Welcome to my blog.

Hello friends, I hope you're all well. Today, as always, I'm here to share with you a new illustration of one of the characters from the Splinterlands game, in order to participate in the weekly Splinterlands contest. This time, I decided to choose Vampire Bat.

The story goes that five centuries ago, the vampires Mortas and Nisha fell victim to a curse for taking refuge together in bat form in the ruins of the Church of Hāleġ, an act considered sacrilegious. Upon returning to his human form, Mortas couldn't find his beloved Nisha, and after an intense search, he only saw a lone bat fly from the bell tower into the forest, lost forever. From that moment on, it is said that from that union a cursed species was born: vampire bats, ferocious creatures that attack humans and animals, hunting alone or in packs.

In the present, a boy named Jasper Cray runs into the barn, scared, claiming to have seen these creatures. Annie, thinking it's a joke, accuses him of lying to avoid his chores. Jasper insists that bats are enormous, with fangs and red eyes. Annie ignores him and leaves the barn, but her screams shortly afterward confirmed Jasper's statement.

I first started with the Vampire Bat's body, using a palette of dark blues and purples, a departure from the brown and black that is part of the original. The fur has bluish hues that give it depth, while the wings are outlined with black edges and deep, almost bloody purple membranes. This combination not only stands out at first glance, but also suggests a combination of a creature that lives between shadow and blood.

The bright red eyes are a very important point. They not only add aggression but also show intelligence, as if the Vampire Bat were aware of its curse. The sharp white fangs stand out greatly against the dark fur, enhancing its predatory nature. In combination with the colors I chose, I'm not looking for realism, but for impact. I want to show you what it's like to be faced with a creature that not only attacks, but also watches and stalks from the darkness.

The background is a floating floor resembling the dark floors of gloomy forests. There are no stars or moon visible, only a dense atmosphere. The shadow behind and on the overgrown ground shows how unsafe this place is. There is no guiding light here, only silence and threat. It also features a white glow, which I decided to add to highlight the Vampire Bat.

This forested environment represents the Vampire Bat's isolation, its eternal exile after the curse. Unlike the neutral background of the original design, here the landscape highlights the character, complements it, and empowers it. This allows you to not only see the Vampire Bat, but also see it as part of a cursed ecosystem.

Here, I chose an anime style with semi-realistic touches because it allows me to play with expressiveness without losing some realism. The Vampire Bat's proportions are more human-like in this version. It stands on its hind legs, its posture demonstrating intelligence and aggression. Its outstretched wings frame its figure, as if it were about to pounce.

Facial expression is key. Instead of a face without any expression or simply monstrous, I gave it an intense gaze, furrowed eyebrows, and an open mouth showing fangs, intent on eating. This Vampire Bat, through its expression, demonstrates its aggressive attitude and determination to capture its prey.

The original Splinterlands Vampire Bat is simpler to create due to its lack of background. It has a cartoonish aesthetic, with large wings, a small body, and a more neutral expression. It works well within the game, where its role is clear: a fast creature with good evasive skills.

My version, on the other hand, is anime-style. This makes it a more lively and expressive creature. It has a background that helps it stand out, but also helps to avoid leaving a void in the illustration.