Concept art in game creation

What we have prepared in this article

• History of concept art
• Main tasks of concept art in the gaming industry
• Types of concept art
• Skills required for a concept artist
• Popular tools and programs
• Main stages of creating concept art
• Common mistakes of beginners
• Useful tips for concept artists
• Practical tasks for beginners
• Successful examples of concept art in games
• Career opportunities in concept art
• The role of concept art in game development

History of concept art

The roots of concept art go back to the distant past, when great masters like Leonardo da Vinci created sketches of their future works. With the beginning of the XX century, thanks to the development of cinema and animation, concept art became an independent discipline. With the advent of video games at the end of the last century, this art form acquired a new meaning and became very popular. Today, concept art is a fundamental part of any large creative project.

Main tasks of concept art in the gaming industry

Concept art allows you to visualize ideas at the early stages of development. Its main tasks are:

• Quick creation of multiple options for subsequent selection.
• Definition of the visual style of the project.
• Establishing the atmosphere and mood of the game.

The effectiveness of concept art is determined by the speed and quality of execution.

Types of concept art

Characters

Character development covers everything from appearance to character. Artists develop:

• Facial features, build, facial expressions.
• Costumes and accessories.

Successful examples: Geralt of Rivia in the Witcher series, where every detail of the character conveys his story.

Environment

Development of the game environment, for example: forests, cities, dungeons, etc. Important aspects:

• Composition and perspective.
• Lighting and color solutions.

Example: Locations in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are distinguished by a detailed and lively world.

Props

Various objects, such as weapons, furniture or decorations. These elements make the game more lively and rich. Interesting fact: Props in the game Skyrim were elaborately designed, which helped to create a rich gaming universe.

Architecture and transport

Development of complex objects, such as buildings and vehicles. 3D modeling is often used for accuracy. Example: Architectural concepts for Assassin's Creed were based on real historical buildings.

Visual effects (VFX)

Effects of interaction of characters with the environment: explosions, magical spells, fire animation. Example: Visual effects of spells in the game Diablo III became the standard for the genre.

Skills required for a concept artist

For success in this profession, it is important:

• Ability to quickly and qualitatively create sketches that match the idea and task.
• Understand the laws of composition, light and color.
• Know anatomy and proportions of humans and animals.
• Be creative and generate original ideas.

Additionally: The skills of storytelling allow the artist to better reveal the idea through their work.

Used tools and programs

• Graphic editors: Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Procreate.
• 3D tools: Blender, ZBrush, Maya.
• References and moodboards: ArtStation, PureRef, Pinterest.
• Equipment: Wacom graphics tablets, Huion, Ipad

Tip: Use ArtStation as a platform for inspiration and showcasing your work.

Main stages of creating concept art

Preparation:

• Analysis of the technical task.
• Collection and organization of references.

Creating sketches:

• Generation of ideas in the form of sketches.

Line art:

• Outlining silhouettes to simplify further work.

Building forms:

• Working out volumes and details.

Detailing:

• Adding details.

Working with color:

• Search for color schemes.

Finalization:

• Adding textures and effects for a completed look.

Common mistakes of beginners

• Premature detailing.
• Ignoring references.
• Lack of variety in search sketches.
• Lack of feedback from colleagues.

Useful tips for concept artists

• You can use photobashing to speed up work.
• Make miniature sketches to avoid spending time on unsuccessful ideas.
• Experiment with 3D models to achieve accurate perspective.

Practical tasks for beginners

• Create several versions of the same character.
• Draw a room with different light sources.
• Work out a series of props for one location.

Successful examples of concept art in games

• The Witcher: elaborated characters and locations.
• Cyberpunk 2077: high-tech megacities.
• Horizon Zero Dawn: unique natural landscapes and robots.
• Red Dead Redemption 2: realistic wild western landscapes and characters.

Career opportunities in concept art

• Work in indie studios and large companies.
• Growth to art director.
• Freelancing on international projects.
• Opportunities for teaching and training new artists.

Tip: Constantly update your portfolio and be active in art communities to increase your visibility.

The role of concept art in game development

Concept art is the basis of the visual language of the game. It helps developers:

• Form a general style.
• Coordinate the vision of the project within the team.
• Improve interaction between сценаристами, artists and programmers.

Conclusion

Concept art is a combination of art and profession, requiring creativity and discipline. If you want to become part of the gaming industry, start by learning on our course «Concept art of the character». An experienced curator will help you master the basics and prepare for a professional career. Start your journey today!