting those who own these rare and special machines.
There are several documentaries and books detailing the accounts of the DeLorean Motor Company. These outline the rise and fall of John Z. DeLorean and the company he created. Fortunately the cars themselves cary with them a legacy connected to pup-culture that will forever keep them in the spotlight.
Buro Feel agency Netherlands designed a striking wall mural for their client Bosveld incorporating the illustration by Brian Miller as the central focus for this multidimensional wall decor utilizing the Bosveld "B" motif.
illustration by Brian Miller © Oktopolis. All rights reserved. This artwork may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Oktopolis. All characters and names © & ™ their respective owners. Illustration © Oktopolis.
