by Brayden Bagley
This digital artwork depicts a Kappa, a water-dwelling yōkai from Japanese folklore, partially submerged in a river. My challenge for this piece was to portray a menacing creature with a mysterious presence rather than a threatening, monstrous pose. By drawing the creature only partially emerged from the water created a sense of tension and curiosity, similar to a tiger ready to pounce.
My visual style for this piece drew inspiration from Japanese emakimono (picture scrolls). Despite being a digital drawing I experimented with customising my brushes to mimic the muted colours and expressive linework often found in traditional emakimono. The intent behind this artwork was to encourage viewers to imagine the unseen spirits that may exist in the world, and the mysteries that may lie beyond the naked eye.
Artist Bio:
Brayden is an emerging filmmaker, animator, and designer currently undertaking a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Screen and Media at the Queensland University of Technology. Beyond filmmaking, Brayden also runs his own design studio, collaborating with artists and creators across the globe to produce logos, posters, cards, toys, and other creative projects. Over the years, his work has been recognised by numerous Hollywood actors as well as the toy brand LEGO.
With a passion for animation, design, writing, and filmmaking, Brayden is particularly interested in cultivating a world that allows him to bring all his disciplines together. His diverse range of creative practices allows him to approach storytelling from both an artistic and technical perspective.
Brayden’s long-term goal is to publish his own fantasy adventure novel series and gain enough traction to eventually bring the world to life through his own animation studio, combining all of his passions into one interconnected creative universe.