iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Throwback Thursday to when I got to help on a couple of Rick and Morty backgrounds back in 2019 - including how I approached a tricky layout, which I wrote an article about

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The rough, color thumb and final art I made for the rocket card in the card game Sandbag! 🚀

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The 5 designs I illustrated for the card game Sandbag by Bezier Games back in 2023 but don't think I ever shared Each balloon color represents a different suit of cards in the game

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

A day late for Batman Day, but check out this photo of the Gotham City game board I illustrated for Enemies of Gotham City in action! (photo: hard2mastergames)

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Perhaps I may never work on a production quite like it again, quite as special to me, with this degree of feeling like it was ‘mine’, but I’m so lucky for having gotten to go on the journey Smiling Friends has taken me.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

And the production team at Adult Swim were incredible. They fully trusted me, letting me do managment tasks that are often done by a producer, while always being totally supportive of everything backgrounds needed to stay on schedule and meet the quality expected on such a show.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Working on season 3 was an absolute dream. If there’s one word I’d describe season 3 with, it’s ‘trust’. Zach and Michael gave me a lot of freedom to art direct the backgrounds, trusting my understanding of the show’s style.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

On S2 I became BG supervisor, here Smiling Friends really became something special to me. I developed and supervised our BG pipeline, built a team and managed the logistical challenge of getting the BGs done on time. I’m as proud of all the deadlines we met as I am how it looks.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Smiling Friends first season went in to production in 2021! I got to design many iconic locations such as the look of the enchanted forest and the Brazil Airport.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

2019 was when I moved cities and my career as a background artist really took off, but one project that year was a highlight, a little pilot by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack I got to work on, that little did I know at the time how huge it would become.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Today was a bittersweet day, the final two episodes aired of a show that’s really defined my career over the last seven years, and in a way has been my baby.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

On my Smiling Friends season 2 & season 3 background tracking spreadsheets, I added an emoji next to each ep number. Can you guess which episode each one corresponds to? 👽🗽🧙🖨️⛄🍆🕰️🥚🍷🍦👰🎮📎💎🐸🌲🔮🎪

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Hope you enjoyed last weeks new Smiling Friends episode! Shmaloogleville was the most fun I had on a key location design this season!

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

The forest key background I designed for Smiling Friends 'Pim and Charlie Save Mother Nature'

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Happy Hazbin S2 episode 3&4 release! 3 was an exciting episode to work on as I jumped in to the role of background layout lead for the rest of the season!

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Happy Hazbin Hotel season 2 release day!! Season 2 turned out so incredible - so glad I got to be a part of the background team.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

SEASON 3 of SMILING FRIENDS premiered today 🥳 Excited to finally show off all the hard work from the background team

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

I'm taking questions over on instagram and we're off to a good start 😆

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Been background supervising on Smooling Fronds last year! Exciting to finally show a little bit of what we've been working on www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYG-...

youtube.com

Smiling Friends | SEASON 3 TRAILER | adult swim

YouTube video by Adult Swim

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Been really quiet the last year and a half while layout leading and background supervising on some really huge things but it's all going to be coming out really soon 😱

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Reposted by Greg Bartlett

🌸Flaquita🇵🇷 @psychopathpie.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

FUCKKK I’M SO HYPED 😭 #hazbinhotel

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Was meant to travelling to Adelaide this weekend to run my first marathon but I injured my knee two months ago and it didn't heal fast enough, so I had to cancel 😭 Melbourne marathon is later this year, so at least I get a second attempt right away at a 5 month training block

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

One of the very first things I designed on Smiling Friends S2! Here's an early version of the Insane Ground Breaking Games lobby design and color rough.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Hello #PortfolioDay ✨ I'm Greg, a background artist. Currently background supervising at Adult Swim. Some of my previous highlights include Smiling Friends, Hazbin Hotel, Final Space, Fallout, Koala Man, Helluva Boss and Animaniacs. 🎨 www.instagram.com/backgroundar... 🎨 backgroundart.net

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Haven't had much work to share on social media lately but behind the scenes it's been non-stop busy background supervising on some big things, plus training for my first marathon and not much time for anything else.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Set a new half marathon personal best this morning 🥳 🏃‍♂️ 1:56:36!!! The last two I've done I'd just fallen short of my PB, and I recently took several weeks off running from an injury, so I didn't even think I'd be in PB shape for this one!

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Can't believe this was a whole year ago!

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Congrats!! What an awesome opportunity

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Reposted by Greg Bartlett

Studio Psycho | 💥 HEATHENS @studiopsycho.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

💥 Heyo! We're looking for a PROP DESIGNER & CHARACTER DESIGNER to help us with 'Heathens', our indie animation series! Yes, this is PAID >:) so if you like anime and funni demons, please consider reading and applying via the info doc here! Deadline: 15TH JAN! docs.google.com/document/d/1...

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

What a year, congrats!! Loved getting to contribute to some of the awesome stuff you made

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Just published my 2024 recap blog post. A LOT happened this year! Read on Newgrounds: zeedox.newgrounds.com/news/post/14... Read on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pulse/2024-r...

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Would recommend any professional artist buy a second wacom pen as a backup. Would have been in a bit of trouble today if I hadn't 😃

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Looking forward to 2025 as the year I run my first full marathon! I'll be running in the Adelaide Marathon in May, and then Melbourne Marathon in October.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Race day tomorrow, running my 4th half marathon. Particularly excited about this one since so many of my friends are also running, and I'm also by far the most fit I've been going into one, so could be a big personal best!

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Lucky enough to snag an entry into the 2025 Melbourne Marathon this morning! Looking forward to training for my first full marathon

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

For most of the 2010s, twitter. Then at a point Instagram became more useful - more people I knew through the industry used it and its a better format for showing off art. Then in recent years LinkedIn has been the fastest growing and the most consistent.

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Going to be speaking to a class of students tomorrow, talking about my journey in the industry and doing a Q&A. Should be fun!

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Reposted by Greg Bartlett

Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

So many new followers today so it's a great time to reintroduce myself! I'm Greg, a background artist. I'm a background supervisor on Smiling Friends and a BG layout lead on Hazbin Hotel. 🎨 backgroundart.net 🆖 zeedox.newgrounds.com Background Art discord: discord.com/invite/PXTUC...

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 08/10/2024

While background supervising on Smiling Friends S2 I painted a few reusable space assets for my artists to drag and drop into their backgrounds on the episode 'Charlie, Pim, and Bill vs. The Alien' 🌌

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 28/09/2024

One of the more challenging parts to this design was making sure it worked for 6 very different shots that all reused this background

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 28/09/2024

One of my favorite locations I designed on Smiling Friends S2 - the alien rumpus room!

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Greg Bartlett @backgroundart.bsky.social · 01/07/2024

My job on Hazbin Hotel is evolving this week and I'm stepping up into the role of background layout lead 🥳

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