About the Creator

The Artist Behind Ara

Tim McBurnie is a freelance concept designer, illustrator and author based in Adelaide, Australia, specializing in character design and story development. With over a decade of professional experience, Tim works across multiple creative industries including the French comic book market, animation, and video games.

His impressive client list includes Editions Delcourt, Gunfire Games, Animal Logic, Ankama, Blur Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast. Tim has worked on multiple French graphic novels (bandes dessinées), including books he has written, designed, and drawn from start to finish.

Beyond his commercial work, Tim is passionate about education and community building. Through The Drawing Codex, he teaches thousands of students how to "draw awesome stuff from your imagination," covering everything from comics and manga to concept art and illustration. His philosophy centers on developing a solid artistic foundation while encouraging personal creative expression.

Tim also hosts The Visual Scholar podcast, where he demystifies the world of art and productivity to help artists "get better faster and enjoy their artistic journey." Through Mighty Artisan, his newest venture, he's building a community for artists who dream of creating captivating fantasy worlds and building successful artistic careers.

"I really enjoy the process of taking a brief and building something from nothing," Tim explains. "Exploring the visual design language of a project and making sure everything fits together as a cohesive whole." This philosophy shines through in Ara: The Circle of Stone, where every element from character design to world-building works together to create an immersive fantasy experience.