Celebrating 10 Years of Rebelle
Wed, 28 May 2025 17:57:35 +0200
From curious students and passionate hobbyists to professional painters, illustrators, and concept artists, Rebelle has become a go-to creative companion for artists of all levels. Over the past decade, digital art tools have rapidly evolved, but our vision has remained steady: to develop intuitive, powerful software that captures the beauty and behavior of traditional media.
It all began as a personal experiment by architect Peter Blaškovič, who sought to digitally simulate the unpredictable charm of watercolor painting. His early prototype quickly turned into something extraordinary: a paint simulation engine that authentically mimicked how real paint behaves on paper. The launch of the first version of Rebelle in 2015 brought a fresh wave of excitement in the digital art world. Artists were drawn to its striking realism and to how it felt—how paint pooled, bled, and blended with gravity and flow just as it would in real life.
The very first Rebelle promotion. Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/HHEXBiH0TRU
From those humble beginnings, Rebelle has evolved through over 100 updates into a comprehensive natural-media painting suite. Today, it includes its signature watercolors, hyper-realistic oils, acrylics, pastels, pencils, inks, and more. Features like true-to-life pigment mixing, variable oil thickness, and lifelike water diffusion are supported by advanced tools for custom brush creation and paper texture simulation. Yet despite this richness, Rebelle remains remarkably accessible, inviting newcomers to explore the beauty of painting while empowering professionals with deep, nuanced control.
Behind this evolution is a small but passionate team at Escape Motions. What started as an endeavor of five has grown into a tightly knit group of 20 developers and artists, each bringing both technical expertise and artistic insight. Based in Slovakia, our team remains proudly independent, united by a shared commitment to crafting tools that serve creative expression. An artist-first approach has earned Rebelle several awards, countless features in top print and online art magazines, and recently, increased attention from visual effects and animation studios when used in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). 
As the software continues to grow, we are focused on balancing innovation with integrity, enhancing performance across devices, and listening closely to our community of users. We are truly grateful for their feedback, reports, and ideas. At its core, Rebelle is more than just a tool; it’s a celebration of the physical joy of making art. Ten years in, the team´s mission remains clear: to create the most natural digital painting experience in the world.
Watch on Instagram: www.instagram.com/p/DKNGU6DKUy0/
Over the past 10 years, we have answered nearly 50,000 user emails, forum requests, and countless comments and DMs on social media. Whether you needed help or wanted to share more about your art, we have always loved learning about Rebelle´s users and their creative journey. We would like to know even more…
How did you discover Rebelle? What has it meant to your creative journey? Do you have any “birthday” wishes for Rebelle?
Share your message with the Escape Motions team. Log in to your Community account and post your messages in this forum thread.
Rebelle 8 is arriving in Q3 2025 — and the best part? You won’t have to wait for the official release to try it out. We will make version 8 available in Early Access, giving you a chance to explore new features ahead of launch and contribute to shaping the final release.
If you purchase Rebelle 7 on or after May 28, 2025, you’ll be eligible for a free upgrade to the equivalent edition of Rebelle 8. Stay tuned for updates and sneak peeks of what’s coming!
Help us celebrate by sharing your Rebelle experience on any social media. Post your thoughts, artworks, or painting process using the hashtag #10YearsofRebelle and make the post public for a chance to win early access to Rebelle 8 Pro. We will choose one winner on June 16, 2025.
50% Off Rebelle Assets for All Users
For a limited time, enjoy 50% off 170+ Rebelle art surfaces - meticulously scanned, high-resolution recreations of real-world materials, developed with academic professionals to ensure an authentic painting experience.
These surfaces influence everything from pigment flow to brushstroke texture, making them essential to Rebelle’s natural painting feel. Browse our collection of canvases, cold or hot pressed papers, Washi Japanese papers, rough and expressive surfaces, and more, to find what suits your style the best.
Shop Rebelle assets with a 50% discount: www.escapemotions.com/shop
Rebelle Assets Gift to First Rebelle Users
To celebrate the art journey of those who picked up Rebelle at the beginning and never skipped a version, we’re giving two Rebelle paper sets worth $30. Check your email inbox to find your gift!
Whether you've been with us for years or just discovered Rebelle today, we’re truly grateful for your support. This 10th anniversary celebration belongs to all of us, and we can’t wait to share what’s next.
Follow us on social media and visit our blog throughout June for:
Here’s to the next decade of creativity—with all of you.
With heartfelt thanks,
Escape Motions Team
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Image credits:
Collage of Rebelle artworks from the Community Gallery
Rebelle 8 main image: Georg Ireland
Main promotional images for Rebelle versions 1- 7: Tim Shelbourne, Martin Hanschild, Kamila Stankiewicz, Kuzayova, Georg Ireland
DTIYS Behind the Scenes: Interview with Lady Moira
Thu, 15 May 2025 16:03:43 +0200
After the success of Lady Moira’s prompt last year and her love for creating fun challenges for the art community, it made perfect sense to bring her back for this year’s Spring Draw This in Your Style event. Her prompt received the most entries again, so we interviewed her to hear more about what inspired it. These insights are woven together with reflections from several artists who were recognized for their unique interpretations of her artwork.
Original challenge prompt by Lady Moira
What led you to create this prompt, and what were some initial thoughts behind it?
When I thought about the theme of spring, at first I considered creating a woman/nymph full of flowers again, but I was afraid it might feel repetitive. When I think of spring, I think of the renewal of nature, but not only that—humans can also be affected by seasonal depression. Winter can have a "numbing" effect on our minds. I thought that a half-woman, half-deer creature in full rebirth after her "hibernation" could fit the theme and maybe resonate emotionally with other artists who might want to join the challenge.
"When I saw this prompt, I immediately had the feeling that this was the theme for me. It was the closest in theme to my comfort zone, which is fantasy and women, and preferably elves of all kinds, fauns, satyrs, dryads, etc. While painting this artwork, I heard the birds chirping outside my window, so I decided to add them to my concept.” - Prompt Category Winner dalisacg
In your opinion, which part of the prompt inspired artists the most?
The hair, haha. I’m known for creating impressive hair masses. Joking aside, I think it’s the overall composition that people liked: the deer antlers, the serene expression ready to face new challenges, the leaves, maybe the color palette too?
"I recreated this prompt because I loved the original piece and wanted to show my support for Lady Moira. And I’m not going to lie, the prizes were very tempting! The most enjoyable part to work on was getting creative and making it my own. I didn’t follow the original piece exactly and changed it up a bit. Having the ability to put my own creative spin on it made it so much fun to work on.” – eve_4est_art
"In general, I'm really comfortable with character-centric illustration, therefore, I liked this concept a lot. It was like the arrival of spring, which perfectly matched my intention of executing animation first time too. It made me think a lot while designing in many dimensions, including layer structure, to later create an animation. I think the design and concept theme were the most enjoyable parts for me.” - Grand Prize Winner _surx_xii
What do you think was the most difficult part of the prompt to recreate?
Maybe the flow of the hairstyle? That sense of lightness I tried to convey? The angle wasn’t the easiest either, but I think the artists who participated all did an amazing job!
"I found Lady Moira's artwork truly beautiful, and it's a subject I enjoy exploring in my own work as well. I've created quite a few nature-inspired women, like dryads with antlers, in the past. For this challenge, the antlers were actually the hardest part—mainly because I wanted to create something unique rather than replicate the original design. My style tends to lean toward darker themes and colors, so I chose to stay true to that by altering the original color palette to better reflect my own artistic voice." - 3rd Grand Prize Winner Joni Aikio
"I decided to participate by recreating all prompts. Because I knew that my portrait dynamics were still my weak point, I was more involved in these three paintings and felt a strong sense of accomplishment after completing them, which made me enjoy the painting process most. With the piece by Lady Moira, my goal was to express the goddess who had just risen up from the snow and welcomed the warm sunshine, representing the first glance of spring. I decided not to add her clothes. I had to think of how to effectively cover her body without giving a suggestive feeling.” – gloriavanessa_nicoli
Choosing just one winner must have been a difficult task. What were some criteria you used in the evaluation?
It was indeed very, very difficult—there were so many spectacular entries! I absolutely wanted to choose versions that took creative liberties in interpreting the character, while of course also considering technique. I love it when you can feel that the artist wanted to tell a story through their piece, and that’s what ultimately made the difference in the final selections.
"I joined this DTIYS challenge because of Lady Moira. Her prompt was special, and I saw that it's a collaboration with Escape Motions and other artists. As I expected, it turned out to be fun. I love to join these challenges as I always find a lot of friends, which I did this time as well. Because of that, I'm truly grateful.” - dredzanx
This was your second Spring DTIYS with Escape Motions. Last year, 80 artists decided to recreate your prompt, while this year it doubled. Were you expecting this?
I'm always amazed by the participation in the DTIYS (Draw This in Your Style) challenges that I host or co-host. They often receive very positive feedback and seem to please and inspire more and more people. It's very heartwarming for me, and even though it's sometimes difficult to see everyone’s work and comment on each entry, I try to do it because I love seeing what my illustrations can inspire in other artists. I’m already looking forward to creating the next DTIYS challenge.
Did any entry bring a particular idea that you plan on adding to your future paintings?
The winning illustration by Snow (_surx_xii) made me want to rethink how I approach lighting in future illustrations and to try working without line art again.
Thank you, Lady Moira, for sharing your thoughts behind your creative process of this spring prompt. We hope many more artists will find inspiration in your work, and the art challenges you frequently offer continue building a supportive community of artists.
Happy Painting,
Escape Motions Team
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Learn more about Lady Moira: www.instagram.com/_lady_moira_/
Spring DTIYS Challenge 2025: Winners Announced
Thu, 08 May 2025 13:02:59 +0200
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this challenge a celebration of artistic growth and community spirit. We received 307 stunning entries, each reflecting a unique interpretation and personal touch. It was no easy task choosing the winners!
1st Prize: "Regrow" by _surx_xii
Out of all entries, the "Regrow" creature by _surx_xii left a strong impression with its creativity and execution. The composition and light in this piece are spectacular. Congratulations, the winner will receive a Rebelle 8 Pro license and a Huion Kamvas 16 (Gen 3) to support their creative endeavours.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Snow (SnowfredeL) Digital artist/illustrator • Novel/Bookish art (@_surx_xii)
2nd Prize: "Mech in Nature" by joshwhite
We were mesmerized by the recreations of this prompt by many artists. We love the atmosphere Josh White was able to create, with a curious butterfly ready to meet a new friend and little pink flowers peeking through the first spring grass. What a well-thought-out concept! The winner will receive a Rebelle 8 Pro license and a Huion Kamvas 13 (Gen 3).
3rd Prize: "Regrow" by joniaikio
The third prize goes to Joni Aikio for their interpretation of the "Regrow" creature. The artist comes with their own color palette, stepping away from the prompt´s light cream colors and daylight glory, moving it to blues and purples, but still achieving a perfect glow the creature deserves. Congrats, what a wonderful artwork. The winner will receive a Rebelle 8 Pro license and a Huion Inspiroy Frego M.
Five artists who created original prompts for this challenge were judges of their categories. Here are the selected winners and reasons why their artworks stood out to the judges. These winners will each receive a Rebelle 8 Pro license upon its release.
"New Skills" by paintfishgraphics
It is clear that a lot of time and passion were put into this piece, and the beautiful, stylized landscape immediately caught the eye. The colors are lively and saturated, and the creative water-level perspective gives this piece so much movement and character. Wonderful work!
Prompt by breakingthepage
"Spring Portrait" by gloriavanessa_nicoli
The rendering of this portrait is absolutely stunning. The glow added to butterflies just makes them shine and attract the eye even more. Congratulations!
Zobraziť tento príspevok na InstagramePríspevok, ktorý zdieľa Gloria Vanessa Nicoli (@gloriavanessa_nicoli)
Prompt by dhabitahpunk
"Mech in Nature" by _paozu_
In evaluation of creative interpretation, composition, use of color and light, and a connection to the original prompt, this entry really stood out. The composition and compelling storytelling beautifully captured the essence of the prompt while adding a cinematic quality. Kobe Sek (author of the prompt) loved the effort that artist put into making it feel like a scene from a movie. Job well done!
Prompt by kobe_sek
"Regrow" by dalisacg
165 artists decided to recreate this prompt, which made Lady Moira´s decision-making truly difficult. Dalisacg´s take on it was phenomenal and it left many speechless. Even though, she does not enter challenges often, the decision to join this one paid off. Congrats!
Prompt by _lady_moira
Nympth by alexandre.alves1504
The dynamism, rhythm, shape language, and the textured details Alexander infused into the little dancing nymph are fascinating. It is full of life and perfectly conveys the main feeling Mirwil aimed for in the original piece: the hope of spring awakening through dance or movement. Well done!
Prompt by senora_garabato
Since the quality of entries joining this challenge has been spectacular, we cannot leave it at only announcing the winners. Here is our selection of honorable mentions, each deserving a special recognition. Visit the original prompt artists´ Instagram profiles to see their honorable mentions as well.
"Mech in Nature" by skarodeka
"Regrow" by gloriavanessa_nicoli
Zobraziť tento príspevok na InstagramePríspevok, ktorý zdieľa Gloria Vanessa Nicoli (@gloriavanessa_nicoli)
Nymph by foxchild.illustration
"Regrow" by dredzanx
"Mech in Nature" by alexandreigor_bs
Zobraziť tento príspevok na InstagramePríspevok, ktorý zdieľa Alexandre Igor Botelho Santos (@alexandreigor_bs)
Nymph by artbyingy
"Mech in Nature" by gloriavanessa_nicoli
Zobraziť tento príspevok na InstagramePríspevok, ktorý zdieľa Gloria Vanessa Nicoli (@gloriavanessa_nicoli)
"Regrow" by eve_4est_art
Congratulations to all winners, and thank you again to every artist who joined us on this creative challenge. Your work was an inspiration and showed the beauty of spring through countless perspectives and styles.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Huion for their generous sponsorship and ongoing support of the digital art community.
Stay tuned for more challenges and creative opportunities from Escape Motions—and don’t forget to tag us in your art all year round!
Happy Painting,
Escape Motions Team
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