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Today, Shimhaq's work is associated with big-budget Hollywood productions, the latest of which is Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The sci-fi movie released its latest poster last weekend, featuring Shimhaq's work. 

Check out this art from Ali Shimhaq, inspired by #KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes.

Experience the film in theaters now. Get tickets: https://t.co/7VpGpUOhix pic.twitter.com/6gmyBMpIgy— 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) May 10, 2024

"I signed with a creative agency called The Poster Posse, who collaborate with studios to make posters for movies, games, etc.," Shimhaq says, adding that studios pick artists based on how well they can contribute to the studio's vision for the specific project. "The studio approached (Poster Posse) to create posters for the movie's release, and I was one of the artists chosen for this project."

The 31-year-old has previously also worked on similar projects, such as the poster for Universal's Renfield movie and posters for the Starfield game by Bethesda Game Studios. He also worked with Play Station and Naughty Dog to create their The Last of Us games' 10th anniversary poster.

"One of the projects I worked on last year was the promo art for a game called Baldur's Gate 3 for Larian Studios." he reminisces. "The game has since gone on to win no less than 32 awards, including multiple games of the year awards, and I'm proud to have contributed to such an incredible game." 

Shimhaq's dedication and passion for art have undoubtedly led him to where he is today. "I've always been artistically inclined and drawn or painted since childhood," he shares. I got into digital art after high school and bought my first tablet just before I went to study abroad." 

During the process of creating his artwork, Shimhaq is intuitive and meticulous. "My art starts with a loose sketch, which serves as a guide for the entire painting," he explains. Then, I dive into colors and textures, sculpting the form out of chaos." This process allows him to bring his imagination to life on the digital canvas.

What sets Shimhaq's artwork apart is his unique style, which he describes as a blend of various influences. "My current style is a mix of different influences," he says. "From traditional styles like watercolour or charcoal to contemporary artists like Kekai Kotaki and Greg Rutkowski, I draw inspiration from various sources." 

Shimhaq's rising online popularity opened doors to new opportunities, but it also came with its own challenges. In 2022, he won a legal battle against musician Aaron Carter over the unauthorized use of his art. "As an artist, you must upload your artwork on social media platforms and other avenues online to develop a follower base and market yourself. So, it's unavoidable that your work will be stolen somehow." 

"One of the simplest ways to minimize that is to watermark your art. Other than that, uploading your artwork at a low resolution also helps," he advises, adding that avenues such as applying for a DMCA Takedown Notice - which is a legal document outlining procedures for managing the theft and subsequent online sharing of copyrighted material or copyright violation - or taking legal action when necessary are essential steps to safeguarding original content.

The young artist sees a bright future for digital art, both locally and globally. "Since I started digital art, I've seen a shift towards digital in the art world," he observes. "With technological advancements, more artists are embracing digital tools to bring their visions to life."

As for what's next, Shimhaq teases some exciting projects in the pipeline, including attending major comic and anime conventions in the UK and Germany. But through it all, he remains grateful to his audience for their unwavering support. "My biggest achievement is making my audience proud," he says. "And I'll keep working hard to achieve even bigger things in the future."