THE OLD WOMAN IN THE WOODS

The artwork for The Old Woman in the Woods was inspired by a desire to visually echo the tension and contrast at the heart of the story - a chilling game of survival between a seemingly harmless old woman and a vulnerable teenage girl. I leaned into a stylised, almost storybook - like illustration style to create a sense of unsettling familiarity: warm tones, smooth textures, and simplified forms that initially feel approachable, but hint at something darker just beneath the surface.

The forest setting was illustrated with twisting, oversized trees and exaggerated underbrush to enhance the claustrophobic feeling of being hunted. Zoe is crouched behind large, protective leaves - just barely hidden - while the old woman looms with a cold, determined posture, shotgun in hand. I wanted the old woman’s pale green cardigan and white hair to contrast starkly with the danger she represents, while Zoe’s swimsuit adds vulnerability and incongruity to the setting.

For the title, I chose a steely metallic texture to reflect the ominous glint of the shotgun - a visual reminder of the ever-present threat. The tagline, "Hospitality has never been so dangerous," adds a sinister twist to what might otherwise be a warm or benign phrase, setting the tone perfectly.

This design is a visual entry point into a psychological cat and mouse thriller - inviting, but unsettling.