Rookies Entry 2020

My name is Anastasia Davies. Ever since I could pick up a pencil and knew animals were a thing I’ve been drawing them. It didn’t take lon to lean into fantasy creatures, and for a decade now I’ve had a strong interest in the art of creature design. Though I’ve been studying at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment since this year, I am almost entirely self taught.

Esoteric Awakens

Giant, unknowable beasts are a favourite of mine. In this piece, a massive, scythe-shaped leviathan descends from approaching storm clouds, its red light a dangerous signal — and soon to be the only light around as the sky is covered up, save for that from the headlights of tiny, fleeing vehicles.

Four Creatures

Anatomy has long been a tremendous interest, having blossomed shortly after I gained interest in creature design. Understanding how an animal works is critical even in the land of fantasy. While my workflow usually focuses on silhouette first, then breaking it down, for these four I started on the skulls and worked my way up.

Compassion for a Dragon

This piece was heavily influenced by Ori and the Blind Forest. I had every intent to really build a small story in it, and push my skills with shading and lighting. With subsurface scattering being something I never dealt with on a big scale before, it was a challenge from start to finish and a valuable learning experience.