Ren Varela
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cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Ren Varela
@cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
2K followers 170 following 2.3K posts
A Latine dark fantasy, horror, and surrealist artist, illustrator, storyteller.
#DarkArt
🚫 No A/I ; 🚫 N/F/Ts

Nonbinary | Pronouns: they/them

📧 Contact: CobaltCorvusStudio@gmail.com
🌐 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: CobaltCorvusStudio@gmail.com
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
danhawk333.bsky.social
Congrats on the 3k aromie! 😎🍷

Here are my recent completed pieces. There will be one finished today, but its not ready yet

(Optional) tags for @akanelogics.bsky.social @chrisnazgul.bsky.social @runningcritter.bsky.social @yulkradness.bsky.social @riolavar.bsky.social @blagodatskix.bsky.social
Pen drawing of a humanoid figure made of black void, covered in symbols whose body flows into root-like structures and radiates light blue and purple energy upward set against a massive stone wall embedded with winged statues and carved archways. Sitting atop the wall are three feminine presenting celestial beings with black void for faces with two of them huddled around the third who is taller than the other two and has three bright star like points of light for a face instead of the single one in the other two. Around them are an assortment of domed organic shaped structures that tower up in the distance while a strangely textured moon hangs in a sky that shimmers with a blue and purple aurora like pattern with white lights and streaks embedded within it. Pen drawing of a long, black haired feminine figure with four arms per side that get smaller as they go down their back. Small shell and gem like objects in their hair while their face a smooth, bone or polished stone looking surface with a small oval where the main features would be. Their primary left arm is outstretched towards a floating book with a highly textured surface of bone and flesh looking shapes with odd growths that flows up the right side of the page and behind their head. These same style of growths surround them at shin height with shapes renunciant of devices embedded in it along with crystals. A smaller left arm is grasping a large orb held up by one of these organic columns while in the distance a cliff rises up with figures standing near a sculpted standing stone while a large gas giant looking planet hangs in the sky of the upper right of the page. Pen drawing of a feminine figure caught between strange technological devices to the left of their head and upper torso with metallic bits intruding under the skin while to the left of their tattooed face they flow into swirls of mystical looking energy. Pen drawing of a feminine figure on the right side with an elongated skull that flows into various organic shapes down and around her long neck as he long tongue extrudes out of her mouth, licking twisted organic form with multiple faces and made up of intertwining tendrils and other fleshy, bulbous shapes. Surrounding the scene are streaks of night sky embedded with ghostly forms and surrounded by twisted bodies and body parts.
January 1, 2026 at 7:06 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
I'm now offering portrait sketch #commissions! ✍️

Details can be found over at my Ko-fi page!

ko-fi.com/c/e636e1d6a7
Sketch Portrait
Commission available on Ko-fi.com
ko-fi.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:35 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Happy New Year!
ko-fi.com/post/Happy-N...
Happy New Year 2026
CobaltCorvus published a post on Ko-fi
ko-fi.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
daveghoul.com
Thanks for hosting an art share and tagging me, Fons. Appreciated.

I'm an artist and graphic designer who's now semi-retired due to disability. Most of my stuff is digital mixed media and leans towards darker themes. Here's some of my pieces from this year.
The King in Black. 2025. Digital mixed medium. A human figure facing left wearing a long black robe. Their head resembles a burning ember and has a crown of flames with billowing smoke. Shadow Play 13. 2025. Digital mixed medium. A human head and shoulders digitally distorted in red and black. They are looking slightly to the left. The left side of the face only the eye, nose and mouth are visible. The right is turning into digitally distorted shadow with only the eye visible. There's Beauty In The Darkness. 2025. Digital mixed medium. A human head and shoulders wearing a hooded cloak, all in red. They are looking slightly upward with wide featurless eyes. Red sparks and blue mist surrounds their face and floats upwards. Below them text reads "There’s Beauty In The Darkness". Black Mass. 2025. Digital mixed medium. A human figure facing forward wearing a black hooded robe. They have a ghostly skull-like face and bloodshot eyes. The moon is positioned behind its head and is shades of orange.
December 30, 2025 at 6:39 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Starting "We Used to Live Here" by Marcus Kliewer on Libby.

#BookSky #HorrorBooks
Cover image for the novel "We Used to Live Here" by Marcus Kliewer that features a photo graphs of a two-story home flanked by the barren branches of two trees. The overall image is slightly distorted.
December 30, 2025 at 7:19 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Just finished "The Shining!"

Now I just have to wait for my hold for "Doctor Sleep." I've already watched the movie, but seeing how that seems to be more inline with the movie version of "The Shining," I'm really curious how the book plays out.

#BookSky
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social Ren Varela @cobaltcorvus.bsky.social · Dec 1
My winter reading for the last bit of the year!

I've seen the movie but never read the book, or any Stephen King for that matter, so might as well make this the first.
A photo of a book that is a copy of Stephen King's "The Shining" that features an illustration of the Outlook Hotel in a snow storm with the disembodied facial features of a fade screaming.
December 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
sutis.bsky.social
Ty for the tag, the artshare & congratz on the 800 milestone! 🩷

Hiya I'm Sutis & I make cute/nerdy embroideries. 🤗
Had a blast in 2025 made nearly 40 pieces & started my own shop which I'm really proud of.
Currently having a break due to holidays but I cannot wait to get back to it next year. 😊
Embroidery of a screencap from the Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke. Moro the wolf spirit consoles Mononoke who's face is burried in the giant wolf's fur. Embroidery of a skull looking to the left with holy light around it, it is black and white only in a golden decorative frame. Embroidery of Sailor Moon transformation on a dark blue velvet fabric with glass beads around it and a golden lace trim edge around the hoop. Embroidery of a 3d white/pink/lightblue moth on green velvet fabric and in a small oval decorative frame. It glows in the dark too.
December 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
mindistortion.tv
Heavy Seas

#digitalpainting #darkart #landscapepainting #seascape #art
Digital painting of a stormy night at sea.
December 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Alright, I think I'm pretty much settled in to using StoryGraph for all my book related things.

If any of you would like to follow me there and stalk my reading selections, feel free! (Especially so I can look through your reading selections as well. 👀😂)

app.thestorygraph.com/profile/coba...
December 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
fonscordi.bsky.social
I'll start 🥂🎊🎇

Hi! I'm Grace, and I like to paint horror, fanarts and surrealism, both digitally and traditionally 🎊👻🎊
"Merry Weirdtmas" ____ Sketchbook spread made with watercolour, fineliners and colour crayons. Showing in the left a man with horns, a third eye and a halo, in the forefront there's a poinsettia flower. On the right theres a Christmas tree with an eye for a star and two melting eyes on the top corner. "Eyebunny, flower lady & furry fish" _____ Sketchbook spread made with highlighters, markers and biro pen showing a horror bunny creature, a woman with flowers growing from her head and a furry fish over a yellow background "A murder of crows murdering on a train to collect crowns for the crowned crow" Better brush your teeth after eating all that candy, you don't want a murder of crows to steal them. Happy Halloween! ____ A group of crows is called a "murder" A teeth with a cavity is repair with a "crown" A guy with a crow like mask and a golden crown is sitting on a train holding a bag full of teeth, a group of crows is around him stealing teeth from other passengers to give them to the crow king. Blüdhaven's guardian angel ___ Cryptid Nightwing crouched on the corner of a building looking to the streets below. In the background is a city landscape under a red sky with a bright moon between clouds.
December 30, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
fonscordi.bsky.social
✨️Happy New Year!!✨️

Time for the last #artshare of 2025!! ✨️✨️✨️✨️

And thank you so much for 800 follows! 🥰🫶🥂🎉🎊

🎇Introduce yourself
🎇Show us your art
🎇Repost for visibility
🎇Add alt text if possible
🎇Tag friends if you want
🎇Label NSFW properly!

🚫NO A*I 🚫NO N*F*T🚫

#art #selfpromo
Artshare image with an Umh creature wearing a bunny hat and the legend "Happy New Year"
December 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
QRP with your flower art 🌹🌹🌹🌹
A digital painting of a pinkish lavender jackal skull set in front a bunch of lilac and forget-me-not flowers.
December 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
The first character sheet portrait I made of my investigator, Dr. Emrys Thornhill. 🐙

He just wants to do archaeology, he didn't sign up to deal with all the Horrors™️. 😆

🖼️🎨 #CallOfCthulhu #ttrpg #CharacterArt
A digital painting that is a portrait of a man in his middle to late 30s, facing the viewer with a very worried expression. He's dressed in a classic academic style, complete with sweater vest, tweed jacket, and bowtie.
March 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Portrait of Lucas Diego Oscuro
2023, Ren Varela
Digital (Clip Studio Paint EX)
🖼️ #art #OCLucas #OC #OriginalCharacter
A digital painting of a portrait of a man with long, slightly wavy hair and an eye patch over a scarred left eye, dressed somewhat fancy in late 19th century garb.
February 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Hello new and returning Bluesky users! 👋

If you enjoy art like the works of H.R. Giger, Zdzisław Beksiński, and Mœbius with a darker edge (to name a few), you may be interested in the collective of artists featured in my Dark Surrealists starter pack. 🖤

go.bsky.app/Pr5BmKX
December 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
stinasdemons.com
I'm a generative AI/LLM hater and proud to be one. I support *human* creativity.

If you are, too, pass it on
(repost/requote/whatever)

Give me the joy and delight of seeing my feed populated with nothing but people hating on the tech & those that use it
December 29, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Reposted by Ren Varela
cmaddams.bsky.social
Welcome back artists!
Quote post with an old piece that you still like!

I need to draw more slashers.

#art #artsky #ghostface #slasher #horror
December 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Share a smile! ✨

I mean, it's subtle but it's there. 😅
A digital painting of a portrait of a man with long, slightly wavy hair and an eye patch over a scarred left eye, dressed somewhat fancy in late 19th century garb.
December 27, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Reposted by Ren Varela
fonscordi.bsky.social
Thank you so much for hosting! And welcome to all new people on bluesky 🦋❄️🤍

I'm Grace and I like to draw horror and fanarts both digitally and traditionally ❄️👻❄️
Sketchbook spread made with watercolour, fineliners and colour crayons. Showing in the left a man with horns, a third eye and a halo, in the forefront there's a poinsettia flower. On the right theres a Christmas tree with an eye for a star and two melting eyes on the top corner. Sketchbook spread made with water markers, highlighters, biro pens and fineliners. It shows a woman with an umbrella hiding a void with red eyes and the head of another woman with detached hands holding horned headphones, and mechanical spider legs "A murder of crows murdering on a train to collect crowns for the crowned crow" Better brush your teeth after eating all that candy, you don't want a murder of crows to steal them. Happy Halloween! ____ A group of crows is called a "murder" A teeth with a cavity is repair with a "crown" A guy with a crow like mask and a golden crown is sitting on a train holding a bag full of teeth, a group of crows is around him stealing teeth from other passengers to give them to the crow king. Blüdhaven's guardian angel ___ Cryptid Nightwing crouched on the corner of a building looking to the streets below. In the background is a city landscape under a red sky with a bright moon between clouds.
December 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
mindistortion.tv
Thank you for hosting, Hiyori!

Hi, I'm Manuel and I make mostly spooky art using charcoal and digital means!
Charcoal drawing of a spooky little vampire with large eyes and tiny teeth. Digital painting of a black, dried out tree in front of a white desert. Digital painting of a sea coast at sunset, a massive tower jutting into the bright red sky. Spooky charcoal drawing of a pale countess in a black, filigree dress; layers of black tulle suffocating her every move.
December 26, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
hiyoristudios.bsky.social
❄️ Winter Artshare ❄️

Christmas is over but the winter is still here ☃️ it’s my favorite season 🥰

This is also a great time as many new people are joining Bluesky! So welcome! Introduce yourself/art, interact, be kind, and have fun 🩷

#artmoots #artistsupport #supportothers #art #artshare
December 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Ren Varela
tinglerotunda.bsky.social
To any newcomers transferring over from Twitter! Please be sure that your moderation settings for adult content are set appropriately! A lot of us share NSFW work and if you don't want to be flash-banged our tagging does nothing if these settings aren't applied!
December 27, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Reposted by Ren Varela
coreyartusimagery.com
My Art vs Artist collage isn’t really an accurate reflection of everything I’ve worked on this year, but it’s still fun! I’ve got a more comprehensive summary coming later this week!

•Website
•Artist Links

#ArtVsArtist #ArtVsArtist2025 #IndieArtist #Illustration #Art #BskyArt
Composition of 9 illustrated cropped images in color with a black and white portrait of an older man holding a stylus in the middle.
December 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
Welcome back artists! 🖌️🎨✨
Quote post with an old piece that you still like!
A digital painting of a giant, multi-armed, skull-headed figure in a large thunder cloud with several bolts of lighting generating from it.
December 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM
cobaltcorvus.bsky.social
QRP to reintroduce yourself!

I'm Ren Varela, a freelance artist that specializes in dark, slightly surrealist fantasy illustrations, and character and creature designs.
A digital painting of a jackal skull in profile view floating about a horizontal, black halo, both floating above the neck of a dismembered, semi-human, teal torso. All is painted on a black back drop. 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 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 of a giant, multi-armed, skull-headed figure in a large thunder cloud with several bolts of lighting generating from it.
December 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM