Can you share a bit about the process of creating your winning image, from the initial seed of the idea to the final version?
Halloween is a movie that holds a special place in my heart. The first official movie poster I ever created was for its 40th anniversary, and I’ve revisited it several times since. When Hero Complex Gallery asked me to design a piece for the 45th anniversary, it felt like my career was coming full circle. My process always begins with thumbnails, and for this project, I sketched out a few pages of mostly terrible ideas. Among the dreck, two concepts showed potential, and I chose the more risky and ambitious one.
Years ago, I read about the effect of the Mona Lisa’s smile. From a distance, we perceive the shadow shapes first, making her appear to smile. As we get closer, the details reveal a different expression. This concept involves overlaying two images: one in broad value patterns and the other in detailed rendering.
I always wanted to try this conceptual framework in a movie poster. Posters and large-scale illustrations are unique because they are first viewed from a distance, and as the viewer approaches, the details resolve, clarifying the image. This format is perfect for a double read, and the Halloween poster was my chance to test this idea.
