Anime and the middle ages collide in this artist's mysterious scenes

Margherita Castello is an illustrator and comic book artist based in Italy. She loves to explore fantastical and surreal themes inspired by nature and history, in particular the Middle Ages. She also likes to blend mystery and subtle storytelling in her artwork.

Maggie tends to use Clip Studio Paint for her work (see our guide to the best digital art software) and uses deep, vibrant hues. Below, she tells us a little about four examples of her art. For more inspiration, see our other features on digital artists.

The Arrival

Digital fantasy art — (Image credit: Margherita Castello)

“This piece is inspired by late-medieval depictions of comets. I used rich blue hues and referenced architecture from the era to capture the mysterious atmosphere.”

Barnabas

“This simple artwork features an angelic character from a story of mine. I used soft digital pastels for the rendering and tried to emulate a stylised iridescence on his sparrow wings.”

The Cursed

“Created for the upcoming Cursed Zine and inspired by Michelangelo’s Torment of Saint Anthony, this artwork is a fantasy interpretation of the biblical devil.”

Watch Your Step

“I made this artwork for Gallery IYN in Osaka in late 2022. It showcases two characters from one of my projects. I wanted to paint a beautiful and slightly ominous atmosphere shrouded in greenery.”

You can see more of Maggie's work on her website.

This article originally appeared in ImagineFX. Subscribe to ImagineFX to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions are available.

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