rjfayart

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Graveyard Gates - Background Design

Here’s a more refined layout for a background design I’ve been working on for “The Graveyard Book.” Day and night variations are on the way!

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You’re a Legend

A gift for Giacomo Boni, a talented concept artist who is embarking on a new chapter in his career after three years at Ubisoft Milan. As a lifelong Rayman fan since the age of six, his appearance in the final DLC of “Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope” felt like being reunited with an old friend. Giacomo, along with the artists and animators did an incredible job of respecting the legacy of this franchise while giving him, in my opinion, his best design yet. It was so nice to know that this game was being made by Rayman fans, for Rayman fans—who could ask for more? Wherever you go next, I hope I speak for all Rayman fans when I say thank you, and good luck!

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Silas - Suit & Cloak

Finally nailed down a design and color scheme I liked for Silas. I wanted to make him seem imposing and mysterious with the cloak and hat, and a little more approachable but still reserved with the suit.

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Vampire Costumes

Playing around with vampire costumes. What do you think?

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Silas the Guardian

Rough studies of Silas from “The Graveyard Book” to kick off the spooky season. I was hoping to play with shape language and expressions, which isn’t always easy to do when you have a character as serious as he is.

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Grazie, Davide!

This was posted weeks ago on my Twitter, but I liked it so much I decided to share it here as well.

This was made to commemorate Davide Soliani’s 25-year run with Ubisoft Milan. In his time with the studio, he did some things I thought were impossible: 1.) Bring back Rayman, and 2.) made me like the Rabbids again! Having been a longtime Rayman fan since I was six (my first game was Rayman 2 on the N64), seeing what he and the talented team at Ubisoft Milan did to bring him back in the Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope DLC felt like being reunited with a long-lost friend! His passion and dedication to his craft is nothing short of inspiring, and I hope it takes him far, wherever he goes next. I hope I speak for all Rayman fans when I say thank you, Davide, for everything—and best wishes!

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Headstone Variations

Early renders of headstones from “The Graveyard Book.” More variations of crypts, statues and memorials to come.

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Betsy Owens Model Sheet

Model sheet for Betsy, Nobody Owens’s adoptive ghost mother.

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Nobody Owens Model Sheet

Exploration for Nobody Owens as an infant in Chapter 1 of “The Graveyard Book.”

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Nobody Crosses the Threshold

Background design/story moment in which the infant Nobody Owens peers curiously through the front door of his house one foggy autumn night.

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29 Years of Rayman

Rayman: “After all this time?”

Me: “Always!”

Beep-O: “…Who are these people?”

Better late than never! The beginning of this month marked the 29th anniversary of my favorite childhood game of all time, as well as the first anniversary of the Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope DLC that brought him back! This pretty much sums up how I felt seeing him reappear after ten years. Thanks for the memories 💜

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Here’s my most recent background design/story moment and possibly the piece in my “Graveyard Book” series that I’m the most proud of. It’s a story about an orphaned toddler who is rescued and raised by ghosts after wandering into an old cemetery. In this shot, Josiah Worthington (right) lambasts the Owenses’ (left) decision to adopt the live boy, arguing that he has no place there and that they have no means to care for him anyway. Mrs. Owens, having already grown attached to the baby, is having none of it, while Mr. Owens pleads in her defense. Other ghosts (and another mysterious figure) come to witness the debate. My deepest thanks to John Nevarez, whose time and advice helped me navigate the challenges that came with making this piece.

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From sketch to final painting—a background painting from “The Graveyard Book.” This would’ve been a fork in the road that would lead visitors to the overgrown and treacherous western side of the cemetery, or the more peaceful eastern side. Might revisit this one later…

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Another background painting/story moment for “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman, from start to finish. In this shot, the infant Nobody Owens strays into the titular graveyard for the first time in the dead of night.

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WIP as part of an ongoing portfolio series based on one of my favorite books—the front gates of the titular cemetery from “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman.

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Background paintings for “The Incredible Adventures of Detective Cat,” a 2D animated pilot by Charles Moss. 2022.