Vlad the Impaler Splash Art. Complete p…: is this $5 stack worth it for Drawing & Painting?
Vlad the Impaler Splash Art: the $5 way to watch a full concept piece get built
If you have ever stared at a finished piece of concept art and wondered how the artist actually got from a messy thumbnail to that polished, moody final render, you are not alone. Most tutorials either skip the boring middle hours or cost more than a week of groceries. Dzikawa’s Vlad the Impaler Splash Art pack takes a different approach: it hands you the entire 46-hour, unedited recording of a game-ready character splash, along with the actual layered file, the brushes used, and the step-by-step color studies. For $5, it is less of a “course” and more of a behind-the-scenes access pass to see exactly how a digital painter structures a complex character from scratch.
Quick answer
| Best for | Concept artists and digital painters who want to study a full, unedited workflow from thumbnail to final render. |
| Skip if | You need a narrated step-by-step tutorial with voice-over guidance, or you are looking for a simple brush pack without the video. |
| Price | $5 |
| Format | 46-hour 1080p video, layered PSD, 28+ brushes, and step-by-step reference images. |
| One-line take | A raw, in-depth look at a professional-grade workflow for the price of a coffee. |
What you’re actually buying
At first glance, a 46-hour video sounds like a commitment. But that is exactly the point. This is not a condensed, high-energy YouTube edit where the artist skips over the tedious parts. You get the full, raw recording of Dzikawa painting the Vlad the Impaler character for the game Catacomb Crawlers. You can pause, rewind, and scrub through the exact moment a color scheme is chosen or a brush stroke is laid down. It is a rare look at the unpolished, iterative process that usually stays hidden in an artist’s private files.
The pack doesn’t stop at the video. You receive the original layered PSD file, which means you can open the final image in Photoshop and inspect every layer, blend mode, and adjustment. This is incredibly useful if you want to understand how the lighting and atmosphere were built. Alongside the file, you get a brush pack with over 28 custom .abr brushes, the same tools used to create the piece. You also get a set of step-by-step pictures, including three thumbnails, three color schemes, and four stage pictures, so you can see the logical progression of the design. (Vlad the Impaler Splash)
One buyer noted, “Great Package for a small Price. Whoever wants to get a Deep Look in how she works will not be disappointed by the Package.” That sentiment captures the value here: it is a complete ecosystem for studying a specific, high-quality workflow. You are not just buying a file; you are buying the context of how that file was made. If you are interested in the specific tools that streamline the process, the listing also mentions the use of Coolorus for color management and PureRef for reference organization, both of which are visible in the video process.
Why it’s on our radar
Most digital art resources are either too shallow to teach real technique or too expensive to justify for a single piece. This $5 pack sits in a sweet spot: it is specific enough to be useful for studying character design, yet broad enough to teach general painting principles. The inclusion of the full 46-hour video is unusual. Most artists would cut that down to a 30-minute highlight reel, but Dzikawa leaves it all in. That honesty is appealing to serious learners who want to see the mistakes, the hesitations, and the long stretches of refinement that make up real work. (Vlad the Impaler Splash)
The fact that this is a splash art for a game (Catacomb Crawlers) adds another layer of value. You are seeing a piece that was created with a specific commercial brief in mind, not just a personal sketch. That means the process is grounded in practical constraints: readability, silhouette, and impact. If you are working toward a career in game art or illustration, studying a piece with a real-world purpose is often more instructive than studying a purely artistic exploration. (Vlad the Impaler Splash)
What actually matters
Before you buy, keep a few things in mind. First, the video has no voice-over. This is a feature, not a bug, for some people. It allows you to focus entirely on the visual process without the distraction of a narrator explaining every move. However, if you learn best through verbal instruction, this might feel like a lot of unguided time. That said, the step-by-step pictures help bridge that gap by breaking down the key stages visually.
Second, the file is a PSD (PSB), which means you need Photoshop or a compatible editor to open it. If you use Procreate or Krita, you won’t be able to directly open the layered file, though you can still view the PNG and study the video. The brush pack is also in .abr format, which is specific to Photoshop. If you work in a different software, you may need to convert the brushes or simply use the video as a visual reference. (Vlad the Impaler Splash)
Finally, the 46-hour length is significant. You don’t have to watch it all at once. Think of it as a library. You can jump to the color scheme stage when you are working on your own piece, or scrub to the final rendering stage to see how the artist adds the last touches. The full size image is 4000x2499 pixels, so it is high enough resolution to be used as a reference or a study piece.
Mid-check
If you are on the fence, the price is the biggest selling point. For $5, you get a complete, professional-grade workflow breakdown. It is a low-risk way to see if this style of learning works for you. (Vlad the Impaler Splash)
FAQ
Is the video narrated? No, the 46-hour video is a raw recording with no voice-over. It is designed for you to watch the process visually and pause whenever you need to. You can find more details on the Vlad the Impaler Splash Art listing.
Can I use the brushes in other software? The brush pack is in .abr format, which is native to Photoshop. If you use a different program, you may need to convert them or use the video as a visual guide for your own brush settings. (Vlad the Impaler Splash)
Is this a tutorial for beginners? It is a professional workflow breakdown. While beginners can learn a lot from watching, it is most valuable for intermediate artists who want to see how a finished piece is constructed. The layered PSD file is particularly useful for those who want to dissect the final image.
What is the support like? Dzikawa offers support for questions about the process and has a Discord server for community interaction. You can also reach out via email or Twitter if you have specific questions. (Vlad the Impaler Splash)
Bottom line
If you are a digital artist who is tired of surface-level tutorials and wants to see the real, unedited process behind a high-quality piece of concept art, this is a no-brainer. For $5, you get a 46-hour video, the layered file, the brushes, and the step-by-step references. It is a dense, honest resource that respects your time and your curiosity. Whether you are working on your own character designs or just want to understand how a pro thinks, the Vlad the Impaler Splash Art pack is a solid investment in your skills.