What is a Concept Artist? How to Hire a Concept Artist?

Concept art is a form of visual art used to transform ideas into real-time creative art that depicts the imagery of game characters and objects in our minds for storytelling. Concept art is the first stage of the game development process for developing game design, game environment, and other game assets. 

 

In this blog, we will take a complete overview of the concept artist's workflow, the skills and responsibilities of the artist, and how you can Hire one. 

 

Let's get started. 

 

What is a Concept Artist?

 

A Concept Artist is a designer who creates the visual concepts of different characters, designs, ideas, and objects. The artist converts them into illustrations to be further utilized for the production stage. Moreover, they create illustrations or drawings to convey the primary sketch, develop themes, and represent ideas through styles. 

 

Let's see an example of concept art:

 

 

Concept Artist Workflow

 

The workflow of a conceptual game design artist is simple. They first get directions from the art or creative director. The instructions include describing the visual elements of any game object, be it a character, object, environment, or other game assets. 

 

 

Once all the requirements are fulfilled for the game art and design, concept designers start to work on creating the visual outlook. At this stage it is a discovery phase in which the artist tries to draw the game art and design as elaborated by the creative director. Not only that, but the artist has to work on creating all the angles of the game art, whether characters, objects, or buildings. The concept art must include front, back, and overall view of the game art. After all the feedback and tweaks that align with the project requirements, the discovery phase ends as soon as the final product is drawn. 

 

Once the game art and design phase is completed, the artist creates the visual renders using tools such as Adobe Animator, Photoshop, Maya, etc. 

 

Skills of a Concept Artist

 

The role of an artist who creates concept art is broad and involves various skill sets. The primary purpose at the end is to deliver game art and design that looks realistic, engaging, and can retain the players. To bring all of this into the art and design of games, the artist must have the following skills: 

 

1. Drawing and Illustrations

 

The artist should create game art efficiently, such as characters, objects, environments, buildings, etc. That said, it is essential for the artist to understand both traditional and modern drawing skills. Proficiency in drawing and illustrations using tools helps speed up the game art process and provides a solid foundation for the following composition and color theory processes. 

 

2. Anatomy and Figure Drawing

 

To add realistic details and give real texture to the drawings, the concept artist must completely understand human features, anatomy, and figure drawing. The artists must understand realistic proportions and lifelike movements to draw the proper figure that depicts the human body and similar realistic movements. Drawing realistic anatomy helps represent realistic visual movements, body figures, and personalities. 

 

3. Perspective

 

When we talk about perspective as the skills of a concept designer, we talk about a strong understanding of depth and dimensions. These two factors of perspective in drawing the illustration play an essential role in creating game assets like cityscapes, character interactions, buildings, and much more. A video game concept artist must be able to use different techniques such as one-point, two-point, and three-point perspectives. A strong command of perspective can help create balanced and dimensional objects that represent real-life words just the way the artist visualizes them. 

 

4. Composition

 

Another aspect that is essential for a concept art designer is composition. It involves principles such as balance, contrast, focal points, and the rule of thirds. By working on all these factors, one can work on the symmetry and asymmetry of the objects, such as buildings, cityscapes, characters, etc., to set the game's tone, mood, and genre. 

 

5. Tools Proficiency

 

A concept artist's primary tools and software include Blender, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, ClipPaint Studio, and Procreate. Having an artist with skills in tools can speed up the game development process from developers to game designers. It is essential to know how to use the tools to make 3D digital art, iterating and refining. 

 

6. 3D Modeling 

 

Well, 3D Modeling is an optional skill for a concept artist, but having it is a plus point, especially for the video game development process. It creates three-dimensional representations of characters, props, and locations that are incredibly realistic and detailed. Having a skill in 3D Modeling can help work more efficiently with 3D artists, animators, and modelers to ensure that the final results align with their visualizations. 

 

Responsibilities of a concept artist 

 

A video game concept artist plays a vital role in the introductory phases of video game development. However, the primary responsibilities of the concept designer include: 

 

• Making visual designs for objects, settings, and characters.

• Storyboarding to illustrate scenes and sequences

• Establishing visual styles in collaboration with teams.

• Project timelines and creative freedom must be balanced.

• Converting concepts into visual stories.

• Creating the personality and appearance of characters.

• Creating detailed, immersive environments.

• Remaining up to date with market trends and technologies.

• Supporting narratives with visual ideas.

 

How to Hire a Concept Artist?

 

Before hiring a concept artist, it is essential to follow a pattern so there are no loopholes in your hiring process, and you can hire vetted artists to work on game art and animation. Here is a quick overview of utilizing concept art services: 

 

Determine Your Hiring Needs 

 

Before you venture into hiring a concept artist, you must know your hiring demands per the project requirements. Concept art services offer different hiring models, such as game art outsourcing, hiring a dedicated team, or utilizing game artists freelance. Once you are clear about the requirements of hiring a concept game artist, you can shortlist the resources that fulfill your interest best.

 

Layout the Project Details 

 

The next step is mapping out the project requirements. You must be clear about the scope of your work and the project collectibles. It helps game development companies understand your project, and you will be better able to communicate your expectations from the hired resource. Once you have outlined the project details, you can determine the profile of the resources that align well. 

 

Set the Ideal Candidate Profile.

 

Setting the ideal candidate profile determines the experience level, the requirement of tools proficiency, and competency of the artist based on skills. You can only set the perfect candidate profile for your project once you have project details. Most importantly, you can also count the experience and the portfolio. 

 

Reach out to Concept Art Studios 

 

Once you have completed the above mentioned steps, you can select various studios that offer concept art services on different hiring models. InvoGames is a top game development company that provides game art and animation services promising to take your project to the next level. The best method to choose the game art studio is to look up their social media profiles, check the portfolio, and see the clients’ testimonials. 

 

Concept Art Services 

 

Want to develop game art for your next project that engages players and gives your game a new look? Contact us today to discuss your project details to quickly start the game art development.