Maya, Mari & Photoshop FROM 2D CONCEPT TO 3D PORTRAIT

Character artist Anna Cavasos balances the themes of beauty and horror to visualise a mysterious sorceress enjoying a delicate snack

- Anna Cavasos

Something draws me to the contrast between pretty and repulsive. That’s what initially caught my eye with Lena Richard’s concept piece (lenarichards.artstation.com); the woman was beautiful enough to capture your attention, but what she was doing was so gross you couldn’t look away. As a student, I was searching for a concept that would give the most intrigue.

This piece starts with the sculpt. I look at classical beauty Emilia Clarke, whose features would work well contrasted with the scars. When considering the robe, jewellery and props, I want to go for the essence of a mysterious sorceress, whose intentions are unknown. I want her to have hand-carved wooden props, real gold jewellery and a beautifully embroidered fabric to all tell a story.

I also want to show her skin being pale and discoloured, as if she resides deep in a cave, and the viewer has just stumbled upon her. I study cave-dwelling animals and albino humans. Albino skin has the lack of red that I need, but the patchiness and translucency of salamander skin was necessary for the creepiness.

How I create…

A CUSTOM PATTERNED FABRIC

1 Finding the perfect fabric