Dark Souls II was one of my first projects with Blur Studio and the beginning of a creative partnership that would span more than a decade.

At the time, the game was still early in development and its visual direction had not yet been fully established. I was tasked with exploring a series of potential moods for the world, creating concepts that ranged from heroic and romantic to melancholic and foreboding. Each image approached the setting from a different emotional perspective, helping the team evaluate what kind of experience they wanted players to have.

Many of the designs were influenced by the work of Antoni Gaudí, incorporating organic forms and flowing silhouettes into the architecture. Blending these natural shapes with the dark fantasy themes of the franchise helped create a world that felt both familiar and otherworldly.

Once a direction had been established, I created the final matte painting used in the game's announcement cinematic trailer.