Overall thoughts
I’m excited to introduce a new creative audio series as I continue expanding my audio channel. This concept was created around the tools I currently have, along with my objectives and goals for the series. My aim is to create an immersive environment driven by sound, supported by visual elements, so there will be a video version to complement it. With that being said, this is a highly experimental series. While some parts are already defined, I’ll be refining and adjusting where I see fit. What you’re seeing now isn’t the final form of the series, it’s the earliest concept designs.
BACKSTAGE LENS PODCAST episode
Listen to the Backstage Lens episode for a behind-the-scenes look at the project’s creation, from the initial concept and creative process to the challenges, discoveries, and lessons learned.
Explore the software used to bring this project to life, with estimated percentages highlighting each tool’s contribution to the overall production process.
Hitfilm - Usage 21.4%
Image compositing and color grading
Photoshop - Usage 14.3%
Image VFX
After Effects - Usage 7.1%
Photo VFX Effects
Illustrator - Usage 3.6%
Vector assets
Affinity Photo - Usage 3.6%
Image Optimization
Google Gemini - Usage 21.4%
Photo VFX (Sketch Style Conversion)
CrazyTalk - Usage 14.3%
Character Rigging & Animation testing
Premiere - Usage 7.1%
Color Grading
ChatGPT - Usage 3.6%
Transcription (Cursive writing image)
Topaz Photo AI - Usage 3.6%
Image Upscaled
Skills Applied
A combination of creative and technical disciplines brought together to develop the final artwork.
CREATIVE DISCIPLINES
Concept Art
Visual Development
Character Design
Digital Illustration
Narrative Design
Graphic Design
Art Direction
PRODUCTION SKILLS
Concept Ideation
Character Development
Digital Painting
Composition
Lighting
Color Design
Visual Storytelling
Graphic Layout
Typography
Interface Graphics
Compositing
Presentation Design
Production Difficulty
Each production stage is rated on a scale of 1 to 10. Higher scores indicate greater difficulty encountered during development.
3.5/ 10
OVERALL DIFFICULTY
01 – Concept & Research
3/10
02 – Subject Preparation
4/10
03 – Composition & Layout
6/10
04 – Image Compositing
4/10
05 – Lighting & Color Grading
2/10
06 – Final Enhancement
2/10
References
A collection of visual references that helped shape the artwork’s creative direction, composition, atmosphere, and overall aesthetic, serving as inspiration throughout the development process.
Drafts & concepts
Early tests, visual explorations, and ideas that helped establish the final direction. Only the most meaningful iterations are shown.
Selected Frames
A curated selection of frames highlighting the finished artwork’s composition, visual details, atmosphere, and key creative elements, offering a closer look at the final result.
Key takeaways & Lessons Learned
A reflection on the creative discoveries, challenges, and lessons learned throughout the project, highlighting the experiences that shaped the final artwork and contributed to personal and technical growth.
01 — Creative Discovery
- Exploring a sketch-style look for the artwork.
- Using a cursive script font to support the visual style.
- Building the composition and layout around the main concept.
02 — Acquired Skills
- Using AI style transfer to create a sketch-style look.
- Creating supporting visual assets with AI image generators.
- Record instead taking photos, and use screenshots to select the best frames
03 — Challenges & Limitations
- Rigging a hand-drawn face for animation.
- Generating voices that sound natural.
- Keeping faces consistent across AI-generated images.
04 — Lessons Learned
- Keep a clear record of the steps used to create each concept.
- Use of AI image generators to test and compare different visual styles.
Project Overview
- Status : Complete
- Format : Artwork (Concept Art)
- Platform : ArtStation
- Difficulty : Intermediate
- Software/Application used : 8
- Collaborator(s) : Solo project
- AI Assisted : Yes
- Start Date : 2026-03-15
- Complete Date : 2026-04-03
- Project Cost : $0 CAD