Ren Varela
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cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Ren Varela
@cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
2K followers 160 following 2.2K posts
A Latine dark fantasy, horror, and surrealist artist, illustrator, storyteller.
#DarkArt
🚫 No A/I ; 🚫 N/F/Ts

Nonbinary | Pronouns: they/them

📧 Contact: [email protected]
🌐 https://bio.site/CobaltCorvus
🥫 https://ko-fi.com/cobaltcorvus
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cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Ren Varela @cobaltcorvus.bsky.social · Oct 14
Hello, #PortfolioDay!

I'm Ren Varela, a freelance artist that specializes in dark, slightly surrealist fantasy illustrations, and character & creature designs.

I am open for work & interested in creating art for TTRPGs!

💼 Portfolio
🖼️ Print Shop
🪙 Tip Jar
✉️ Contact: [email protected]
A collage image of six different paintings done by the poster of various skull headed humanoid figures, most with their skulls floating above dismembered torsos and other mystical features. A collage of six images that are of three different character portraits, two of which show full body poses. A collage of two different images featuring the same character. One is a portrait of a ghostly male character that is mostly in shadow except for his face. He has dark hair, blue skin and glowing eyes. The other features different portrait angles and one almost full body pose. A collage of three different digital paintings. One is a portrait of a headless figure in a suit and tie with two glowing halos of different sizes floating where the head would be. Second is of a jackal skull floating above the neck of a dismembered, semi-human, teal torso. Last is of a giant, four-armed, skull-headed figure floating in a large thunder cloud with several bolts of lighting generating from its hands and the cloud as sunlight shines from behind it all.
Reposted by Ren Varela
mindistortion.tv
Congrats on the 700 and thank you for hosting, Grace! Here's to many more to come! 🥂✨

Hi, I'm Manuel and I make mostly spooky art using charcoal and digital means!
Charcoal portrait of a long-necked cyclops, warily eyeing the viewer. Somber digital painting of a jellyfish-ticklike creature drifting across a desolate wasteland. It is accompanied by dragonflies. Colorful digital painting of a reptile skull in front of what could either be a monumental rock formation or the rest of the reptile's skeleton. The sky is strangely ablaze. Eerie charcoal drawing of a lone rag doll sitting on a ghostly chair.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
fonscordi.bsky.social
I'll start 👻

Hi! I'm Grace, and I like to paint horror, fanarts and surrealism.
✨️👻✨️
"The Happy King" A man with a crown and a halo forced to smile by two hands while a creature is emerging from his chest "The fisherman by the lake" "See? Told you we should wait for migration season! These nosey guys can't resist to see what's going on. No need for lures nor nets! Easy catch!" ____ A fisherman is holding two big creatures with the body of a fish and the face of a human. He's standing by a lake with red water, more human-face fishes are poking their head out the lake. In the distance 3 giant eldrich creatures walk among the mountains below a yellow sky with red sun. "The lamb" Blessed be the lamb who follows blindly, for they will deliver their kin in a silver tray. ______ This is an image of a blonde girl wearing a lamb mask. An ominous all seeing eye is behind her inside a halo. "The philosopher" Killing must be feel good to God too, he does it all the time, and are we not created to his own image?- Hannibal Lecter _____ A fanart of NBC series Hannibal. In the image we can see Hannibal sitting at the head of the table raising a glass of wine, he has no face but a halo around his head. A lamb head crying blood is serve in front of him, surrounded by pomegranates in a golden plate. Behind Hannibal is a stag man with six arms, imitating the pose of the Goddess of death Kali.
November 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
fonscordi.bsky.social
Is time for an #artshare!!

Thank you so much
for 700 follows!!
😭🫶🤍🎊🥂

👁Show us your art:
paints, crafts, writings, etc
👁Repost for visibility
👁Add alt text if possible
👁REPOST your fav artist!
👁Tag friends if you want
👁Label NSFW properly!

🚫NO A*I 🚫NO N*F*T🚫

#arttrain #art #selfpromo
November 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Working on my plans for 2026 and I'm doing my best to not overload myself with work.

I also really need to get my Ko-fi page back up and running so stayed tuned for that as well! 🖤
November 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
danhawk333.bsky.social
As always thank you for hosting this Quico! 😎🍷
A few of my recent pen pieces for the share and some (optional) tags for @lkcreations.art @canuckuma.bsky.social @rjb-mallacore.bsky.social @stringerseven.bsky.social @riolavar.bsky.social
Full page pen drawing of a figure with a chain mail like hood draped over their head the flows into robes accented with tusks over the shoulder and holding an orb between their hands, one over, one under with a glowing white energy around a black, pupil like sphere. Flanking at a distance to either side are two others with the furthest back on the left having 3 horizontal, rectangular extensions off the headdress. Behind the one on the right is a large, ancient stone structure with black panels set into it where white, ghostly, humanoid and near-humanoid figures are visible, while branching like structures fill the upper part of the page where the sky would be, blotting out the starscape. On the left diamond shaped craft hang in the air while the top of structures emerge from a fog, including a large T shaped structure. Pen drawing of an alien covered in coral looking bio-mechanical growths and a fogged visor only showing eyes with tentacle like limbs 'crab-walking' towards the left. Its companion is folded up in a corner among the curved walls that are covered in alien machinery that has organic like textures that look carved or inscribed. Behind the moving alien is a large oval window showing a star scape in deep space. Pen drawing of a large, vaguely humanoid figure with a simple disc for a face surrounded by a thick oval halo while two organic limbs rise from behind it's shoulders while it opens up wings that reveal the void of space with stars as they arc around it's body that seems to be made up of several other figures and forms as if a portal. In front of this are several figures in poses suggesting that they are worshipping this scene while all around are strange ancient cathedral looking ruins with ancient Egyptian style textures and patterns. Pen drawing of a humanoid with a void and a single star-like pin point of light in the center. Their unclothed but low definition body flows down into a number of organic shapes and semi-human faces that make up the overgrown mass of eyes, and root like structures. Up the sides it flows up into aged bone and metal structures that eventually becomes a set of highly complex technological structures that radiate outward from a marble like halo that surrounds the head.
November 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
shiftypumpkin.com
Thanks for sharing! I make oil paintings of natural & fantasy landscapes #art #tradart #oilpainting

perceptivepumpkin.com/gallery/
shiftypumpkin.etsy.com
ko-fi.com/shiftypumpkin
18”x24” oil painting of an autumn forest, in hues of yellow, orange, red and brown. Bright light shines down through the trees and settles into a low-lying grove with an old log. A tree with red leaves and dark branches sits in the foreground. 18”x24” oil painting of a nebula in red and orange, above a dark forest in shades of purple, blue and black. A cozy campfire brightly lights a clearing next to an old log, and reflects on the surrounding trees. A rushing stream cuts through the forest. Work-In-Progress of a 18”x24” oil painting showing a foggy forest 8”x10” oil painting of a house in winter, nestled among snowy evergreens.
November 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
quicoarts.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
quicoarts.bsky.social
⚡🦋Let's go #monday🦋⚡
⚡💥 #selfpromo 💥⚡
💣 #artshare 💣
🤘🤘 Like and repost 🤘 🤘
❤️‍🔥Spread some love❤️‍🔥
☠️NoAI☠️
👽Tag your friends👽
November 24, 2025 at 2:07 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Back in my Stardew Valley era. ✌️
November 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
tinylongwing.bsky.social
Art train! Share 4 pieces + tag 4 artists

(apologies and thanks to all who tagged me before, now finally I have time whee) #BirdArt #SciArt #Fanart

@rachelquinlan.bsky.social
@bruib.bsky.social
@flyingtrilobite.com
@zanibot.bsky.social
Digital illustration of two pterosaurs flying over a lush forest and lake area. The sky behind them is blue with soft white clouds. Both pterosaurs are the same species - one is near to us with wings lowered as it turns in flight, the other is farther behind with wings raised. They have a brilliant black, red, and yellow display crest, a long red pair of jaws with short teeth, a green crown, golden iris, black eyestripe, and cream-colored breast fuzz. The wings are long and pointed, dark blue-gray with a red band and black tips. They each have a long tail with a red arrow-shaped point. For Nature by NorthStar Games Digital painting of a Least Bittern clinging to green reeds as it aims downward, watching the water carefully for movement. It has yellow eyes, a very sharp pointy beak, and a mottled gray-yellow-reddish back. The water surface is murky and covered in little green duckweed leaves. Digital painting. A dark night with a light shining on an alleyway, where a World Ender is currently finishing up spray painting FUCK ICE on the whole wall. the wall is topped with razor wire and covered in older graffiti. A couple of others hang out and chat farther down the alleyway. At foreground left, a strange silhouette lurks - a ghost with green light spilling out the side of his face, his transparent form filled with stars. At foreground right, a skeletal figure in a dark red leather jacket comes for the viewer with one hand held menacingly outstretched - Cobb Avery's threat to back off and get out of their neighborhood. Digital illustration of Dale Redmayne in grayscale, outlined in white. He has headphones on and is holding onto a microphone, while his guitar strap crosses his chest. He is wearing a t-shirt, which shows the tattoos on his arms. He is looking away from the mic, not singing, but has paused as if stopped mid-lyric by something we can't see. His hair looks unruly and his eyes are tired.
November 19, 2025 at 8:51 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Current findings in regards to M. Graham vs. Holbein gouache:

M. Graham is still easier to manipulate when heavily watered down like watercolors, but Holbein's color quality is just as nice when used more opaquely. Really it's more to do with me needing to learn how to use the medium better. 😅
November 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Art Train 🎨🖤
Share 4 pieces + tag 4 artists

@yulkradness.bsky.social
@tinylongwing.bsky.social
@owllog.bsky.social
@i-make-da-things.bsky.social
A digital painting of a cracked egg with an eye in the center instead of a yolk. Above it all is an infinity symbol. A dark art, digital painting of a haloed, skull headed figure floating in a void with arms stretched to its sides, palms facing forward, and with rose quartz protruding from its shattered, decaying body. A digital painting that is a portrait of a ghostly male character that is mostly in shadow except for his face. He has dark hair, blue skin and glowing eyes. A digital painting of a giant, soulsborne-esque multi-armed, skull-headed figure in a large thunder cloud with several bolts of lighting generating from it.
November 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Hello, new followers!

If you're looking for more art, stories, comics, etc. with dark fantasy vibes, I have a starter pack you can check out! 🖤

go.bsky.app/FYp5MSQ
November 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
quicoarts.bsky.social
⚡🦋Let's go #monday🦋⚡
⚡💥 #selfpromo 💥⚡
💣 #artshare 💣
🤘🤘 Like and repost 🤘 🤘
❤️‍🔥Spread some love❤️‍🔥
☠️NoAI☠️
👽Tag your friends👽
November 17, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Reposted by Ren Varela
fonscordi.bsky.social
I see a lot of folks needing some extra help atm, so:
Impromptu #artshare time!!
🎄👻🎄

✨️Show us your artwork
✨️Show us how to support you
✨️Repost for visibility
✨️Add alt text if possible
👇👇👇
✨️REPOST your favourite artist!
👆👆👆
✨️Tag friends if you want

🚫NO A/I 🚫NO N/F/T🚫

#arttrain #art #selfpromo
November 16, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Untitled 06
2024, Ren Varela
Digital (Clip Studio Paint EX)
🖼️ #art #DarkArt
A dark art digital painting of portrait of a headless figure in a suit and tie with two glowing halos of different sizes floating where the head would be.
January 30, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Mindless
2024, Ren Varela
Digital (Clip Studio Paint EX)
🖼️ #art #DarkArt
A dark art, digital painting of a human skull, facing right in profile view. The crown of the skull is removed, revealing the empty cavity. There is a vertical halo with five crystals in points floating around it.
January 27, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Going through my sketchbooks to find which sketches to save and which to toss for space saving reasons. Here's one of the keepers!

🎨🖼️ #DarkArt #sketches #sketchbook
An ink pen drawing of a skull-headed figure with a shroud over the head and cut off at the torso with arms that become some kind of flowy mess at the biceps.
May 12, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Eye Egg
2023, Ren Varela
Digital (Clip Studio Paint EX)
🎨🖼️ #DarkArt #surreal
A digital painting of a cracked egg with an eye in the center instead of a yolk. Above it all is an infinity symbol.
April 15, 2025 at 2:53 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Quote with your art with horns! 😈
A digital painting of a demon-like creature with a human skull that has Jacob's sheep horns and a glowing inner fire in it's diminishing torso.
November 16, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Untitled 03
#DarkArt #BSkyArt #surrealism
A digital drawing of a soulsborne-esque figure that features a stone disc for a head with one large eye crying in the center. Two disembodied arms are floating with hands cupped beneath it, catching it's tears.
July 5, 2024 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Just a little drawing for today.

#art #ArtSky #surrealism
A digital grayscale drawing of an eye embedded in a circular object and two disembodied arms floating underneath it.
April 16, 2024 at 9:41 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
I set out for this year to be the year I get back into reading but didn't really start until the later half of last month. But ultimately that doesn't matter, it just matters that I started.
November 12, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
stinasdemons.com
🎶 No, you didn't have to stoop so low-
Have your friends collect some organs,
Then wake me from slumber...
But I guess that I won't feed my woe:

Now they're just some Bodies
that I used to know 🎶

(You're welcome)
Post from @kayteterry / wormbuxx This cursed thought popped into my head and I'll never unsee it now [Side by side pictures of Gotye in his video and Frankenstein's creature from the new GDT movie]
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
chiitan.love
If you can't come out right now, please don't hate yourself.
One day, the meaning of labels will disappear.

Please love yourself as you are.
The one who can cherish yourself the most is yourself.
Because that is your strength and beauty.
Chiitan loves you
October 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM