Apostolos Gkantinas

I am a Melbourne-based artist and illustrator with a passion for both traditional and digital art. My artistic journey has taken me through different creative fields, including traditional painting, 3D modelling, illustration and the professional animation industry.
I hold an Advanced Diploma in 3D Modelling and Illustration and have professional experience working in the animation industry as a 3D asset artist, creating characters, environments and visual assets for animated projects. This experience helped me develop a strong understanding of visual storytelling, composition, form, lighting and atmosphere, which continues to influence my artwork today.
My current work is strongly influenced by dark fantasy, mythology, nature, music and human emotion. I am particularly interested in creating dramatic and atmospheric artworks that tell a story and leave room for the viewer to develop their own interpretation.
I am currently focusing my artistic practice on fine-art illustration, dark fantasy, book covers and album artwork, especially artwork inspired by heavy metal and darker musical themes. I also enjoy collaborating with musicians and writers, exploring their lyrics, stories and ideas and turning them into visual narratives.
Although I work digitally, I consider digital art another medium for painting and illustration rather than a replacement for traditional art. I am completely opposed to using AI-generated imagery in my artwork. I believe the artist's personal vision, creativity and individual decisions are what give an artwork its character and meaning.
I joined the Victorian Artists Society because I would like to become an active part of the Victorian art community, meet and learn from other artists, continue developing my own practice and have the opportunity to share my work with a wider audience.

“I am interested in creating images that feel like they have a story behind them — artworks that invite the viewer to look deeper and create their own interpretation.”