ssick lab - l' azzardo del sottosopra

The work captures a moment of tense conviviality in an underground tavern, where the dim light of an oil lamp reveals the scarred and grotesque faces of two goblins engaged in a card game. While the protagonist on the right wears a sly, taunting smile, aware of his own advantage, his opponent studies his own cards with a mix of suspicion and resignation. On the fleshy wood table, among gold coins and strange fetishes, there unfolds not only an exchange of wealth but a game of glances and deceptions, surrounded by a crawling shadow of silent onlookers.

Creation Method: Mixed Digital Technique
This piece is the result of a sophisticated mixed-media workflow that blends algorithmic intuition with manual graphic mastery. The process unfolded in three main phases:

Generative Generation (AI): The visual core and character composition were originated through state-of-the-art generative artificial intelligence models. This phase allowed exploration of complex organic textures and dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, defining the piece's "dark fantasy" aesthetic.

Digital Painting and Overpainting: Once the base was obtained, the artist manually intervened using graphic tablets and professional photo-editing software. In this phase, anatomical details were corrected, facial expressions refined, and highlights intensified to guide the viewer's eye toward the focal points (the cards and coins).

Chromatic Post-Production: The work was completed with careful color grading and the addition of cinematic grain filters to unify the AI style with the manual traits, giving the final image the depth typical of a traditional auteur illustration.

limited edition 1/1

The Collective: SSICK LAB We are a collective of young Italian artists of about 24 years old, born and raised with visceral passion for art and pop culture. SSICK LAB began as a creative workshop where we experiment with the fusion between iconic aesthetics of contemporary media and historical visual languages. Our mission is to explore new expressive frontiers, bringing technological innovation to bear on pure creativity.

description of paper: Paper finish: Matte, smooth, non-reflective.
Paper weight: 200 g/mq (80 lb), durable and long-lasting.
Environmental impact: FSC-certified paper or equivalent, in line with sustainable practices.