These are the kind of projects I love working on because they have so many parts to them that are woven into one big image and each part gave me the freedom to come up with something fun.
This Halloween-themed village scene began as a series of rough concept sketches created in Photoshop, based on suggestions from my manager. The goal was to build a whimsical, character-rich environment with four distinct landmarks: A costume shop, a haunted house, a potion hut, and a cemetery.
I started with a vertical layout to emphasize the towering moonlit sky and layered architecture. Using very loose digital pencil work in Photoshop, I quickly blocked in expressive silhouettes and mood, focusing on the interplay between buildings, characters, and atmosphere.
As the concept evolved, I pivoted to a horizontal format to better showcase the village’s narrative flow and allow for more interaction between characters. This shift opened up the composition, guiding the viewer’s eye from the glowing streetlamp and winding path to the airborne creatures and moonlit treetops—enhancing both clarity and storytelling.
The Costume Shop became the heart of the scene, glowing warmly and inviting trick-or-treaters with playful signage and cozy textures.
The haunted house leaned into crooked geometry and eerie shadows.
The potion hut added rustic charm and mystery, nestled among twisted trees and glowing potions.
The cemetery anchored the far end of the village, with tilted gravestones, spectral lighting, and subtle humor woven into its design.
Painting the final color art in Photoshop, I kept most colors on the cool side with warm colors where lighting was present.
