Fantasy Illustration * Character ART
TANYA PODOLSKAYA
Fantasy Art for the Worlds You're Building

I'm Tanya — a fantasy illustrator and character artist based in Berlin. I create handcrafted illustrations and character art for video games, tabletop RPGs, board games, and fantasy novels. My work is painterly and detail-rich — cinematic in composition, atmospheric in mood, and dense with world-building detail, the kind of art where every image carries the feeling of a larger story waiting to be told. If you're looking for an illustrator who thinks in worlds and not just pictures, you're in the right place.
SELECTED WORKS
WHAT I CAN HELP YOU WITH
Whether you're building a game, writing a novel, or launching a card set — I help you define the visual tone of your world and bring it to life with quality that meets real production standards.
  • CARD GAME ART (TCG, CCG)
  • FANTASY BOOK ILLUSTRATION
  • CHARACTER DESIGN
MEET THE ARTIST
Fantasy has been my world since I can remember. As a child I was drawn to gothic cathedrals and ancient wooden churches, to the creatures half-hidden in tree bark and the fairy shapes that forest roots make — I felt the mythical pressing through the surface of the ordinary world. I grew up steeped in myths and legends, and lost myself in fantasy books that never quite let me go.

That fascination deepened through my education. I trained in costume design, where my obsessions were Alexander McQueen's gothic theatre and the transformative power of Venetian masquerade. I also studied psychology, which gave me language for what I'd always done intuitively: building characters from the inside out, through archetype, narrative, and symbolic detail.

Today I'm a fantasy illustrator with 5+ years of experience working specifically in this genre, creating character designs, narrative scenes, and world-building illustrations for book publishers, game studios, and independent authors. My work has shipped in D&D 5e campaigns, published artbooks, and game products played across multiple continents.
3 REASONS TO WORK WITH ME
  • Proven industry background
    Award-winning illustrator with 5+ years working with game studios, publishers, and independent authors — including Wooga (June's Journey, $1B+ mobile game), Vampire: The Masquerade – Eternal Struggle, Ulisses Spiele, Ghostfire Gaming, and New York Times bestselling authors. My work is published in 5 released titles (2022–2025). I understand production pipelines and how to deliver assets that actually ship.
  • Collaborative by default
    As Lead Artist and Art Director on a fantasy roguelike, I managed a team of 3 artists and guided client direction at every stage. I'm a Top Rated freelancer on Upwork with extensive experience helping indie authors and studios clarify their vision. I ask the right questions early, flag issues before they become problems, and actively guide the creative process — not just execute a brief.
  • Genuine craft
    In a market increasingly flooded with generated images, I offer something rare: illustration built on years of study in anatomy, color theory, composition, and visual storytelling. I hold a BA in Design along with additional training at CGMA, Smirnov School, SmArt School, and CG Lab. The difference shows.
Let's Work Together!
Looking for a fantasy illustrator for your next project?
I'm available for commissions — character design, scene illustrations, book covers, game cards, and more. Tell me about your vision.

podolskayats@gmail.com
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