Imagine if we had to create a place for a role playing game, where the players will meet a strong boss monster. So the place has to be recognizable and moody to ensure that the players will find it and have a feeling about it that only something bad could live there.
The following image shows our concept art for the spooky tree. As for the concept, the tree should be spooky and old, which leads to the crooked branches and the slight twist in the trunk. Also, the hard contrast in the moonlight gives the image more power and mood, which leaves the viewer feeling a bit uncomfortable. The entrance of the tree, the pattern of the bark, and also the mushrooms underline the feeling of rough nature, not a place to be for a human being. Viewed in silhouette, the tree forms some kind of claw, reaching for the moonlight.