Blake Byun is a freelance Illustrator from South Korea with a deep passion for bringing characters to life. Her focus is on creating narrative-driven illustrations with dramatic lighting and dynamic compositions using Photoshop (see our guides to the best digital art software and the best drawing tablets.
Below, Blake talks us through four examples of her work. You can find more inspiration in our other features on digital artists.
Masque of the Black Rose Fan Splash Art
(Image credit: Blake Byun)
“Inspired by Arcane, this piece shows Mel hunting for secrets. I used moody lighting and atmospheric framing to highlight her fierce resolve beneath a graceful exterior.”
Nightbringer Hecarim Splash Art
(Image credit: In Partnership with Riot Games / Client: West Studio / West Studio AD: Mingchen Shen / Collaboration & Final Polish: League Splash Team. © 2025 Riot Games, Inc. All rights reserved.)
“I wanted to convey Hecarim’s relentless momentum and dark, aggressive energy. Dynamic angles emphasise the sense of force. I focused on clearly delineated cast shadows to define the line between light and shadow.”
Tranquil Dissonance
(Image credit: Blake Byun)
“In this illustration, I visualised duality. The cosy atmosphere hides the character’s hidden grumpy nature. I balanced a peaceful view with the underlying uncomfortable truth.”
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Prestige Spirit Blossom Aphelios Splash Art
(Image credit: In Partnership with Riot Games / Client: West Studio / West Studio AD: Mingchen Shen / Collaboration & Final Polish: League Splash Team. © 2025 Riot Games, Inc. All rights reserved.)
This piece for West Studio was especially meaningful to Blake as she’s a longtime fan of Aphelios and the Spirit Blossom universe. It shows a “A rare, tranquil moment of Aphelios relaxing in a hot spring.”
“I spent a lot of time rendering the gentle water ripples and adding layers of steam and water droplets to create a convincingly hot, humid, and grounded atmosphere,” Blake says.
Blake gave a lot of thought to how she could show Aphelios and Alune sharing the same space, enjoying the hot spring together, while still preserving the emotional tone of their twin sibling bond.
“Riot’s final polish added so much clarity and depth, and it helped me realize areas I still need to grow in,” she adds on her ArtStation profile.
Inspired to work on your own digital art? See below for deals on recommended drawing tablets that we’ve reviewed.
This article originally appeared in ImagineFX. Subscribe to ImagineFX to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions are available.
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