Simon Loche: October 2022

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.

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.

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.

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.