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Danielle Risley

@instanope.bsky.social
54 followers 54 following 89 posts

Queer illustrator/author living in the PNW USA. Student at Ringling College of Art and Design studying Game Design. Art Director at Darkstar Games 🚫AI I love my pets, Alt wlw vibes, body building, and tattoos.

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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 1h
Something I am learning is that player agency can and will override one's narrative if you're not careful. Learning to negotiate the give and take of player agency will really elevate your level design and play loops. . . . #indie #game #videogame #gamedev #gamedesign #art #techart #computerscience
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Second pass on lighting. I really focused on the exchange between warm and cool lighting to guide the player through the space. That and adjusting the Directional light so it created leading lines to funnel the player to the official play area. I wanted it to feel dreamy. #gamers #videogame #indie
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Some pics of my first solo video game. We've been working on set dressing and I need to work on my lighting but I'm really proud of the progress. #Gamedev #gamedesign #sim #videogame #indie #indiegames #walkingsim #oregon #unreal #ue5 #cozygame #environment #art #gameart
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
What's your favorite way to work? Choose to enjoy the small things even when the tasks are overwhelming. There is joy to be had! These are the days we will look back on and think "I truly lived." Art for my turret mob for the prepro of Duridan's Bane! #gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign #prepro #life
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Michael @confettimage.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Hi #Gamedev! Hope your day is going well. Real quick advice, you're not going to always be motivated and that doesn't mean your ideas are bad. You're just low on dopamine. Stay disciplined and it will pass quickly! Remember, good work is highs and lows. Stay focused! Good luck!
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Welcome to the world of Duridan's Bane (Working Title) for an upcoming roguelite demo in Prepro! Follow for more updates and behind the scenes for the making of my second game demo. Still deciding on if I will release the first one for public critique. #gamedev #indiegame #videogame #concept
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
It's actually not. May I ask what makes you think it's AI?
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Gosh you put my soul into words. Just to create something that makes a kid feel something. To make something that sparks their own dreams. I get it.
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
What was the thing that made you want to make games? The thing that kept you up at night as you dreamed of the playloops that would become your first game? . . . #indiedev #indiegames #gamedev #gamedesign #videogames #darkstargames
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
The indie studio I work for will be hiring soon if anyone is interested. We are currently compensated in stocks to be exchanged for USD when our demo is done and our campaign starts. Details coming soon! . . . #indiedev #gamedesign #videogame #gaming #indiedeveloper #game #Unreal #maya #Darkstar
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silverspookgames.bsky.social @silverspookgames.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Hand-painted art, lovingly crafted story, personally composed music and hand-coded programming over 9 years by this solo-dev -- Neofeud 2 is on sale now on #Steam! store.steampowered.com/app/4611140/... #indiedev #visualnovel #indiegame #retrogame #NoAI #scifi #art #artist #cyberpunk
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Do not let the burnout of industry professionals stop you from achieving your dreams! They may be tired, rude, and not give you the time of day, but your work is valuable and needs to be seen by the world. Keep reaching higher no matter what the nay sayers say. #gamedev #gamedesign #indie #game
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Started Sophmore year at #RCAD this week! My first solo videogame is officially in PrePro! I'll be sharing more of my process once pitch is complete! There you'll see some sneak peaks of the up and coming demo. #indiedev #gameart #gamedev #gamedesign #RinglingCollegeofArtandDesign #videogame #art
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jotson ⛧ The Mailroom @jotson.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
it's amazing how much quicker you can get work done when you decide not to do it #gamedev #indiedev
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Never outgrow the imagination that caused a fire to light inside your soul! . . . #indie #Dev #Game #gameart #2d #3d #modeling #gamedev #art #drawing #creation #unreal #engine #ue5 #godot #blender #maya #substancepainter #substancesampler #photoshop #krita #ibispaintx
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
What was the game that made you want to create video games?? For me there were a few pivotal titles. The main one is probably Skyrim and Elderscrolls Online. That and a childhood favorite, pixie hallow and Bookworm Adventures Deluxe. You? . . . #Indiedev #indiegame #videogame #conceptart #game
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
"The heights by great men, reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight. But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward through the night." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow . . . #Indiegame #developer #indie #Art #videogame #drawing #darkstargames #studio #game #board #rpg #ttrpg
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Literally went from being an intern for Darkstar Games and was promoted to art director within 2.5 years of work. Gosh I love Indie. When you find an old school style company, it's almost like flashbacks to the way the industry used to be. . . . #Indie #gamedev #darkstargames #greaterpowers #game
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Well done!
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
"What a privilege to be tired from work you once begged the universe for. What a privilege to feel overwhelmed by growth you used to dream about. What a privilege to be challenged by a life you created on purpose. What a privilege to outgrow things you used to settle for." #Gamedev #videogame #indi
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Tim-Leonard Ullrich @timleonardullrich.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
The Dragon of Revelation built from biblical iconography, gothic church patterns, and a whole lot of modular problem solving! Also check out @ririsuheart.bsky.social as she rigged and animated the whole thing! #monster #3d #art #blender #sculpting #artist #gamedev #zbrush #dragon #gothic #dark
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Niwaessence @niwaessence.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Finished up a new mechanic for some levels. Can teleport around the map using mirror-like objects. Gotta polish the level still tho #ScreenshotSaturday #indiegame #gamedev #immersivesim
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
GUYS! I am the new 2d Art Director at Darkstar Games! . . . #darkstar #Gamedev #Art #drawing #videogame #indie #indiegames #AAA #Smallbusiness #visdev #concept #conceptart #gameart
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Some anatomy perspective gesture practice. . . . #anatomy #gesture #sletch #oc #arcane #drawing #ych #yourcharacterhere #game #art #digitalart #comic #webtoon
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
This expression and mood of the piece is fantastic!
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
I'm going go be posting some old art and sketches on here. It's from a time when I trusted my artistic abilities even though I'm a much better artist technically now. I feel my narrative ideas were better back then and I'd like to return to that. So here is the first one. #sketch #oc #drawing
Character falling through a magical floating ring surrounded by chains. It is a black and white gray image with strong back lighting to emphasize the focal point.
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
He-llo mah dudes! Here is a piece showing my OC and my partners OC painting pride flags on each other. It is inspired by Itsreyart who painted Cait and Vi originally painting pride flags on each other. I've lost a lot of followers on Facebook and tiktok from this piece. #wlw #pride #arcane #OC
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GoonRen @goonren.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Its non of my business how much i weigh.
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Hello bluesky says you can't be messaged. Are you by chance able to message over on instagram? Or tiktok would work too. I am open for coms at the moment but it depends on what you are looking for.
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Lil sketchie sketch for my fiance and I to celebrate pride. Gonna ink and color it later. Whatchu all think?! . . . #alt #wlw #pride #oc #drawing #characterdesign #furry #lesbian #and #happiness #joy #queer
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Can't wait to see it! <3 <3 <3
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Thinking of doing a mini comic series of these two. . . . #wlw #comic #lesbian #oc #art #pride #masc #mask #mentalhealth
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Oh my gosh thank you so much! That really means a lot! ^-^
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Learned how to do some new lighting techniques for my current WIP. What you all think? . . . #game #dev #indi #ringling #gameart #unreal #UE5 #lighting #Videogame #Maya #Substancepainter
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LuBu @lubu.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Today, exactly 1 year ago, I started a new project, that later became Gloom Gate. It began as a little experiment with pre-rendered backgrounds and it evolved into a full grown game-dev project I'm really proud of! #gamedev #indiegame #1bit #playdate
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
My first ever hard surface modeling. One step closer to making my first game! . . . #gamedev #indigamedev #hardsurface #maya #substancepainter #Unreal #videogame #3d #modeling #textures #ringlingcollegeofartanddesign #college #art #drawing #rcad
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Faith @faithschaffer.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
And here's the vignettes! These costumes were so fun to design 🥳
Knights of Guinevere end credit illustration 2- 3 vignette illustrations of our main cast in fantasy/knight garb.
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Dana Terrace @danaterrace.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Knights of Guinevere PILOT youtu.be/MCAdbUaMlAE
youtu.be
KNIGHTS OF GUINEVERE: PILOT
YouTube video by GLITCH
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Renith @renithzen.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
A little Sketch of a Fursona I'm trying to practice drawing muzzles. They are so hard! #furry #art #furryart #fursona #sketch
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Eeffa @eeffaaoife.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Caduceus Clay #criticalrole #criticalrolefanart #fanart #caduceusclay #caduceus #themightynein #cr2
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Stunning work!
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Bear Frymire | Illustrator @bearfrymire.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
As fun as it is to paint combat and chaos, I love painting the peaceful parts of life too. Nara (Elf), Prax (cute lil fella), and Tuck (Her Royal Feline-ness), have been inseparable for years. Between training and schoolwork, they always seem to find time for goofing off. #fantasy #Illustration
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
For sure! 030 I'm really enjoying it. I SO can't wait for Sunrise! My gosh I'm so hype for it! I think my local Barnes and Noble is having a drop party!
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
For some reason I'm having a hard time getting through Balad. T^T
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Happy birthday! My twin just got me the same! I'm FINALLY finishing Balad!
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
My gosh trying to get grants and scholarships is stressful! Anyone have any suggestions? #College #Gameart #gamedev #artschool #ringlingcollegeofartanddesign
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Feeling at a loss... My parents are reacting with homophonic actions toward me and my fiancé. I feel like I'm losing my family and it sucks. T^T
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Bear Frymire | Illustrator @bearfrymire.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
They needed to be fishing. #fantasyart #illustration
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
AAAAAHHHHH! I got accepted!!!! Thank you all for the good luck wishes! I also was awarded a substantial scholarship!
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Danielle Risley @instanope.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
030 Oh thank you! I definitely take your advice to heart. I really appreciate it! I'm so scared and so excited. The college is literally on the other side of the US from me. So now I have to figure out how I'm gonna get there. XD
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