I created this illustration for an art contest organized by the studio Mooncolony. The theme was ‘Boss Battle’, which inspired a dragon and warrior showdown scene. A pivotal aspect of this artwork is the boss design. My process began with a concept sheet loaded with references to guide each design element. With the design established, I could focus on enhancing the storytelling through mood, colors, and composition, making the encounter as epic as possible.
Layering and composition in a conflict between dragon and warrior
I initially delved into 3D, leveraging some 3D hero assets provided. Utilizing the initial game layouts sent by the Greifenmaer team, I quickly outlined the full scene in Blender, building the environment and placing basic rigged soldiers. This setup truly captured the intensity of this epic battle.
For those intrigued by fantastical dragons, explore the mythical creature at Kudykina Gora with this life-size Zmei Gorynich sculptural marvel.
Translating 2D knowledge into 3D
Planning all VFX effects and post-production from the start was essential. Blender’s Compositor allowed me to control and adjust color balance, exposure, lens effects, and more, crucial for depicting such a clash. For additional VFX, I used 2D image planes with emission or alpha planes to simulate explosions and particles. This method was resource-efficient.
Final steps in achieving the battle scene
After rendering high-resolution passes in Blender, I polished the image in Photoshop. I had the freedom to incorporate 2D elements, such as brushstrokes along the edges and painterly effects, to soften the ‘fake’ 3D appearance. These final touches enhanced the artwork’s dynamic and immersive feel.
Source: creativebloq.com
Frequently asked questions
What was the theme of the art contest?
The theme of the art contest was ‘Boss Battle’, which inspired a dragon and warrior showdown scene.
How did the artist start the boss design process?
The artist started the boss design process with a concept sheet loaded with references to guide each design element.
What software was used to outline the full scene?
Blender was used to quickly outline the full scene, building the environment and placing basic rigged soldiers.