Why Most Aspiring Concept Artists Focus on the Wrong Skills

The first challenge as an aspiring concept artist is understanding where YOU fit and what studios actually need from artists. This differs largely from your expectations, and your choices can make you irrelevant or redundant in the industry from the very start.

It’s easy to get caught up in the glamorous side of game development: the iconic characters, the epic keyframe, the cinematic moments. But if you want to position yourself effectively as a concept artist, it’s critical to take a closer look at how production really works and where the true demands lie.

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What Are the Needs in Video Games Production

It is pretty clear:

• ⬇️ Characters, while being the most visible and striking elements, make up a small fraction of the total assets.

• ⬆️ Environments and props, on the other hand, represent the majority of what gets built. These assets cover vast worlds and need to be produced in large volumes to create believable, explorable spaces.

Characters require a significant investment of time and resources; they are complex, central to the player’s experience, and heavily polished. But in sheer numbers, environment and prop assets dominate any large production pipeline.

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Competition Between Artists & Most Crowded Fields

When reviewing Resumes and Portfolios over the past few years it is obvious that a majority of concept artists are competing in the same areas of expertise.

• Character design portfolios is the most crowded field, with nearly three up to four times more participants than environment design, and more than four times as many as prop design.

• VFX and prop design, despite being critical to game development, are significantly less saturated.

This shows that while many artists aim to work on characters, there is much higher competition for a relatively smaller number of opportunities.

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Finding the Right Place for Your Skills

Honestly, this isn’t about discouraging anyone from pursuing what they love. But if your goal is to build a sustainable career in the video game industry, it’s important to think strategically.

Ask yourself:

• What do I genuinely enjoy drawing?

• Where do my strengths lie?

• And foremost: Where is there real demand for what I can offer?

In my own experience reviewing portfolios, I often see talented artists struggling to find opportunities simply because they only focus on character work. Yet, studios are constantly looking for strong environment and prop artists, areas where it’s possible to specialize, stand out, and build a professional-quality portfolio faster.

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Final Thoughts

Understanding the production needs behind the scenes helps you not just improve your skills but also position yourself smartly in an evolving, highly competitive industry.

There’s room for passion, of course, but there’s also wisdom in adapting your focus to where opportunities exist.

In future posts, I’ll dive deeper into each major area, characters, environments, props, and VFX, to give a better understanding of how they fit into real-world production pipelines.

If you’ve got thoughts or experiences on finding your path as a concept artist, I’d love to hear them.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

#ConceptArt #CareerAdvice #VideoGameIndustry #PortfolioBuilding #GameArt #SimonLocheArt

Game Art Challenges: Can You Draw Under Pressure?

A Zen Approach to Speed, Focus, and Simplicity

In the practice of concept art, just as in the discipline of Zen, true mastery lies not in rushing or forcing results but in acting with clarity and purpose under pressure.

Deadlines will come. Revisions will test you. Expectations will shift without warning.

A clear mind and steady hand will always be stronger than hurried work.

Every professional game artist must embrace the discipline of learning to create quickly and efficiently without fear, hesitation, or distraction.

It is not about perfection. It is about readability, intention, and flow.

In large and complex projects, clear communication is critical. Concept art serves as a shared visual language across development teams, helping different departments align with the game’s creative vision. Through visual guidelines established early in production, concept art directs how various game elements should be designed and realized.

Everyone involved in the pipeline—from 3D modelers to animators and programmers—relies on concept art to maintain consistency across disciplines. It acts as a bridge between artistic intent and technical execution, ensuring that designs remain both creative and feasible.

By providing detailed visual references, concept art helps reduce misunderstandings and keeps development moving efficiently.

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The 30-Minute Concept Sprint – A Zen Art Challenge

Approach this exercise not as a race, but as a meditation on focus and simplicity.

The Practice:

• Select a random subject (examples: “Desert Soldier,” “Cyberpunk Alley,” “Underwater Robot”).

• Set a timer for 30 minutes.

• Begin sketching a full concept, seeking clarity over polish. Trust your first instincts.

While working:

• Focus on silhouette, visual hierarchy, and clarity.

• Add callouts as you go:

  • Materials (“Worn leather,” “Brushed steel”)

  • Textures (“Rusted metal,” “Cracked concrete”)

  • Design notes (“Simplify armor for easy rigging”, “Cloth needs to flow naturally”)

• Sketch as if you are guiding another artist who must build your vision without further words.

• Think of your drawing as a bridge: it must connect your mind to the mind of the 3D artist or art director.

Important:

• No undoing.

• No overthinking.

• No chasing perfection.

• Every stroke is a decision. Every mark carries intention.

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Bonus Reflection

When the timer ends, spend five additional minutes writing a few sentences explaining your concept:

• What is the function of your design?

• What is the mood it carries?

• What design choices shape its identity?

These simple reflections will sharpen your understanding and solidify your practice.

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Final Words

The purpose of this exercise is not to create a flawless painting.

It is to train your mind to work with clarity under time pressure, just as a Zen practitioner cultivates calm in the midst of chaos.

Production art demands speed and precision, but it rewards presence of mind.

Each sketch, each callout, each choice should flow naturally, without panic or hesitation.

Master this, and your hand will be steady even on the busiest day.

Your ideas will find the page with strength and simplicity.

The path is clear. Pick up your brush, set your timer, and begin.

➽ My Own Take on the Challenge

To bring this idea into something more concrete, here’s an example from a project I worked on back in 2018. The two concepts shown were created under real production pressure, with speed and clarity as the main priorities.

The first was a quick sketch, meant to help the 3D modeler set up the scene and establish key structures. The second and third one were a paintover of the 3D blockout, refining the style, mood, and color direction to guide the next stages of production.

Both were done quickly but with a clear intention: to give the team what they needed to move forward without hesitation or confusion.

You can also see more concept I made for another project here: 
https://simonloche.blogspot.com/2020/01/talking-tom-sky-run-concept-art-and.html

#ConceptArt #ZenArt #GameArtChallenge #ProductionArt #SimonLocheArt #FocusedDrawing

Motorbike Study in HeavyPaint – Painted at the Design Museum in Barcelona

 

This motorbike painting was done during a visit to the Design Museum in Barcelona, a place that’s always full of visual inspiration. I came across an old model on display and decided to do a quick study of it on the spot using HeavyPaint.

One of the things I really enjoy about HeavyPaint is its minimalist interface. There’s no clutter, just room to focus on shape, value, and color. It forces you to simplify and commit, which makes it ideal for quick studies or stylized explorations.

The brush engine is chaotic in the best way. Some tools feel unpredictable at first, but once you embrace the quirks, they become expressive and responsive. It’s less about control and more about rhythm and instinct, which made it perfect for capturing the energy and form of the motorbike without getting stuck in detail.

This wasn’t about realism, but about feeling, blocking in the silhouette, playing with contrast, and letting the shapes talk. Painting it directly at the museum, surrounded by industrial design and history, definitely added something to the experience.

Looking forward to doing more like this. HeavyPaint continues to surprise me in all the right ways.

Three Digital Paintings – Capturing Different Moments of the Day

 

Recently, I completed three digital paintings, each one focused on capturing a different moment of the day: morning, afternoon, and evening.

The goal wasn’t to overcomplicate the compositions, but to study how light, color temperature, and mood shift over time. It’s a simple exercise, but one that really sharpens your sensitivity to atmosphere.

• The morning scene was about softness and cooler light, where colors are still muted and everything feels a little slower and quieter.

• The afternoon painting captured stronger contrasts, warmer tones, and the more direct, clear light that brings sharper edges and deeper shadows.

• The evening piece focused on the heavy, saturated hues of sunset, and the way light fades into a deeper, more atmospheric palette.

I approached all three using the same brush set and limited layers, focusing on getting the mood right first before adding any extra detail.

These quick studies are a reminder that even a simple subject can completely change character depending on the time of day, and that light really is one of the most powerful storytelling tools an artist has.

Looking forward to doing more of these.

Taking Care of Yourself as an Artist: Why Rest, Movement, and Connection Matter

As artists, we're often so focused on improving our skills, meeting deadlines, or pushing through the next project that we forget one of the most important tools we have: ourselves. The mind and body that create the work are not separate from the creative process; they ARE the creative process.

In a world that often romanticizes burnout and late-night hustle, it's easy to undervalue rest, movement, and human connection. But if there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that taking care of yourself isn't a luxury. It's a necessity.

Rest is part of the process
Creative work is mentally demanding. Giving yourself time to unplug, sleep well, or even just step away from the canvas or screen for a while isn't being lazy, it's recharging your mental energy. 

Many breakthroughs come not when you're grinding, but when you're allowing your mind to breathe. Build short breaks into your daily schedule and longer rest periods into your months. Think of them as maintenance, not interruption.

Your body is your studio
Long hours at a desk or tablet can take a real toll. Back pain, eye strain, and stiffness aren’t just annoyances; they can slow you down and, over time, cause lasting issues. A bit of regular physical activity, stretching, or even a walk can refresh your posture and your perspective. 

Consider building a short movement routine into your day, like a 5-minute stretch between projects or a lunchtime walk. Better yet, find a physical activity you enjoy, whether it's dancing, swimming, or climbing, something that gets you out of your chair and into your body.

Reconnecting with nature and people
A change of scenery and good conversation can reawaken something deep in you. 

Whether it’s spending time outdoors, sharing ideas with fellow creatives, or simply catching up with a friend, human moments refill your emotional palette. Make time for nature walks, social meetups, and community events; they offer perspective and spark creativity in ways that screen time can’t.

Nutrition and hydration: the invisible fuel
Your brain and body need proper fuel to function at their best. 

Skipping meals, living on caffeine, or ignoring hydration can silently sabotage your energy and focus. Eat balanced meals and keep water nearby, your clarity of thought (and drawing hand) will thank you.

Setting boundaries between work and life
When your work is also your passion, it's easy for the two to blur. But maintaining a boundary, even a loose one, between your professional and personal time can help prevent burnout. 

Create start and end rituals for your workday, avoid working late every night, and let your brain shift gears when you're off the clock.

Mental health is creative health
Anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome are unfortunately common in the creative field. Don't ignore them. 

A strong support network, regular check-ins with yourself, therapy if needed, or even journaling can be powerful tools to keep your mental space healthy. 

The more you invest in your emotional well-being, the more sustainably you can create.

Celebrate progress, not just output
In a fast-paced digital world, it's easy to tie your value to likes, shares, or output speed. But the creative path is long and non-linear. 

Celebrate your learning, your risks, and your consistency, not just the polished work you publish.

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We often treat creative output like a sprint, but it’s more of a rhythm. Give yourself permission to rest, to move, and to connect. 

Take care of your physical and emotional health as intentionally as you do your craft. Because in the long run, it’s not just your art that benefits, it’s your whole life.

#ArtistWellbeing #CreativeHealth #TakeCare #ArtAndLife #RestAndCreate #SimonLocheArt

Joining Microsoft Xbox Activision Blizzard King – A New Creative Chapter

I’m excited to share a new and meaningful milestone in my professional journey: I’ve joined Microsoft Xbox Activision Blizzard King, where I’m now part of the New Games department, a space dedicated to developing the next generation of creative and innovative gaming experiences.

While I can’t reveal project details just yet, I can say that the work we’re doing is as exciting as it is ambitious. The opportunity to contribute to a team focused on pushing the boundaries of what games can be, both in terms of design and artistic vision, is something I’m incredibly proud of.

What makes this experience even more rewarding is the chance to collaborate with incredibly talented individuals across disciplines. Being surrounded by passionate creatives who challenge and inspire one another every day is both a privilege and a powerful motivator.

This new role allows me to apply everything I’ve learned over the years while continuing to evolve as an artist, leader, and creator. It’s a chance to grow, to experiment, and to help shape experiences that are emotionally rich, visually striking, and deeply engaging.

There’s a lot more to come, and I can’t wait to share more when the time is right.

Stay tuned!

#GameArt #MicrosoftXbox #ABK #GameDevelopment #CreativeLeadership #NewGames #BehindTheCanvas