For this piece, I wanted to create a scene where a mysterious event was happening in the forest. It originally started life as an older illustration, where I decided to expand on the original composition to create a little more visual interest. Although I liked the original design I’d created, I felt as though the scene was too small and the characters didn’t have enough about them to occupy the space that I needed.
The answer was simple: let’s add a giant magic portal! It’s a great way to have a clear focal point and bring additional colour diversity into the piece, while also blending it with the scene using some vegetation growing out of the edges. I also added a few lizards as a contrasting element to the scene to create a more playful, whimsical vibe, plus some plants and insects for a sensation of calmness.
