Color: The color palettes are starkly limited, relying heavily on contrasting dark backgrounds (deep blues, purples, black) with a few selected, often saturated or slightly muted, colors for the foreground elements (red, orange, pink, green, yellow). Color is applied in bold blocks or textured areas within strong outlines. This restricted and high-contrast approach emphasizes the graphic quality and the print-like texture, creating a visually impactful and distinct aesthetic.
Lighting: Lighting is not a dominant element; the visuals are defined by the interplay of the limited colors and the textured surfaces, rather than traditional light and shadow. The dark backgrounds provide depth but not through illumination. The overall illumination feels flat, similar to a print, allowing the rough textures to be clearly visible across the entire image.
Design Technique: The styles emphasize a rough, tactile texture that mimics traditional printmaking techniques like linocut or woodcut, featuring visible ink transfer and deliberate imperfections. Forms are simplified and highly stylized, often reduced to essential shapes and patterns. Compositions are graphic and often centered, placing stylized subjects like animals, figures, or plants against the dark, textured backgrounds. The subjects blend natural forms with elements that feel slightly mythical or symbolic. The styles convey a sense of handmade craftsmanship, earthy authenticity, raw artistic expression, and a connection to folk traditions or a slightly dark, natural world.