The Realm of Sasafras: Fantasy artwork & illustrations
Welcome to the Studio Sasafras artwork collection, where traditional fantasy art meets nature, folklore, fairytales and the wonderfully strange. Explore whimsical creatures, dark stories, mythical characters and dreamlike worlds, all created from my imagination and brought to life through illustration.
Here you can see an overview of the illustrations I have created over the past few years. In a time when some people struggle to distinguish between AI-generated images and original work, I would like to emphasise that all the illustrations on my website were made entirely by me. I do not use any AI programmes; instead, I work traditionally, and with digital tools such as Nomad Sculpt and Procreate. The photos I incorporate into my mushroom illustrations are also taken by me personally.
For more information on the different media I use, please check my materials page.
Explore the realm of Sasafras
🍄 Mushroom Folk
✨ Whimsical & Creepy-Cute
🌙 Dark Fantasy & Gothic
🧙 Folklore, Mythology & Fairytales
🌿 Surreal & Dreamlike
Mushroom Folk – A Fantasy Field Guide
Step into the mysterious world of Mushroom Folk, where real fungi become curious fantasy characters. Inspired by nature, folklore and the fascinating shapes of mushrooms, each character has its own personality, story and place within the Sasafras realm. Explore the illustrated field guide and discover the strange inhabitants hiding beneath the forest canopy.
Whimsical & Creepy-Cute Fantasy Art
Meet the stranger and more playful inhabitants of the realm of Sasafras. From curious creatures and magical plants to unusual fairytale characters, these whimsical fantasy illustrations combine sweetness with a slightly unsettling twist. Expect big eyes, strange personalities and plenty of unexpected surprises.
Dark Fantasy & Gothic
Enter the darker side of the realm, where ghosts, ghouls, monsters and mysterious creatures emerge from the shadows. These dark fantasy illustrations explore death, supernatural folklore, strange emotions and gothic storytelling, often with a touch of humour and the occasional creepy-cute character.
Folklore, Mythology & Fairytale Art
Ancient legends and forgotten stories come to life through Studio Sasafras fantasy art. Inspired by folklore, mythology and fairytales from different cultures, these illustrations reinterpret witches, spirits, mythical creatures and legendary characters through a whimsical and sometimes darker lens.
Surreal & Dreamlike Fantasy Art
Some ideas arrive from dreams rather than reality. This collection brings together surreal creatures, impossible landscapes and strange combinations inspired by dreams, imagination and the natural world. Expect flying whales, unusual animals and other curious visions that exist somewhere between fantasy and reality.
Halloween & Seasonal Fantasy Art
Celebrate the strange and magical side of the seasons with spooky Halloween characters, enchanted winter scenes and festive fantasy illustrations. From witches and monsters to Yule traditions and mysterious woodland creatures, these artworks bring a little Studio Sasafras magic to the changing seasons.
Every portfolio starts with learning, trying…
and beginning again…
The overview you see here is just a small selection of the illustrations and paintings I’ve created over the past decades. These are also the pieces I feel are strong enough to share. There are so many drawings that didn’t turn out the way I hoped — pieces where you can clearly see me struggling to get my ideas onto paper or canvas.
And even now, after all these years of drawing, experimenting, and starting over, I still don’t always manage to capture exactly what I see in my head. But practice truly does make progress. Where five years ago it took a great deal of effort to make, say, an animal look natural, that process now comes much more easily to me.
What I want to say is this: if you draw, practise, and stumble along the way, remember that even the most experienced artists and illustrators once had to start somewhere…