started with a radiel gradient,it was supposed to look hot like the desert sun.

Adding twining branches-lock layer,painted the branch black i added gausian blur to add perspective.

 

added more branches to the scene,build up on the feeling of being trapped,played around with the blur depending on how it looked to create a perspective of layers foreground and background.

added the character,this is from a selfie portrait i took of myself, i then took to illustrating it with photoshop and a tablet.

more branches and blur

and more wood and blur

The finished piece for the Brief.