Loki Project - Keyart Art and Art Direction

Loki project is very dear to me, I created it back then with the intent of making our Atomhawk internal portfolio more cohesive between each others, my small initiative then grew bigger and stronger becoming what it is today!! this project wouldn't be possible without the help of Eddie Visser and Chris Rowe who I pitched the raw idea and formula for it.
Then with Felix Bernard we kickstart the principal pillars and he helped me define what the project could be: a music epic rhythm prototype of a game, from idealization to concept art, from 3D production to raw gameplay based of a Norse Fantasy realm.
I then started to conceptualize the core idea: nothing complex, but something simple and effective: reaching Valhalla.
Doing research on Norse myth, Valhalla is the land of the gods, and the souls of the heroes reach it after they die in battle, escorted by the Valkyries.
I started then play along with the idea of life that end and the ECG cardiogram visual clue, that was the fundamental core of the zipline chasm where the Valkyries live and our heroes will have to navigate through it. In a similar parallel to Jason and the Argonauts in Greek myth, our heroes, steering the huge Harp Boat from the gods will defy fate to reach Valhalla.

From that concept idea then to the keyart: this will not only drive the visual image of the project and the design language but will serve to inspire everyone on the team as well.
HUGE mention to all the artists that worked on it, because without you, all of this wouldn't be possible: Brendan Krause, Felix Bernard, Asher Ben Alpay, Adam Lee, Hilary Purnamasari, Travis Anderson, Lauren Nichols, Russel Jones.

Everyone on the team then started to concept and create all the different parts of the project: from characters to creatures, from environments to props, spreading to gameplay ideas, multiplayer solutions and destructible items as well!!

While everyone was concepting using 3D (mostly Blender) I started to take all the assets and build a rough Unreal Engine 5 prototype, a playable demo if you will (yes Loki project is playable! ), combining all our individual tasks and efforts into a cohesive experience!

In terms of leadership I tried to combine a both clear vision to empower each artists on their own creation, while giving specific briefs I also listened to everyone in the team, ready to change my mind and make their singular decisions shine without imposing my point of view but more steering the project with each one creativity injected in it.

The journey was incredible but wasn't always straightforward, at some time was hard, challenging and difficult but was a true joy and pleasure lead everyone in it and see Loki Project come together and been relased!!!
I am very proud of it like I am of everyone that support my project!! A true bliss!!
THANK EVERYONE!!

Enjoy my collection of works, but please check all the artists works as well as the Unreal Demo on the official Atomhawk webpage!!

https://atomhawk.com/project/project-loki/

Heill ok sæll 𝗟𝗼𝗸𝗶!