Overall thoughts
I’m happy to have completed this experimental project. I call it that because I began with only a few clear ideas for the final illustration, which gave me plenty of freedom to experiment and create multiple iterations until I found the right balance between my original vision and the new direction it took. I also made great use of the references I’ve collected over the years. They were incredibly helpful for brainstorming and developing quick concepts. Going forward, I plan to make better use of my references and continue leaving room for experimentation, rather than focusing solely on achieving the initial vision.
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.
Project Tools
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 % Pending
After Effects - Usage % Pending
Photoshop - Usage % Pending
Affinity Photo - Usage % Pending
Skills Applied
A combination of creative and technical disciplines brought together to develop the final artwork.
CREATIVE DISCIPLINES
Conceptual Art
Digital Illustration
Graphic Design
Visual Storytelling
Digital Art & Mixed Media
Visual Effects & Compositing
Information & Symbolic Design
PRODUCTION SKILLS
Concept Development
Visual Composition
Digital Image Manipulation
Photo Compositing
Layer Management
Colour Theory & Colour Grading
Lighting & Glow Effects
Visual Effects Integration
Image Blending & Masking
Visual Hierarchy
Symbol & Icon Integration
Atmospheric Design
Digital Asset Placement
Final Image Rendering & Export
Production Difficulty
Each production stage is rated on a scale of 1 to 10. Higher scores indicate greater difficulty encountered during development.
0.0/ 10
OVERALL DIFFICULTY
01 – Concept Development & Visual Direction
0/10
02 – Visual Composition & Symbolic Arrangement
0/10
03 – Digital Illustration & Asset Development
0/10
04 – Colour Theory, Lighting & Atmospheric Design
0/10
05 – Image Blending, Compositing & Visual Effects
0/10
06 – Final Refinement, Rendering & Export
0/10
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.
01 — Creative Discovery
02 — Acquired Skills
03 — Challenges & Limitations
04 — Lessons Learned
Project Overview
- Status : Complete
- Format : Artwork (Illustration)
- Platform(s) : ArtStation
- Difficulty : Intermediate
- Software/Application used : 4
- Collaborator(s) : Solo project
- AI Assisted : No
- Start Date : 2025-10-05
- Complete Date : 2025-10-26
- Project Cost : $0 CAD