I’m Jakub Jagoda, a Polish freelance illustrator specializing in dark fantasy, horror, and cinematic digital painting. I create semi-realistic illustrations focused on characters, creatures, and supernatural worlds, with a strong emphasis on storytelling, atmosphere, and composition.

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. My fascination with art started with dinosaur illustrations in my grandmother’s books and later grew through comics, video games, and movies. As a child, I filled boxes with drawings of superheroes, monsters, and chaotic scenes. Although my interest in art came and went throughout my teenage years, I eventually realized that art was the path I wanted to pursue.

I became a professional artist through self-directed learning rather than formal education. During the pandemic, I spent more and more time painting and studying, using online courses, books, tutorials, and countless hours of practice to build my skills. I began sharing my work online, which eventually led to my first clients and, over time, to a career as a professional illustrator.

I’ve worked across role-playing games, tabletop games, publishing, and music, collaborating with clients including Awaken Realms, Lucky Duck Games, and EDGE Studio. My work has appeared in projects such as Arkham Horror, HELL: Legends, and Chronicles of Crime, alongside album artwork and independent projects. In 2026, I also had the opportunity to create an official poster for Metallica’s show in Chorzów, Poland, which was a particularly meaningful project.

Some of my illustrations have been exhibited internationally in galleries across Rome, Lisbon, Paris, and New York. One of the most significant exhibitions of my work took place in Seoul, South Korea, where I had the opportunity to present my paintings in person and give talks about digital painting, my creative process, and the ideas behind my work.

My work is driven by storytelling. I’m drawn to images that feel like a single moment pulled from a much larger story. I like to create scenes that make the viewer wonder what happened before and what might happen next. Composition, lighting, atmosphere, and character acting all play an important role in creating that feeling.

My influences come from a wide range of places. Zdzislaw Beksiński, Frank Frazetta, and the old masters have all had a significant impact on the way I think about painting, while cinema, literature, games, and contemporary fantasy artists continue to influence my work.

Outside of art, I’m a pretty laid-back person with a strong sense of humor. I like staying active, whether that means going to the gym, running, or pretty much any other sport. I’m also a big fan of pizza, which is probably my most consistent passion outside of painting. When I’m not working, I spend most of my time with my loving girlfriend, gaming or reading.

I’m constantly looking for new worlds to explore and new challenges that push my work further.