{"id":449326,"date":"2026-02-27T23:53:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T23:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/449326\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T23:53:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T23:53:16","slug":"how-a-famous-landmark-inspired-this-dramatic-fantasy-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/449326\/","title":{"rendered":"How a famous landmark inspired this dramatic fantasy art"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"460ccf6b-a1ff-40b3-af6a-2281ddf33577\">This scene is inspired by China\u2019s Zhuoshui Fengyu Bridge. The composition features strong visual tension, which I found especially compelling, and the art is developed around this perspective.<\/p>\n<p>I combined Southeast Asian roof shapes and materials, and introduced a waterfall to the setting to create a dramatic yet dreamlike atmosphere. I also added dynamic elements such as spray from the water and a flock of birds to bring life and movement to the scene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">The entire piece is hand-painted in 2D, with the emphasis on maintaining a loose and expressive painting style. Here are the steps I made to paint the scene \u2013 you&#8217;ll want to use one of the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/advice\/the-best-software-for-digital-artists\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/advice\/the-best-software-for-digital-artists\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/advice\/the-best-software-for-digital-artists\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best digital painting apps <\/a>and one of the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/features\/best-drawing-tablet\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/features\/best-drawing-tablet\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/features\/best-drawing-tablet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best drawing tablets<\/a> or <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/buying-guides\/best-laptop-for-drawing\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/buying-guides\/best-laptop-for-drawing\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/buying-guides\/best-laptop-for-drawing\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">laptops for drawing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>            You may like<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.70%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/xY5AFVbKhx4cde3xuF7ekd.jpg\" alt=\"China&amp;rsquo;s Zhuoshui Fengyu Bridge\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/xY5AFVbKhx4cde3xuF7ekd.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/xY5AFVbKhx4cde3xuF7ekd.jpg\" class=\"inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>China\u2019s Zhuoshui Fengyu Bridge (Image credit: Getty Images\/CHAO-FENG LIN)<br \/>\n01. Establish the composition<\/p>\n<p class=\"bordeaux-image-check\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/VHow6jLeD2DtCGuFCm7nEj.jpg\" alt=\"Digital painting of a bridge in progress\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/VHow6jLeD2DtCGuFCm7nEj.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/VHow6jLeD2DtCGuFCm7nEj.jpg\" class=\"expandable van-old-layout-image\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The bridge reference is used as a perspective foundation. The architecture is integrated into the waterfall and mountain, creating a strong sense of danger. <\/p>\n<p>The colour palette is inspired by Southeast Asian architecture. The scene was developed using line-art and colour blocking.<\/p>\n<p>02. Add clarity<\/p>\n<p class=\"bordeaux-image-check\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/nzS2tYdumdFWvnEHSKjH7h.jpg\" alt=\"Digital painting of a bridge in progress\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/nzS2tYdumdFWvnEHSKjH7h.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/nzS2tYdumdFWvnEHSKjH7h.jpg\" class=\"expandable van-old-layout-image\"\/><\/p>\n<p>This step sharpens the material\u2019s light and shadow, focusing on the architectural structure \u2013 mainly through its position by the waterfall \u2013 and the waterfall-mountain rock relationship. <\/p>\n<p>It clarifies distant outlines with loose strokes, honing the building\u2019s shape and colour gradations precisely.<\/p>\n<p>03. Final detailing<\/p>\n<p class=\"bordeaux-image-check\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2RYFCGnTQsXXieVaaBFXEi.jpg\" alt=\"Digital painting of a bridge \"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2RYFCGnTQsXXieVaaBFXEi.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2RYFCGnTQsXXieVaaBFXEi.jpg\" class=\"expandable van-old-layout-image\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Now I concentrate on detailing the scene\u00a0by defining the grass on the roofs and\u00a0wooden structures, adding texture and realism to the water, and enriching the foreground with leaves, roots and vines blending with the building. <\/p>\n<p>Distant buildings and birds add a sense of vitality.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"80920b10-75d5-454f-a0ee-282a1d2260a5-0\">This article originally appeared in ImagineFX. <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/awclick.php?awinmid=2961&amp;awinaffid=103504&amp;clickref=cbq-gb-1125834900022594786&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.magazinesdirect.com%2Faz-magazines%2F6936559%2Fimaginefx-magazine-subscription.thtml\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.awin1.com\/awclick.php?awinmid=2961&amp;awinaffid=103504&amp;clickref=cbq-gb-1125834900022594786&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.magazinesdirect.com%2Faz-magazines%2F6936559%2Fimaginefx-magazine-subscription.thtml\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Subscribe to ImagineFX<\/a> to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions are available.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Sign up to Creative Bloq&#8217;s daily newsletter, which brings you the latest news and inspiration from the worlds of art, design and technology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This scene is inspired by China\u2019s Zhuoshui Fengyu Bridge. The composition features strong visual tension, which I found&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":449327,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[6225,6485,6486,1120,96,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-449326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=449326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449326\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/449327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=449326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=449326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=449326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}