Hi, I’m a passionate illustrator, concept artist, and character designer dedicated to crafting imaginative worlds and experimenting with unique ideas. I specialize in designing stylized characters, captivating creatures, and detailed props, blending creativity with thoughtful design to bring stories to life. My goal is to create eye-catching, memorable pieces that spark curiosity and inspire viewers to imagine beyond the ordinary.

Here, you’ll find a selection of my best work.

To introduce myself further, I present Oktavia.

Oktavia is the identity I’ve chosen for my creative projects—a name that unifies my work and makes it memorable.

She embodies a bold, strong, and passionate spirit, blending modern style with a hint of mystery. Her rich palette of blues symbolizes depth, creativity, and tranquility. Through Oktavia, I channel a fearless and driven part of myself, allowing my work to speak with clarity and confidence.

My inspiration moodboard

While exploring this concept, I wanted to convey a sense of power and individuality. Here’s an early sketch where I explored the initial design and expression

The Junkyard Pirates

A group of misfits fighting against the corrupt overlords who have turned the seas into a vast wasteland, the Junkyard Pirates sail the oceans aboard a ship crafted from salvaged wreckage. They steal from the rich and give to the oppressed, leading a rebellious fight for justice.

For this project, I created a character lineup, designed props and weapons, developed a character turnaround, and rendered an image of the captain.

Character Lineup

Character Descriptions

This section provides detailed descriptions of each character in the lineup, highlighting their personalities, roles, and distinctive traits that bring them to life. Feel free to read if you’re interested, but it’s optional.

Once a well-educated scholar destined for a life of study, Atlas found himself aboard the Junkyard Pirates as an unwilling hostage after escaping an even worse captivity. Though timid and unsure of himself at first, his exceptional skills as a cartographer and navigator eventually earned him a place among the crew. With his robotic arm equipped with a high-tech map projector and a massive tripod-inspired laser beam device, Atlas maps out uncharted waters and guides the crew through dangerous terrain. Often frustrated by their reckless antics, he serves as the voice of reason, balancing their chaos with logic and precision.

Simon, known as Captain Heartless, is the fearless and charismatic leader of the Junkyard Pirates, a crew devoted to fighting injustice and opposing the corrupt overlords who have turned the seas into a polluted “junkyard.” Once gravely wounded in a battle for his ideals, Simon survived thanks to advanced science, though it left him with a permanent hole in his chest where his heart once was. Despite this, he remains a formidable fighter and an unwavering symbol of resilience, inspiring loyalty and courage among his crew. Simon’s oversized captain’s hat, adorned with salvaged wires, ropes, and a tattered blue veil, reflects the resourcefulness of his team and their mission. While his rough exterior strikes fear into his enemies, his crew knows him as a steadfast protector who surprises them with acts of kindness, like cooking meals to keep morale high.

Rora, a young mechanic and gearhead in her early twenties, is the crew’s tech genius, known for her ability to build, repair, and improvise anything needed for the mission. Despite her chaotic and often reckless nature, her skills are unmatched, earning her the captain’s respect. A lover of animals, Rora’s best friend is her pet lizard, whom she talks to as if it were a partner in crime. Goofy and lighthearted, Rora’s playful, sarcastic attitude keeps the crew entertained. She’s the type to show up at the last minute to save the day, often with a witty remark and a chaotic, clever solution to whatever problem they face.

The youngest and most innocent member of the Junkyard Pirates, Kiddo joined the crew after his village was destroyed and the pirates stepped in to help during the hardship. Despite their initial refusal due to his age, his persistence and enthusiasm eventually won them over, and they welcomed him aboard—albeit with plenty of protective gear. Filled with unshakable optimism and wonder, Kiddo brings joy and playfulness to the crew, unscarred by the hardships of piracy. He idolizes Captain Heartless, mimicking his every move and trying to learn everything he can from his role model. Always prepared with a big, overstuffed bag of supplies, Kiddo is eager to prove himself useful, even if his excitement sometimes gets the better of him.

Milene, once the privileged daughter of the overlords, turned her back on her family after witnessing the destruction and suffering they caused. During her daring escape, she lost her hearing but later gained robotic ears that grant her extraordinary super-hearing. Now serving as Simon’s trusted first mate, Milene is both his right hand and his greatest supporter, sharing his unwavering values and vision for justice. She is the emotional heart of the crew, offering care and support to those around her. Deeply in love with Simon, the captain, she shares his values and admires his unwavering commitment to their cause. Plus she is an experienced fighter with dance-inspired combat style.

Dr. Gage, the oldest and most experienced member of the crew, is a war veteran, fighter, and doctor. Having lost loved ones, his leg, and his faith, Gage is tough, methodical, and serious, using his extensive medical knowledge—often through unconventional, chemical methods—to keep people alive. He promised to help Captain Simon succeed in honor of his suffering family, but remains doubtful about the crew’s chances. Gage wears a dark bandage mask to cover his eyes, a symbol of his bitterness toward people, sun and the world. His robotic leg and scarred body are reminders of the battles he’s fought and the personal losses he’s endured. Though he rarely expresses it, Gage deeply cares for the crew and would sacrifice everything for them.

Props and Weapons Design

I designed this collection of pirate-themed props for a unique and resourceful crew, with each piece tied to a character or their specific role. The collection includes Atlas’s laser tripod weapon, inspired by real cartographer equipment; Simon’s chain weapon, ideal for unpredictable combat and climbing; Dr. Gage’s medical case, stocked with medicine, elixirs, tools, and an Atlas of the dead documenting both treated and unsuccessful cases; a camouflaged territory alarm to warn of intruders; a pet’s harness with utility pockets; and Rora’s multi-tool stick, always on hand for repairs. This project allowed me to explore practical designs rooted in the characters’ needs and their environment.

Captain Heartless – Character Render

My workflow begins with brainstorming ideas over several days, during which I sketch rough concepts and refine my vision. I gather inspiration, think deeply about the concept, and decide what I want to create. Once the idea is clear, I collect references, create moodboards, and experiment with thumbnails to explore composition and design. Only after this preparation do I move on to crafting a detailed sketch.

This piece showcases the Captain’s strength, bravery, and leadership, with a hint of his rebellious, cocky attitude.

Moodboard for Captain Concept

Thumbnail Explorations

Milene Character Turnaround

Orthographic views showcasing Milene’s front, left side and back.

Adaptive Creature Design: Skin Variations

This project showcases diverse creature designs built on a shared skeleton and bone structure, inspired by game development needs. I aimed to demonstrate designing within technical constraints while maintaining variety.

1. . A herbivorous creature with earthy tones, inspired by bulls, monkeys, and antelopes, suited for warm, rocky environments.

2. A mystical feline design with purple and orange markings, influenced by pumas and panthers, fitting for magical or ritualistic settings.

3. A cold-blooded reptilian creature with vibrant spikes and blue-green tones, thriving in lush, dangerous jungles.

From Miner to Sorcerer: A Character’s Evolution

I created this character progression sheet to showcase the transformative journey of an ordinary miner who evolves into a powerful sorcerer and revered leader. The design spans three key acts of the character’s story:

1. Beginnings: A humble worker, once part of a large pack, not yet using his full potential. He labors in harsh, dangerous conditions as a miner and blacksmith.

2. Rise: Through relentless effort, he works hard and studies magic all day, steadily mastering the arcane arts.

3. Ascendancy: Now the strongest sorcerer, he creates his own spells and acquires a powerful magical artifact, a key that unlocks his ultimate potential as a revered leader.

Below, you can see some alternative designs for the final form.

Candyland

In this project, I wanted to focus on a cute, sweet concept, creating a whimsical setting for a candy world. The project isn’t centered around a specific story but rather an imaginative idea of what a Candyland might look like. I designed a character called the Candy Princess, along with a vibrant Candyland amusement park filled with playful and colorful elements.

Candy Princess is a fun and cute character designed to potentially serve as a mascot or the face of the amusement park. When designing her, I drew inspiration from sweet elements like candy and roses, as well as popular children’s shows. The goal was to create a character that would resonate with young visitors and make them feel excited to engage with the park.

A Sketch of Her Pose and Expressions

In this project, I created a portion of the Candyland Amusement Park. The park follows a typical amusement park layout but incorporates candy and sweet-themed elements and colors throughout. The scene is set at night, allowing the lights to shine brightly and enhance the magical atmosphere.

I’ve included my early sketch of the park’s top view from my notebook, followed by the modeled version in Maya. While still learning the software, I took this as a challenge to push my skills further. The final piece includes several rendered images showcasing key structures of the park, bringing the concept to life.

Creature Fusion: Combining Two Animals

In this project, I focused on combining two different animals to create unique, playful, and experimental creature designs. Each creature blends distinct characteristics from two animals, resulting in imaginative hybrids. I used a cute color palette to emphasize the whimsical nature of these creatures. The combinations include:

Fox + Firefly

Owl + Pufferfish

Electric Eel + Bat

Crab + Starfish

Turtle + Platypus

Seahorse + Butterfly

Gallery of My Other Work

Volleyball Player Collage

Thumbnail Composition Explorations

Shiny Clothes Shading

Howl’s Moving Castle

A watercolor interpretation of Howl’s Moving Castle, created to demonstrate my love for traditional media.

Magic Portal Scenery

Animal Sketch Collection

Jinx

My fanart of Jinx from Arcane, created out of my deep admiration for the show and the complexity of her tragic story.

Urban Edge Zeri – League of Legends Skin Concept

Inspired by my favorite champion, Zeri, this concept blends vibrant urban streetwear with her electric energy, featuring a graffiti-inspired spray paint weapon.

Thank you for exploring my portfolio.

Each piece represents my passion and dedication to storytelling and design. I am always eager to grow as an artist, so any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Feel free to reach out—I’d love to connect! LinkedIn | Pinterest | Gmail: barboradziakova88@gmail.com