NO AI-GENERATED ART: Ritual Tides is a project that celebrates craftmanship/artistry.
As such, we will not accept the use of generative AI at any stage of this commission.
Freelance Illustrator Needed for Ritual Tides Splash Art
About the project:
Website: www.vertpaint.com
Discord: www.discord.gg/ritualtides
We are looking for a skilled illustrator to create a bespoke key art piece for Ritual Tides, a narrative horror game set on a remote island off the English coast.
This artwork will be used as our primary commercial “splash art” across marketing materials and as a long-format banner on storefronts and social media.
While this is a one time commission, Vertpaint has a strong habit of bringing back great collaborators. If this piece goes well, there is a strong possibility of future work together.
The Brief
We are looking for a wide banner composition that features:
- The island of Ritual Tides
- A jagged, ominous island set off the English coast
- Dark, bleak and dramatic weather
- Stormy sea and jagged rocks
- Waves crashing against sharp rocks emerging from the water
- The island in the background, looming and unsettling
- Central Character montage composition
- Key characters from the game “stacked” or clustered around one another
- Think of classic ensemble posters such as Lord of the Rings and Star Wars cover art
- Strong focus on mood, storytelling and clear silhouettes
- Lighting and atmosphere
- Realistic, painterly style
- Visible brushstrokes on closer inspection
- A sky filled with oppressive fog and an encroaching storm
- Title and focal point
- The Ritual Tides logo sits centrally in the composition
- The player character stands prominently, holding a bull lantern, its light flashing forward towards the viewer and acting as a key lighting element in the piece
More detailed information, including videos and visual references, will be sent to shortlisted candidates.
Style
- Realistic but clearly painted
- Strong use of light and shadow to sell mood and tension
- Cohesive colour palette that supports a bleak yet dramatic atmosphere
- Composition that reads clearly both as a full banner and at small thumbnail size
Mood / Style References:
* ArtStation - Ritual Tides - Pre-production - Rural Housing, Vertpaint Studios
Composition References:
* https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/moviedatabase/images/9/90/Lord_of_the_Rings_-_The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring_002.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20180122013959
* https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71trt-AA-mL.jpg
Requirements
- Proven experience creating key art, cover art or splash art for games, films, or similar media
- Strong portfolio that shows:
- Character-focused compositions
- Environments and atmospheric lighting
- Painterly, realistic styles
- Ability to work from art direction provided