Vij
Creating the character design concept for the main antagonist in the game Chernobog has been a personal favorite of mine. Taking inspiration from Nikolai Gogol's "Viy," the ultimate adversary in the game emerges as the harbinger of fear. His eyes, shrouded by lengthy eyelids, are so weighty that he cannot open them without assistance. A cohort of demons perpetually surrounds him, ready to serve at his command.
Poses
Turaround
The face of fear
What does the face of fear's materialization look like? Is it more intimidating when concealed or revealed? Does it resemble a human, an animal, or something entirely otherworldly? Exploring these questions guided my creative process in shaping a character that evokes the desired sense of dread.
Facial Expressions
Sketches
In the original story, Vij is described as a creature shaped like a man, walking with a limp, and his eyelids reaching the floor. I've tried to play with this image, experimenting with various leg shapes to convey the distinctive gait that would resemble a limp, exploring body types etc... The sketches below aimed to capture Vij's unique physical attributes while allowing for creative interpretation and expression.
