Different Types of Concept Art & Where Styles Used

Game Designer at RetroStyle Games | Nov 20, 2024

Concept art helps visualize concept art ideas before they are fully developed. It shapes the mood, sets the tone, and guides the overall look of various media productions.

Concepts are widely used in different fields, such as games, movies, animation, and comic books. In games, it establishes the visual style and characters. It guides the animation process by defining character movements and settings.

We will cover various types of concept art, including character, environment, props and weapons, animation concept art, and much more. Many game devs use concept art services to quicken the development process and get new ideas. If you wish, you can take a look at what we offer.

Creating Concept Art

Creating cool concept art involves several stages that help in developing a clear and polished piece. It’s for beginners to understand the process of how to make game concept art used by professional artists.

Initial Idea and Research

The first step is deciding on a clear overall concept through discussions with the director and creative stakeholders. This helps the artist understand the vision, themes, mood, and goals. The artist determines details like the overall style, time, and specific story elements the art needs to communicate.

Once the broad concept is defined, character concept artists gather concept art reference materials relevant to the subject matter. These references help ground the concept of art in reality while inspiring. The artist collects a wide range of photographic and artistic references related to all aspects of the subject matter, including architectural styles, landscape photos, textures, and patterns. Props like furniture and technology, flora and fauna, lighting references, and fashion styles are useful too.

Sketching and Thumbnails

Next, the artist creates numerous small thumbnail concept art sketches. They explore different compositions, poses, camera angles, lighting, and other visual options. These rough thumbnails lay out the general ideas and arrangements in simple forms. The artist reviews these with the director and stakeholders, gets feedback, and determines which concepts to pursue further.

Refinement and Detailing

Moving forward, the chosen ideas are developed into tighter rough sketches with more details defined. The artist makes more detailed rough sketches, defining specific shapes, forms, proportions, perspective, depth, light and shadow shapes, and details like facial features and human anatomy. The goal is to clarify and refine the concept more while still keeping it loose and exploratory.

At times, the artist will take a sketch into monochromatic values by painting it in grayscale or limited color. This acts as a lighting and value study, analyzing the simple concept art terms, focusing on how lighting and shadows interact with forms, composition, and visual hierarchy. Also on the accuracy of perspective and depths, and drawing attention to focal points.

Finalizing and Polishing

The artist takes their work into final rendering and adds details to fully realize the concept. This fully illustrated concept art becomes a guide for the rest of the production team. They take their work into the final rendering by painting textures, surfaces, and lighting. Adding color that enhances mood and atmosphere, incorporating graphic design embellishments, and creating special effects if needed. The artist also refines all details and polishes the execution. The result is a fully illustrated visualization that communicates the artistic goals of the project.

After understanding the process of creating concept art, it is also important to recognize the various types of concept art that artists may specialize in. These include character concept art, environment concept art, props and weapon concept art, mech and vehicle concept design, animation concept art, and UI concept art.

Character Concept Art

Character concept ideas are crucial in creating stories in games. It helps visualize the characters, defining their appearance, personality, and overall vibe, which adds depth to the narrative.

For example, in our game Bubble Panda Legend: Blast Pop, we developed detailed character concept paintings for the panda characters. These designs were important in establishing a unique and engaging visual style for the game. By creating diverse and expressive characters and concept art poses, we were able to enhance the player’s connection to the game and make the story more immersive. The colorful and varied panda characters add charm and personality, making the game more appealing and fun for players.

Differences Between a Concept Artist and a Character Designer

Concept artists vs character designers have different roles, although they are closely related. The concept artist creates the initial sketches and ideas for characters, objects, and environments. Their job is to depict the overall mood and style of the project. They offer several options and directions that can be used moving forward.

The character designer works on refining the selected concepts. They are responsible for creating the final character designs, considering anatomy, proportions, style, and movement features. The character designer also develops various facial expressions, poses, and costumes to ensure the character looks alive and natural in different situations.

Environment Concept Art

What’s more important: a 2D or 3D environment sketch? 2D environment concept art is typically faster and more flexible for brainstorming and initial concepts, while 3D art provides a more realistic representation of the final product.

Environment concept art sets the scene and creates the atmosphere in games and films. It helps define the look and feel of a story. For example, in the real-time strategy game, we made the concept art for Endzone. We designed diverse terrains from lush forests to barren deserts. Concept art buildings include strategic points and resources, natural barriers, chokepoints, and varied biomes. This design not only makes the game visually appealing but also adds tactical depth, influencing gameplay strategies. The detailed environment and understanding of how to draw environment concept art enhances the overall experience by making the world more believable and engaging for players.

Props & Weapon Concept Art

Props and weapon concept art enhance both gameplay and storytelling. Detailed designs make the game world more realistic and engaging, allowing players to immerse themselves fully in the experience.

For example, in our project, we created a 3D military assets pack. This pack includes highly detailed models of weapons, military objects, and obstacles. These assets not only improve the visual appeal of the game but also add strategic elements to the gameplay. Players can interact with these detailed props and weapons, making their game more realistic.

Mech/Vehicle Concept Design

Designing mechanical concepts like vehicles requires a high level of complexity and innovation. It involves creating detailed and realistic models that fit the game’s setting.

For example, in our project inspired by post-apocalyptic ideas and Rust concept art, we designed the Armageddon vehicle and a realistic bike. The buggy, with its massive tires and sturdy chains, and the bike, equipped with spikes and a powerful engine, add excitement and realism to the game. Our team worked hard to capture the spirit of a post-apocalyptic world, making these vehicles not only visually striking but also functional within the game’s environment.

Animation Concept Art

Animation concept art is crucial in shaping the entire animation process. It sets the visual style and tone of the project, providing a clear direction for animators and designers. By defining the look and feel early on, concept art helps to ensure that all visual elements are consistent and cohesive throughout the animation.

When creating cartoon concept art, artists begin by sketching out ideas for characters, environments, and concepts of props. These initial sketches are essential as they lay the foundation for the entire project. The details in these sketches guide the animation team, ensuring that the characters and settings are visually engaging and align with the story’s mood.

One notable animation art concept example for a video game is the work done for “Arcane”, a series based on the popular game “League of Legends”. The animation studio Fortiche, known for its unique blend of 2D and 3D animation, worked closely with Riot Games to develop the visual style. Alexis Wanneroy, an artist at Fortiche, was instrumental in creating the gritty cyberpunk aesthetic that defines the series. This concept art was essential in making the characters and environments feel authentic and visually engaging, matching the game’s universe while introducing new elements for the series (SyncSketch Blog).

UI Concept Art

The design of a user interface (UI) is crucial for creating an intuitive and engaging experience for users. A well-designed UI ensures that users can navigate a game or application smoothly, find what they need easily, and enjoy their interaction with the product. The initial phase of creating UI concept art involves setting the visual tone and layout for elements like menus, buttons, icons, and in-game displays. Effective clip art styles in UI design combine aesthetics with functionality, ensuring that every element is easy to understand and use. This balance reduces frustration, improves user satisfaction, and keeps users engaged. In a video game, a well-crafted UI significantly enhances gameplay by providing clear controls, informative feedback, and visually appealing elements that complement the overall style of the game.

Tips for Beginners on Starting UI Concept Art

To start working on UI concept art, it’s important to first understand the project’s requirements, including the game’s theme, target audience, and specific needs. Gathering inspiration and game user interface design examples from existing UI designs helps in visualizing what makes them effective and considering how similar elements can be incorporated into your own work. Initial ideas should be sketched out to explore different layout options and visual styles. The focus should be on usability, ensuring that the designs are user-friendly and intuitive. The iterative process involves gathering feedback on initial concepts and making necessary refinements to create a polished and effective UI. Familiarizing oneself with design tools like Adobe XD, Sketch, or Figma can aid in creating detailed mockups and prototypes, making it easier to visualize and test the UI designs.

Comparison of Different Concept Art Styles

The table below provides an overview of different concept art styles, highlighting the tools and techniques used, along with notable projects where these styles have been prominently featured.

Concept Art Style	Tools and Techniques	Notable Projects
Character Concept Art	Photoshop, ZBrush, Wacom Tablets	League of Legends by Riot Games
Environment Concept Art	Blender, SketchUp, Adobe Photoshop	The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Weapon and Prop Concept Art	Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter	Destiny 2 by Bungie
Mech/Vehicle Concept Art	3ds Max, KeyShot, Photoshop	Halo Series by 343 Industries
Animation Concept Art	Toon Boom Harmony, TVPaint, Photoshop	Arcane by Riot Games
UI Concept Art	Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD	Overwatch by Blizzard

Finding Concept Art Services

Our team of experienced designers, artists, and developers specializes in mobile game development, providing high professional standards. With our comprehensive approach to 2D and 3D art production, we offer full-cycle game art and design outsourcing services. This means we handle everything from initial concept sketches to fully realized 3D models, ensuring a cohesive and polished final product.

We work on over 100 art projects per year, employing more than 90 experienced concept artists and 3D modelers. With a proven track record of over 80 million downloads of our mobile games, our services include creating stylized art for Match-3 games, isometric game design, 3D modeling for games, and 3D game character design. Our portfolio shows a wide range of successful projects, demonstrating our ability to create visually appealing and functional designs that enhance gameplay and user experience.

When selecting a concept art design service, looking at past work and ensuring the style matches your vision is important. Our extensive portfolio and specialized services make us a strong candidate for any game development project. Our ability to provide end-to-end solutions whether concept art or final product ensures consistency and quality throughout the development process.

For more information, you can explore our portfolio and see examples of our work on our official website. This will give you a better idea of our capabilities and help you decide if we are the right fit for your project.

Trends in Styles of Concept Art

Concept art continues to evolve with various trends emerging as technology and artistic preferences change. In 2024, several key trends are shaping the landscape of concept art across different media.

As Creative Bloq says, one significant trend is the resurgence of hand-drawn and traditional techniques. As a response to the widespread use of digital tools, there is a growing desire for art that feels more authentic and human-made. Artists are incorporating visible hand-rendered elements, mixed media, and raw textures to create unique, personalized pieces that stand out from the digital crowd.

AI and generative tools are also making a significant impact. These technologies aren’t replacing human creativity but are enhancing it by automating tedious tasks and enabling real-time rendering. This allows artists to focus more on the creative aspects of their work, leading to more innovative and detailed concept art.

According to Shakuro, surrealism and maximalism are becoming increasingly popular. These styles allow for more expressive and imaginative creations, pushing the boundaries of traditional concept art. The use of surreal and fantastical elements can help to convey complex stories and evoke strong emotional responses from the audience.

Additionally, hyper-realistic illustrations are gaining traction, especially in areas like gaming and product design. These detailed and lifelike images help to create immersive experiences and convey a high level of technical skill and craftsmanship.

Final Conclusions

The evolving trends in concept art reflect a dynamic and innovative field that blends traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology. Artists are exploring new styles and tools to create more engaging and visually stunning work. At RetroStyle Games, we stay at the forefront of these trends, ensuring that our concept art not only meets but exceeds industry standards. By combining our experience with the latest trends, we deliver high-quality impactful visuals that enhance the gaming experience and resonate with audiences worldwide.

FAQ

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What is the best concept art style?

There is no single “best” concept art style; it depends on the project’s needs and the artist’s strengths. Each style offers unique benefits.

What are the main styles of concept art?

The main styles of concept art include Character, Environment, Props, Animation, and UI.

How do I find my concept art style?

Experiment with various techniques, study different styles, and practice consistently. Over time, your unique style will emerge.

Where can I find concept art services?

You can find concept art services at RetroStyle Games, Upwork, and Fiverr.