Commission: Gentle Avatar

Stormbolt to the FACE – Gentle WC3’s Avatar Commission

Awesome player, streamer, and all-around good human, Gentle reached out for a custom WC3 Champions avatar—and I couldn’t have been happier to answer the call.

He was super kind and professional throughout, and one thing that really made this commission special was the involvement of his girlfriend. She’s an artist too, and the piece she created for him was not only fantastic but hugely inspiring as I explored the right angle and energy for the Mountain King.

We traded thoughts and references, but one thing was clear: this dwarf wasn’t just any dwarf. This was a vision of the Mountain King shaped by shared history, fandom, and personal connection. That gave the direction real weight—it wasn’t just about representing a hero, but honoring the spirit behind him.

Why the Mountain King?

The MK has always been one of my favorite heroes in Warcraft III. So many nights have ended with me yelling:
“That’s right! STORMBOLT to the FACE!” Nothing like lightning and a hammer to the skull to keep the gaming sessions lively.

Getting to channel that same energy into a close-up portrait for someone who mains the MK? That’s the kind of collaboration I live for—where fandom and art meet at the anvil.

Forged with Spark

Once the digital piece was complete, I animated a looping .GIF to capture the MK’s fury mid-burst—eyes glowing, power crackling. But that wasn’t the final form.

I also forged a lenticular print—a physical version that shifts between two images depending on the viewing angle. The result? A real-world illusion of the Mountain King’s eyes glowing with storm-charged intensity.
It’s got that tactile magic I love—like holding a sliver of the storm in your hands.

From the Forge

At RaihnForge, I craft visuals like this with an eye toward resonance—not just technical polish, but art that calls to the storm and inspires the soul.

This piece, more than most, felt like a spark caught mid-strike.

For Gentle

The final avatar stands as a tribute to both Muradin and the fierce-hearted playstyle the ironically named GentleWC3 brings to the game. I hope I’ve done even a little justice to both the legend and the legend-in-the-making.

Links & Shoutouts

Youtube speedpaint: RaihnForge QuickDraw – Aware Avatar
Twitch: twitch.tv/GentleWC3

Big thanks to Gentle and his partner for the trust, the vision, and the shared creative spark.
May your next Stormbolt find its mark. 💙

Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for socials or a punchy pull quote. And if you want to give the lenticular print a custom name or title—like “Runestone Edition” or “Stormcall Variant”—we could work that in too.