My Environment Concept Research

Research

For the design of my level, I plan to have it based in a fantasy world. The player will be placed in a sacred forest at night, with many illumination coming from the trees, plants, creatures and including the character the player will be controlling. I'am mainly aiming to do this so to make the game seem beautiful and enjoy the game visually as well as getting deeper into the game-play itself.
By doing research, I'll to get a better idea what I wanted to make for the level.

(http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/fantasy/images/17775682/title/teldrassil-tree-photo)
I really like how the whole land is a tree which really brings magic or fantasy to this landscape. My level might actually have a huge massive tree as a distant background so to show that the player has to head in that direction. 

(http://abstract.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/1122464/)
I like this because of the aqua like colours it uses. some parts of my level will have a river or a lake.

(http://abstract.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/1347222/)
I researched some other concepts based on a Chinese theme. Because I plan to make it seem magical, I also want to aim to make it look oriental. There will be some huts/houses in the level which means I could try add something like this to them.  

(http://digital-art-gallery.com/picture/4197)
This game me the idea of creating dead golems that would be laying around the map, indicating that they were guardians of the land and forest.

(http://wall.alphacoders.com/big.php?i=225875)
The tree design seemed to catch my eye because of how I could imagine how nice it would look like when it becomes night time. The design it self look nice and it does show signs of it being a magic and fantasy theme.

(http://wall.alphacoders.com/big.php?i=95624)
A bridge in the game's level design would be nice why get over the river or lake I plan to add to it. 

(http://digital-art-gallery.com/picture/gallery/gate)
This inspired me to add doors to the level design idea. they'll look old, displaying a symbol, indicating that the player can only open it when he/she has an item that carries the same symbol to the door their after. 

(http://sharememe.org/hd-fantasy-forest-wallpaper-22002-hd-wallpapers/)
lampposts in my game would make the level look nice and beautiful if place on the sides of the paths, just like this one.
The glowing of the lampposts would also be a good indicator in my environment so to show player where he/she would need to go, that is if I plan on making an environment that allows the player to freely go to any place on the map.

(http://www.thalskarth.com.ar/2011/09/05/lunes-de-wallpapers-iv-paisajes/)
Another Chinese themed concept chose to look at. A few objects such as the umbrellas or the windmills added around the bridge over the lake/river, would help strengthen the theme to the game.

My Concept 

In Photoshop, I used a larger brush so to get a better understanding of what my Environment will look like.
For now I've done the starting point of my level which will be in front of a cottage like house which is meant to be her grandma's.