An Introduction to Video Game Concept Art.

What is video game concept art?

Video game concept art is all about designing and creating the intended look, style and visual ‘feel’ of a game before it enters full development. Artists work to sketch out drawings, paintings and references for all the key elements that will appear in the game.   

From characters and their costumes, props and weapons, to scenery, architecture and interiors - video game concept drawings help create the building blocks for the immersive, authentic and unforgettable worlds that gamers explore.

How important is video game artwork to video games?

Game concept art is a crucial stage of video game pre-production. From Grand Theft Auto to Legend of Zelda, from Ori and the Blind Forest to Call of Duty, our favourite games wouldn’t exist as we know and love them were it not for video game concept art.

That’s because it’s absolutely crucial for:

• Setting the tone - visualising the aesthetic for the game at an early stage can really help to bring the concept to life. It also helps communicate the look and feel of the creation to the wider production team. This can be especially helpful if its setting, characters or aesthetic are particularly distinctive or unique. Think the vintage 1930s cartoon styling of Cuphead, the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of Limbo, or the Art Deco cityscapes and interiors in BioShock.
• Reference points - initial designs for essential components of the game, be it weapons, costumes or the environments themselves, give the development team references to build on and work to during production.
• Maintaining consistency - from characters’ costumes to colour schemes denoting different areas within the game, consistency is key when creating an immersive gaming experience. Video game concept art helps to anchor a consistent style from the outset, so designers and developers don’t deviate during production.
• Presenting to stakeholders - it’s also a valuable tool to help investors and stakeholders visualise how the game will look at the pre-production stage. Senior people involved in the project can give their feedback and sign-off before production begins.  

What are the different types of gaming concept art?

Concept art game design can be broken down into several key areas. Video game illustrators often specialise in a specific area, working as a team to visualise the rich and detailed world they’re creating. 

Video game character drawing.

Character drawing involves sketching the game’s key characters, including the protagonist/s and the adversaries and non-player characters (NPCs) they encounter on their journey.

Character illustrators will focus on details like:

• Construction and proportions
• Key poses
• Facial expressions
• Colour palettes
• How the characters move.

Game environment concept art.

Environment concept art is the process of sketching what the game’s key environments might look like, both indoor and outdoor. These could be foreboding, claustrophobic caves and caverns, industrial sci-fi spaceships and stations or jaw-dropping fantasy landscapes. Think the epic snow-covered mountains in Skyrim or the gritty corridors in Dead Space.

Environment concept artists are responsible for visualising:
 

• Landscapes
• Buildings and architecture
• Towns, cities, roads and other infrastructure
• Interiors, furnishings and other internal environment elements.

Asset and object video game illustration.

This is the process of sketching key objects for the game, from signature weapons the characters might wield, to ‘MacGuffins’ - sought-after objects that motivate the player and bring the plot forward.

These are often central to the plot and can help build character depth. After all, where would Squall from Final Fantasy VIII be without his iconic Gunblade?

Asset and object video game illustrators are responsible for:

• Interactive props - weapons such as guns and swords, as well as items like cars or jet packs.
• Dynamic props - the items in the game that the characters can interact with, such as boxes that can be opened or barrels that explode.
• McGuffins - high-value objects that the player must seek out as part of the gameplay. For example, Tomb Raider and Resident Evil storylines are often a simple hunt from one mysterious trinket to the next - with puzzles, obstacles, enemies and bosses blocking the route.
• Pickups - items that can change how character perform, such as magic vials, ammunition, healing fruits or books that teach new skills.

How to become a video game concept artist.

Have you got what it takes to become a video game concept artist? Let’s take a closer look at the skills, experience and responsibilities you’ll need to succeed.

What skills does a video game illustrator require?

To become a fully-fledged video game concept artist, you will usually need to have mastered a wide range of fundamental art and drawing skills, including:

• Art composition
• Anatomy
• Perspective
• Proportion
• Texture
• Lighting and shadow
• Line drawing and sketching
• Digital drawing
• Use of colour
• An understanding of art through history

You won’t necessarily need a degree in art to become a video game illustrator - but gaining a degree in an art field is a great way to build and hone all of the above skills.

A good grasp of digital software packages is also a must, as you’ll be creating and rendering your game design art digitally. You’ll usually need to understand how to use the following Adobe applications well to create captivating artwork:

• Adobe Photoshop
  
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Fresco

If you don’t have any format training in digital software, don’t worry though. Online tutorials and videos can be really helpful.

When it comes to ‘soft skills’, video game illustrators should be able to:

• Problem-solve
  
• Communicate clearly - both verbally and in writing
• Work independently and as a team
• Research effectively.

What key responsibilities do video game concept artists have?

Video game illustrators are responsible for the initial sketches and designs of landscapes, character, costumes and props at the pre-production stage of video game development. These images give an overall look and feel of the fantasy world that the level design and production team will go on to create.

But it’s not all sketching, colouring and rendering. Video game artists have a lot of responsibilities in their role:

• Researching locations, architecture, people, fashions and more to inform their drawings.
• Determining how to visually represent particular moods within a video game.
• Giving context and direction to production team members.
• Using design software like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to paint and render digitally.
• Representing video game characters’ personalities, backgrounds and behaviours.
• Responding to feedback and revising and updating designs to meet specifications.
• Collaborating with other artists and designers on the team, such as:
  • Art directors
  • 3D modellers
  • Animators
  • Programmers
  • Level designers
  • Developers
  • Publishers.

Video game artwork: FAQs.

Is game art a good career?

People with artistic talent and a passion for video games could find their calling with a career as a video game concept artist. It’s a varied, exciting and fulfill path, but it’s also a fast-paced and demanding job too, while it can be challenging to get a foothold into the industry. Understanding the skills you need and developing a strong portfolio will go a long way though.

Do you need a degree to be a video game concept artist?

You don’t necessarily need a degree to become a video game concept artist and it is possible to make it if you’re self-taught. However, you’ll likely be competing against artists who do have art degrees. A degree in an art or design subject will be very beneficial to teach you the skills required to succeed in the role.

How much do concept artists for video games make?

Entry-level or junior concept artists can expect to earn in the region of £17,000 to £20,000. More experienced concept artists earn between £25,000 and £40,000, while freelance rates are around £14 per hour on average.

Discover more about environment concept art.

• Environmental concept art
• Concept art explained
• Model sheets and character design
• How to make a digital art portfolio