Wallpapers available at https://artstn.co/m/Bjkm6
After completing my Rotom Pokémon project, I decided to create another Pokémon. At first, I had a completely different idea of what Gastly was. Long ago, I believed Gastly’s main body was the sphere, and the gas around it was just something it emitted. But after researching Gastly’s lore, I learned something surprising.
Gastly is made entirely of gas, which instantly made me want to challenge myself by creating it using volumetrics.
Modeling & Experimentation :
This project became a major learning experience. I created multiple variations of Gastly’s facial expressions — different eyes and mouths — so each Gastly could feel like it had its own personality. I even experimented with using drivers for the first time, allowing me to switch expressions efficiently.
For the gas body, I used Geometry Nodes (Mesh to Volume) to build the spherical volumetric form. The biggest challenge was the eyes. I explored many methods, including volumetric eye techniques, edge blur experiments, and even Boolean-style cutouts inside volume — but the results weren’t clean enough for the look I wanted.
In the end, instead of fully volumetric eyes, I chose a more controlled approach: using mesh eyes with a shader mix of transparency + emission, so they blended naturally with the smoky body while still remaining visible.
Scene Design :
Simply placing one Gastly felt too simple, so I created a group of Gastly variations arranged in a circular formation. I also added smoke and volumetric scatter throughout the scene to make the environment feel dense, mysterious, and alive.
At first, I planned to add “gas emissions” coming from each Gastly like a power-up effect, but when everything was combined it became too solid and abstract. So I changed the idea and instead filled the entire scene with drifting gas, giving it a more natural and haunting atmosphere.
Rendering & Editing :
After multiple lighting tests and render experiments, I composited the render in Blender and later made finishing in PicsArt. I explored different moods which made me realize how much lighting and visibility affects storytelling. This project became a balance between mystery and clarity.
Gastly should feel dark and hidden, but still readable for the viewer.
Overall, this artwork is not only a Pokémon fan piece, but also a personal study of : Volumetrics, Fog and atmosphere, Geometry nodes, Drivers, Compositing workflow, Lighting experimentation, Post-processing and Mood building
Gastly is often described as a Pokémon that is unseen yet felt, and I tried to capture that same feeling in this final render.
Software Used :
Blender (Modeling, Volumetrics, Lighting, Rendering, Compositing), PicsArt (Final post-processing and effects)
Gastly Atmospheric Wallpapers - Video
Check out the full project here -