10 AMAZING Art Training Books Every Artist Should Own

Whether you're a beginner building fundamentals or a seasoned artist refining your craft, the right books can become lifelong companions. 

This list includes some of the best art training books out there, full of practical exercises, brilliant teaching, and deep visual insight.

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1. Framed Ink by Marcos Mateu-Mestre

This is a must-have for understanding visual storytelling and composition. It breaks down how to create mood, movement, and clarity in sequential images. Marcos walks you through examples using cinematic lighting, silhouettes, and compositional flow, making this book invaluable for both comic artists and concept designers.

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2&3. Framed Ink Vol. 2 by Marcos Mateu-Mestre

A powerful continuation of the first volume, Framed Ink 2 focuses on advanced narrative techniques, staging, and visual empathy. It explores how to build tension, emotion, and rhythm visually, essential concepts for those working in story-driven media like games, film, or animation.

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4. Artists' Master Series: Color & Light by Charlie Pickard

A visually rich and clearly written book focused on how light interacts with form and how to use color intentionally. Charlie Pickard breaks down key concepts like atmospheric perspective, lighting direction, and hue shifts. Perfect for digital painters who want to improve lighting and storytelling.

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5. Framed Perspective Vol. 1 & 2 by Marcos Mateu-Mestre

These two volumes go deep into the mechanics of perspective drawing. Volume 1 covers the essentials: 1, 2, and 3-point perspective, horizon lines, and vanishing points. Volume 2 builds on that, focusing on how perspective can be used emotionally in storytelling. These books are foundational for anyone serious about environment design and believable space.

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6. Dynamic Bible by Peter Han

A self-published legend. Peter Han's Dynamic Bible is a workbook filled with exercises that develop your visual library, line confidence, and design logic. With a focus on building strong drawing habits and shape design, it’s ideal for artists looking to sharpen their fundamentals and take on concept sketching or creature design.

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7. Point Character Drawing by Taco

Full of simplified and dynamic breakdowns, this book is great for learning how to exaggerate form while keeping things grounded. It covers stylized anatomy, facial expressions, and poses with a clear and playful visual language. Perfect for artists looking to inject personality into their character work.

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8. Rockhe Kim's Anatomy Drawing Class

A brilliant guide for understanding anatomy in a stylized yet structural way. Rockhe Kim explains human anatomy through a designer's lens, breaking down muscle groups into clean, readable forms. Great for character designers, figure drawing students, or anyone trying to draw believable human bodies with a stylized edge.

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9. Space Drawing: Perspective Vol. 1 by Dongho Kim

An elegant, in-depth guide to practical perspective for illustrators and concept artists. Dongho Kim explains how to visualize space intuitively, making this book ideal for both beginners and seasoned environment artists. Beautifully laid out and highly digestible.

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10. Anatomy For Artists: Drawing Form & Pose by Tom Fox (tomfoxdraws)

A fresh and accessible anatomy book that connects gesture, construction, and surface anatomy. Tom Fox includes detailed studies, pose breakdowns, and insightful notes that help you understand the figure in motion. It’s a great companion for daily sketchers and character-focused artists alike.

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These books aren't just pretty to flip through, they're powerful learning tools. 

Whether you're leveling up your gesture drawing, mastering perspective, or understanding light and color, there's something in this list to help push your skills further.

#ArtBooks #DrawingTips #ConceptArtTraining #FundamentalsMatter #SimonLocheArt

The Secret Power of Notan: Designing with Light and Dark

Quick Notan Sketches Studies

As artists, we often get caught up in the excitement of color, detail, and brushwork. But when it comes to building a truly compelling composition, sometimes less is more. That’s where Notan comes in, a deceptively simple concept that can transform the way you design your paintings.

What Is Notan?

Notan (濃淡) is a Japanese word that translates to “light-dark.” It’s all about the relationship between positive and negative space, between areas of light and areas of dark. Think of it like the visual skeleton of your artwork. Strip away the color, the detail, even the subject, and what you’re left with is the pure structure of your composition.

Why It Matters

Ever stare at a painting that just feels off, but you can’t quite figure out why? Or maybe you’re planning a new piece and something in the layout doesn’t feel balanced? Notan studies help you see the design clearly, without distractions.

By reducing your scene to only two or three values (usually black, white, and maybe a midtone), you can spot compositional issues early. Is the focal point clear? Are the shapes too similar in size? Is the negative space doing any heavy lifting? These are the kinds of questions Notan helps answer.

How to Do a Notan Study

You don’t need any fancy tools to get started. You can:

• Use black markers or paint on white paper

• Snap a photo and simplify it digitally into black and white shapes

• Sketch with just one value on your tablet

The key is to stop worrying about realism and focus on clarity, contrast, and balance between shapes.

Here’s a great tip: Try shifting your viewpoint or cropping your scene differently. Even a small change in perspective can completely transform the Notan, and in turn, the strength of your final piece.

Not Just for Beginners

While Notan is often taught in art schools, it’s a tool that professional artists keep coming back to. Whether you’re working in oils, watercolors, or digital, it’s a fast and effective way to test the strength of your ideas before you commit hours of work.

Adding a third value, usually a midtone, can also be helpful. This allows for more nuance and helps guide decisions about lighting and depth later on in your painting.

Make It a Habit

Think of Notan like stretching before a workout. It doesn’t take long, but it sets the stage for everything that follows. Try making it a part of your process. Do quick studies before starting a new piece. Use them to test thumbnails or resolve tricky compositions.
You’ll be amazed at how much it sharpens your design instincts and how it helps you see your own work with fresh eyes.

Quick study made in Infinite Painter App

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Final Thoughts

In a world full of noise and color, Notan brings you back to the essentials. It’s a reminder that great art starts with great design. Light and dark. Positive and negative. Simplicity with purpose.

So the next time you’re stuck, grab a pen or open a new canvas, and block in the big shapes. Sometimes, all it takes is two values to bring clarity and power to your vision.

Tools to help you organise values:
- Photoshop
- Proko Value Tool

Related Articles: 

Leg Day for Artists: Why Focusing on One Skill at a Time Builds Real Strength

Quick digital paint. 3 values study



#Notan #ArtComposition #VisualDesign #ArtistTips #ArtStudy #CreativeProcess #PaintingTips #DesignThinking #ValueStudy #ArtEducation #MakeArtDaily #SketchSmart #ArtFundamentals #DigitalPainting #TraditionalArt #SimonLocheArt

See Value: A Fantastic Tool for Artists Who Care About Values

As artists, we constantly talk about the importance of values, and for good reason. 

Value structure (the contrast between lights and darks) is one of the most powerful tools for readability, composition, and mood. But seeing values clearly isn't always easy, especially when working in color.

That’s where See Value comes in. This small but brilliant app does one thing, and does it extremely well: it helps you see the values in your reference or artwork instantly.

See Value App lets you check the values of anything, and you can choose 2, 3, or 4 values only if you want 

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What Is See Value?

See Value is a mobile app that overlays a value filter over your camera or photo gallery. You can use it in real time or on imported images to instantly understand the light/dark relationships in your reference.

It’s perfect for:

• Studying photo references

• Capturing plein air scenes with better value awareness

• Checking your own digital or traditional work for value grouping issues

• Understanding why something feels "off" in a painting

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Why It’s So Effective

In digital painting software, it’s easy to toggle a grayscale filter. But when you're out in the world, or working traditionally, that option vanishes.

See Value brings that tool into the physical world, letting you:

• Instantly check value balance in real scenes or photos

• Train your eye to group values more effectively

• Compare different references quickly without second-guessing

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Use Case: How I Use It

I often use See Value when scouting references or setting up a sketch from life. A quick check through the app tells me what to emphasize, what to simplify, and where my focal areas could land. It’s especially helpful when the lighting is soft or complex.

It’s also a great tool to show students when explaining why certain areas of a composition work or don’t.

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Final Thoughts

See Value is a tiny tool with a big impact. It won’t make your painting for you, but it will train your eye and boost your awareness of one of the most foundational aspects of visual storytelling.

Highly recommended for any artist who wants to improve their value structure, whether you're painting, drawing, or simply observing.

See Value in the app store (FREE): https://apps.apple.com/in/app/see-value/id1312532225

The one value filter is very useful for Notan studies for example

#SeeValue #ArtTools #ValueStudy #ArtProcess #VisualClarity #SimonLocheArt

5 Myths About Concept Art Debunked by Industry Insiders

Concept art is one of the most misunderstood disciplines in the creative pipeline.
From the outside, it often looks like a dream job: all imagination, beautiful illustrations, and endless creative freedom. But those of us who have worked in the industry know that reality is more nuanced. Here are five common myths about concept art, debunked by real experience and insider insight.

Concept Art from Breakaway - Amazon Games. Here, the call out sheet shows details on materials

Myth 1: Concept art is all about finished, polished illustrations

In truth, most concept art created for production is not meant to be portfolio-perfect. It needs to be fast, clear, and functional. Concept artists provide visual solutions, not showcase pieces. That means quick sketches, shape exploration, material callouts, and notes that help the rest of the team understand and build from the idea. The best concept art communicates effectively, not just looks pretty.

Myth 2: Concept artists work alone, in creative isolation

The romantic idea of the lone artist dreaming up entire worlds rarely applies. In reality, concept artists work closely with art directors, 3D artists, game designers, and other departments. Communication, adaptability, and collaboration are key. Most of the job is about supporting a shared vision, not pursuing personal artistic expression.

Myth 3: You have to be a master painter to be a concept artist

While strong fundamentals in drawing and design are crucial, you don’t need to paint like a classical master. A good concept artist knows how to solve problems visually, use references effectively, and prioritise readability and intent over rendering. Design thinking often matters more than polish.

Myth 4: Concept art is the same as illustration

This one comes up a lot. Illustration is often about creating a final, standalone image. Concept art is part of a larger process. It’s functional, iterative, and disposable. While both fields share some overlap in skills, their purposes and workflows are very different. Concept art serves production.

Myth 5: Concept art is all fun and creativity

Of course there’s creative freedom, but concept art also involves a lot of structure, technical constraints, and problem solving. You often work under pressure, with tight deadlines and feedback loops. Sometimes your favourite design gets cut. Sometimes you draw the same object ten different ways. It’s rewarding work, but it’s also a job.

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Prop Concept Art Sheet - Breakaway - Amazon Games - Simon Loche and GFactory

Understanding the reality of concept art helps both aspiring artists and curious outsiders appreciate the depth of the discipline. It’s not just art,  it’s design, communication, and collaboration in motion. Debunking these myths brings us closer to seeing concept artists for what they really are: visual problem solvers working at the heart of production.

#ConceptArt #GameArt #ArtIndustry #VisualDevelopment #DigitalArt #ArtCareer #ConceptArtistLife #ArtEducation #CreativeProcess #SketchbookWork #SimonLocheArt

The Concept Artist’s Arsenal: Tools to Sharpen Your Skills Like a Samurai

Concept Art from Breakaway - A game I art directed a few years ago.

In the world of concept art, much like in the way of the samurai, success does not come through raw talent alone. It comes from discipline, preparation, and the careful sharpening of one’s tools over time.

A concept artist is a visual warrior. Each project is a new battleground, and the tools you carry must be ready, reliable, and refined. The wrong tools, or worse, a lack of mastery over them, can turn opportunity into defeat.

Here is a guide to the essential weapons every concept artist should master and carry into their daily practice.

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0. A Trusted Drawing Tablet (Wacom Cintiq, Intuos, or Equivalent)

A samurai would never enter battle without a blade tuned to their hand. Similarly, a concept artist must be at ease with their tablet. Whether it’s a screen-based tool like the Cintiq or a classic pen tablet like the Intuos, your connection to the canvas must be fluid and precise.

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1. Photoshop

Photoshop remains the katana of digital painting: sharp, versatile, and adaptable to nearly any situation. From quick sketches to matte paintings to final concept renders, mastery of Photoshop is non-negotiable for a serious concept artist and a go-to standard in the industry.

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2. Clip Studio Paint

For those who favor the elegance of ink and the strength of line, Clip Studio Paint offers the perfect balance. Its sensitivity to pressure, brushwork, and its stability make it a favorite for artists who value precision and gesture.

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3. Blender

Even a master swordsman studies the structure of his opponents. Blender allows concept artists to quickly build blockouts, establish lighting references, and set foundations for complex environments. A flexible 3D tool, and free, it offers endless opportunities for those willing to learn its techniques. And it's FREE!

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4. ZBrush

When the need arises for intricate armor, elaborate creatures, or realistic surfaces, ZBrush is the tool of choice. It demands focus but rewards perseverance with a level of detail and form that few other tools can match.

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5. PureRef

A warrior’s mind is sharpened by study, and PureRef is the perfect library. It lets you gather and organize your references, your maps, your inspirations, without breaking the flow of battle. Clean, efficient, and always close at hand.

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6. Coolorus

The color wheel is the artist’s sense of timing and balance. Coolorus, a Photoshop plugin, makes choosing hues, values, and harmonies feel instinctive. A far more intuitive tool than the default picker, it helps sharpen color decisions quickly under pressure.

--> Why Coolorus Is One of the Best Photoshop Plugins for Artists

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7. Procreate or Infinite Painter (with an iPad)

Sometimes, agility matters more than heavy armor. Procreate and Infinite Painter offer speed and portability, perfect for on-the-go sketching, fast ideation, and warming up before bigger battles.

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8. Instant Street View and MapCrunch

A wise warrior studies the landscapes before marching. Tools like Instant Street View and MapCrunch provide access to countless real-world references for environments, lighting, and atmosphere, essential for building believable worlds.

--> Using MapCrunch and Instant Street View for Landscape and Environment Painting Inspiration

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9. Substance Painter

For when precision in materials and surfaces becomes necessary, Substance Painter offers real-time painting directly onto 3D assets. It sharpens a concept artist’s understanding of texture, light interaction, and realism.

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10. A Solid Sketchbook and Traditional Materials

Even in a digital age, the old ways endure. A simple sketchbook, pencil, or brush sharpens the hand and eye like no screen ever could. Fast studies, loose thumbnails, and spontaneous ideas find their purest form here.

--> 5 Best Sketchbooks for Artists (and Why They’re Worth Using)

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Final Reflections

A samurai’s strength lies not only in their sword but in their discipline, awareness, and adaptability.

For a concept artist, tools are no different.

You do not need every blade, but you must know the ones you choose with confidence and mastery. Invest your time wisely. Sharpen your skills with patience. And never forget: the tools exist to serve the artist’s vision, not to define it.

What weapons do you carry into your creative battles? Feel free to share your essentials.

#ConceptArt #ArtTools #Photoshop #ClipStudioPaint #Blender #ZBrush #PureRef #DigitalArt #ArtistDiscipline #SimonLocheArt

Why Coolorus Is One of the Best Photoshop Plugins for Artists

 

When it comes to working efficiently in Photoshop, having the right tools in place can make a huge difference. One plugin I keep coming back to, and can’t recommend enough, is Coolorus, a color wheel extension that completely changes the way you interact with color inside Photoshop.

Photoshop’s default color picker works, but it’s not exactly artist-friendly. It’s functional, but not visual. Coolorus brings in the kind of intuitive, painter-focused interface you’d expect from software like Corel Painter or Infinite Painter, making it much easier to explore, select, and manage your color palette.

Here’s why it stands out:

1. A Better Color Wheel

Coolorus uses the HVC color model (Hue, Value, Chroma), which gives you a visual layout that’s more in line with how traditional painters think about color. Instead of hunting through sliders, you can see and feel the relationships between colors instantly.

2. Smart Color Harmony Tools

Coolorus includes built-in color harmony guides, complementary, split-complementary, analogous, triadic, and more. It makes building a balanced palette fast and intuitive, especially during early concept or layout phases.

3. Real-Time Feedback

As you paint, you can easily lock hues, preview temperature shifts, and fine-tune your tones with precision. It’s small adjustments like these that save time and allow for a more controlled color workflow.

4. It Just Fits

Coolorus integrates seamlessly into your Photoshop UI. You can dock it like any other panel, set it up in your custom workspace, and access it instantly. It’s fast, responsive, and doesn’t interrupt your flow.

5. Useful Shortcuts and UI Customization

You can customize how the color wheel looks and behaves, change the layout, toggle RGB sliders, or lock values depending on your preference. The ability to tweak the interface means it adapts to your personal workflow, not the other way around.

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If you work in Photoshop and deal with color daily, whether you’re painting, illustrating, designing, or concepting, Coolorus is absolutely worth having in your toolkit. It’s one of those quiet additions that speeds things up, makes your work more consistent, and lets you focus more on the art and less on the tools.

LINK: https://coolorus.com

Highly recommended.

#Coolorus #PhotoshopPlugin #DigitalPainting #ColorWorkflow #ArtTools #SimonLocheArt

Exploring Rebelle 7: Bridging Traditional and Digital Painting

I’ve enjoyed my trial of Rebelle 7 so much that I decided to purchase it and spend more time exploring what it can do.

After spending some time with the trial version of Rebelle 7, I found myself coming back to it more and more. What started as simple curiosity quickly turned into a genuine appreciation for what this painting software offers. It didn’t take long before I decided to purchase it and dedicate time to really explore its full potential.

What makes Rebelle 7 stand out to me is how effortlessly it bridges the gap between traditional media and digital flexibility. Coming from a background rooted in traditional drawing and painting, I’ve always found most digital tools a bit too clean, too polished, often lacking the tactile nuance I love. Rebelle changes that.

The software simulates the natural behavior of real-world media incredibly well. Whether you’re working with oils, impasto textures, pencil strokes, or fluid washes, Rebelle delivers a surprisingly authentic experience. Its fluid dynamics system is particularly impressive, perfect for simulating watercolors or oils heavily diluted with turpentine.

The portrait I’m sharing here is the first piece I’ve made in Rebelle that I feel genuinely satisfied with. It was a smooth blend of experimentation and discovery, and it gave me the sensation of working on real paper and canvas while retaining the convenience of digital control.

If you’re a traditional artist looking to move into digital, or a digital painter wanting a more organic feel, I highly recommend giving Rebelle 7 a try. It’s a rare tool that feels both professional and intuitive, and it’s one I’ll definitely continue using in my own work.

Essential Hard Skills and Soft Skills Every Concept Artist Needs to Succeed in the Video Game Industry – The Path of the Samurai

 

Becoming a successful concept artist in the video game industry requires far more than just raw talent.

Like a disciplined samurai, a concept artist must sharpen technical abilities while mastering the mindset needed to navigate the demands of production.

It’s the balance between hard skills, the craftsmanship of the hand, and soft skills, the discipline of the mind, that sets apart those who thrive from those who falter.

Here’s a clear and quick breakdown of the essential skills every aspiring and professional concept artist should master to build a sustainable career.

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Hard Skills for Concept Artists: Building the Foundation

These are the technical abilities you must develop to meet the high standards of professional game development.

1. Strong Drawing Fundamentals

• Master anatomy, perspective, composition, and form.

• Without a solid structure, even the most creative ideas fall apart.

2. Value, Light, and Color Mastery

• Understand how light interacts with form and space.

• Strong value control for clarity; thoughtful color choices bring emotion to designs.

3. Design Thinking and Problem Solving

• Concept art is functional design, not decoration.

• Every prop, character, and environment must serve a clear purpose within the game world.

4. Digital Painting Proficiency

• Be fluent in Photoshop and/or Clip Studio Paint.

• Organized files, efficient workflows, and professional-quality execution are key.

5. 3D Literacy

• Basic knowledge of 3D tools like Blender or ZBrush can improve spatial understanding.

• 3D blockouts are invaluable for complex environments and rapid idea iteration.

6. Visual Storytelling

• Each image must hint at a larger world, a story behind the scenes, and a future yet to unfold.

• Great concept artists communicate entire narratives through a single frame.

• The call-out sheets will tell more than any keyframe or rendered illustration.

7. Video Games Literacy

• Seems obvious, but knowing about video games (both Mobile and PC/Console games) is a must if you want to understand your project, your teammates, and what the visual benchmarks of the industry are.

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Soft Skills for Concept Artists: Mastering the Mind

Technical skill is not enough without the professional mindset needed to thrive in a studio environment.

1. Adaptability

• Projects shift. Directions change. Styles evolve.

• A good concept artist adjusts without losing focus or quality.

2. Clear Communication

• Being able to articulate ideas visually and verbally is crucial.

• Great designs are backed by clear explanations and thoughtful collaboration.

3. Team Collaboration

• Concept art is just the first step in a larger production pipeline. Be the one inspiring the whole team.

• Understanding the needs of 3D artists, animators, designers, and programmers strengthens the entire team.

4. Resilience to Criticism

• Feedback is essential and often direct.

• Receive it with professionalism, adapt quickly, and grow stronger.

5. Time Management and Efficiency

• Meeting deadlines without sacrificing quality is non-negotiable.

• Fast, clean iterations build trust with leads and directors.

6. Self-Motivation and Lifelong Learning

• The industry evolves constantly. Be ready to evolve as well.

• Continuous learning keeps your skills sharp and your vision fresh.

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Why Balancing Hard and Soft Skills Matters?

In the competitive landscape of the video game industry, artists who balance strong technical execution with adaptability, communication, and teamwork are the ones who succeed and endure.

Your tools and techniques shape the work, but your mindset shapes your career. A professional concept artist trains both the hand and the spirit, just as a samurai sharpens both the sword and the mind.

Mastering both hard skills and soft skills is essential to becoming not just a good concept artist but a lasting force in the industry. 

Train with focus, work with discipline, and always remain open to growth.

The path is demanding, but for those who walk it with patience and precision, the rewards are worth it.

#ConceptArt #GameArt #CareerAdvice #HardSkills #SoftSkills #ConceptArtistSkills #VideoGameIndustry #SimonLocheArt #ArtDiscipline

Why I Use Shotdeck for My References

 

When it comes to building a strong library of visual references, Shotdeck has become one of my go-to resources.
Whether I’m looking for mood, lighting, composition ideas, or just fresh inspiration, it’s a tool that saves time and consistently delivers.

Shotdeck offers a curated collection of high-quality frames pulled from a wide range of films. What makes it so useful isn’t just the quality of the images, but the way everything is categorized, you can search by color palette, mood, composition type, time of day, genre, or even specific visual themes.

As someone who works across both illustration and concept art, having quick access to frames that have already mastered color balance, staging, and atmosphere is incredibly valuable. It’s not about copying, it’s about learning. Analyzing a great frame gives you practical insight into how professionals structure an image and guide the viewer’s eye.
I often use Shotdeck when preparing moodboards, studying lighting scenarios, or warming up with quick composition sketches. It’s efficient, inspiring, and constantly growing, which means you’re never short on new material to learn from.

If you’re serious about improving your sense of composition, color, or visual storytelling, I highly recommend checking it out. -> https://shotdeck.com

#Shotdeck #ArtReference #VisualStorytelling #ConceptArt #SimonLocheArt

Using MapCrunch and Instant Street View for Landscape and Environment Painting Inspiration

Finding fresh, interesting references for landscape and environment studies can sometimes feel repetitive. That’s why I often turn to two great tools: MapCrunch (https://www.mapcrunch.com) and Instant Street View (https://www.instantstreetview.com).

Both platforms pull imagery from Google Street View, offering access to real-world environments from all over the globe. Whether you’re looking for a windswept coastline, a dense urban street, or a remote countryside, you can land somewhere unexpected and inspiring in just a few clicks.

MapCrunch drops you into random locations, often leading to places you wouldn’t think to search for yourself. Instant Street View lets you be more targeted, searching specific cities, landmarks, or regions, while still using the navigable Street View imagery. Together, they give you both randomness and control depending on what kind of reference you’re after.

For artists, these tools are invaluable because they expose you to different lighting, architecture, terrain, and mood, and they help you avoid falling into the trap of painting the same type of scene over and over again.

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Mini-Tutorial: How to Use MapCrunch and Instant Street View for Painting Studies

1. Explore Randomly or Intentionally

   • Use MapCrunch for random inspiration. Just click “Go” and see where it takes you.

   • Use Instant Street View if you have a specific place in mind, like “Iceland coast” or “Tokyo back alley.”

2. Look for Composition Opportunities

   • Move around and adjust the viewpoint to find strong framing, leading lines, interesting light, or color contrasts.

3. Capture the Scene

   • Take a screenshot when you find a composition you like. Focus on big shapes and mood rather than tiny details.

4. Set a Time Limit for the Study

   • Challenge yourself to do a quick 30- to 45-minute study to capture the essence without getting lost in over-rendering.

5. Vary Your Exercises

   • Paint the environment as it is, or push it further: change the weather, time of day, or add storytelling elements.

   • Try doing a series based on a single region but at different times of day.

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Using tools like MapCrunch and Instant Street View keeps your practice dynamic, varied, and full of surprises. They’re simple, free, and a fantastic way to stretch your observation and imagination.

If you haven’t tried them yet, I highly recommend adding them to your study routine.

#LandscapePainting #EnvironmentArt #ArtInspiration #MapCrunch #InstantStreetView #DigitalPainting #SimonLocheArt

Lessons Learned in Pencil Drawing: The Importance of Size

One of the most unexpected lessons I’ve learned through pencil drawing has nothing to do with shading or line quality - it has to do with size.

When I first started sketching, I would often draw too small. A face, a figure, or a composition would barely take up a third of the page. While it felt comfortable and manageable at first, I later realised how limiting this habit had become.

Working small often leads to cramped gestures, tight lines, and a reluctance to explore bold forms. It becomes harder to capture the energy of a pose or the full expression of a face when there’s no room to move your hand or loosen up your strokes.

Increasing the scale of my sketches, even just slightly, opened up everything. The lines became more fluid, the gestures stronger, and the overall drawings more confident. It also improved my understanding of proportion and structure, since I was now forced to confront them at a larger scale.

Drawing larger doesn’t mean abandoning control; it means giving yourself the space to think in forms, not just outlines. It allows for corrections, layering, and above all, movement. And when you're drawing with pencils, movement is what brings life to the work.

One of the key benefits of working at a larger scale is that it encourages you to draw not only with your fingers, but with your wrist and even your shoulder. This shift in physical engagement changes everything. It frees up your motion, helps you build stronger lines, and introduces a new level of gesture and dynamism into your drawings. The more your whole arm is involved, the more expressive and confident your strokes become.

So if you find yourself stuck, tightening up, or repeating the same types of sketches, consider this: maybe all you need is a bigger piece of paper.

#PencilDrawing #SketchingTips #DrawingFundamentals #TraditionalArt #ArtProcess #SimonLocheArt

5 Essential Books to Understand Color Theory

Understanding color theory isn't just about memorizing the color wheel, it's about learning how to see, feel, and use color in ways that create mood, clarity, and meaning. Whether you're a painter, concept artist, illustrator, or designer, a strong grasp of color can elevate everything you create.

Here are five essential books that go beyond theory and dive into the practical, emotional, and technical use of color in art.

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1. Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter by James Gurney

An all-time classic. Gurney breaks down how light and color interact in the real world—from surface texture and material to atmospheric effects. It's packed with visual examples and explanations grounded in observation. Perfect for anyone working in a realistic or semi-realistic style.

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2. Interaction of Color by Josef Albers

More philosophical than illustrative, this book challenges how we perceive color and trains your eye to see relationships between colors, not just hues. If you want to understand optical illusions, simultaneous contrast, and color relativity, this is your deep dive.

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3. The Elements of Color by Johannes Itten

This Bauhaus master organized one of the earliest structured approaches to color. His teachings connect color to emotion, symbolism, and design principles. While more abstract, it's essential reading for those wanting to connect color theory to broader artistic thinking.

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4. Color and Light for the Watercolor Painter by Christopher Schink

Even if you don’t work in watercolor, this book offers excellent insight into transparency, layering, and color harmony. Schink discusses how to simplify complex color ideas into decisions you can actually use in practice.

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5. Artists' Master Series: Color & Light by Charlie Pickard, Nathan Fowkes & others

One of the newer additions to this list, Pickard’s book bridges classical theory and digital painting. He explores light behavior, atmospheric perspective, and temperature relationships in a clean, modern layout with examples that feel directly applicable to concept artists and illustrators.

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Final Thoughts

No single book has all the answers, but together, these five give you a rich, layered understanding of how color works in your hands and in your eyes.

Read them, revisit them, and above all: apply what you learn. Color isn’t a checklist. It’s a language.

#ColorTheory #ArtBooks #PaintingTips #VisualDevelopment #ArtEducation #SimonLocheArt

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.

Related Article: Video Games Industry: How to Get Hired as a Concept Artist

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

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

5 Best Sketchbooks for Artists (and Why They’re Worth Using)

Choosing the right sketchbook can make a big difference in how often you draw, how free you feel to experiment, and how your materials perform on the page. Not all sketchbooks are created equal, some are better for ink, others for watercolor, and some are perfect for carrying everywhere. Here are five of the best sketchbooks I’ve used, and why each one has earned a place on my shelf (and in my bag).

1. Moleskine Art Sketchbook
A classic for a reason. Moleskine’s sketchbooks have smooth, heavyweight paper that handles pencil, ink, and light washes well. The hardcover makes it portable and durable, and the elastic band keeps everything secure. It’s not ideal for heavy media like watercolor or oil, but it’s perfect for everyday sketching and ideation.

2. Stillman & Birn Beta Series
If you want to paint in your sketchbook, this one’s for you. The Beta Series has 270 gsm cold-press paper that takes watercolor beautifully without buckling. It’s also great for gouache, markers, and mixed media. Available in hardcover or softcover, spiral or stitched, it’s a workhorse for any serious sketcher.

3. Strathmore 400 Series Sketchbook
This is an affordable, accessible option with solid performance. The paper has just enough texture for pencil and pen work, and it’s great for gesture drawing, figure study, or daily warm-ups. It’s not meant for wet media, but it’s excellent for volume sketching without worrying about cost.

4. Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook
This one has ultra-smooth, bright white paper that’s fantastic for fine liners, technical pens, and graphite. It’s also compatible with markers and light washes. It has a minimal, elegant aesthetic and lies flat, making it a pleasure to use in the studio or on location.

5. Pentalic Traveler Pocket Sketchbook
For sketching on the go, this one is hard to beat. Compact, with a durable cover and elastic closure, it fits in a bag or jacket pocket easily. The paper holds up well to pencil, pen, and even light ink washes. It’s a great companion for urban sketching or travel journaling.

Mini Tutorial: How to Prime Your Sketchbook Pages for Heavier Paint Techniques
If you want to use acrylics, heavy gouache, or oils in a sketchbook not built for them, you can prepare the pages with gesso to give them more strength and absorbency. Here’s how:

1. Clip or tape your sketchbook open so the page lies flat.

2. Apply a thin, even coat of acrylic gesso with a wide flat brush or foam brush.

3. Let it dry completely (usually 10–15 minutes).

4. Optionally, add a second coat for extra strength.

5. Once dry, lightly sand with a fine-grit sandpaper if you want a smoother surface.

This helps prevent buckling and improves paint adhesion, letting you treat your sketchbook like a mini canvas.

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Ultimately, the best sketchbook is the one you actually use. Whether you prefer texture or smoothness, portability or space, there’s a sketchbook out there that fits your process. Try a few, see what suits you, and most importantly, keep drawing.

#Sketchbooks #ArtTools #DrawingGear #ArtSupplies #TraditionalArt #SimonLocheArt