In this week's volume of Made With Vault, I'm breaking down how I created a surreal, repeating nested effect where a skull emerges from the head of a portrait that can continue to loop infinitely. It's a fast, impactful technique that blends historical imagery with bold, graphic elements. This artwork was made using the Skulls and Skeletons and Portraits of Men image archives, both available in the Vault Editions Mega Bundle. Let's go!
Just because I've selected a skull to be nested within his head, it doesn't have to be. The man's head can become a stage for anything. A botanical bloom exploding in layered detail, a cloud of birds in mid-flight, a Roman god ascending into myth, or a swirling vortex of dragons, insects, and strange sea creatures. This effect turns a portrait into a portal, and you get to choose what comes out of it.
That's the beauty of the Vault Editions Mega Bundle. With thousands of high-resolution images spanning natural history, anatomy, folklore, fantasy, and classical art, you've got everything you need to create bold, surreal, layered visuals straight out of your imagination.
Let's take a look at how this was done:
This entire poster was built using just two images from the Vault Editions archive, a portrait and a skull, and yet it opens up a world of narrative, symbolism, and surreal impact. Now, imagine having thousands of these assets at your fingertips. The Vault Editions Mega Bundle gives you instant access to an expansive visual archive, meticulously restored and ready to use, whether you're designing posters, experimenting with collage, or building out a body of graphic artwork. It's the kind of resource that doesn't just save time; it expands what's creatively possible.
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If you incorporate this technique into your work, be sure to tag us on Instagram @vault_editions or reply to this email—I’d love to see what you've made!
Speak soon,
Kale
