Defining Purpose and Preliminary Research
I begin my concept art process by first analyzing the purpose of the task at hand and conducting a brief preliminary study to identify potential structures that will serve this purpose.
Story Development
In the second stage, if there is a narrative approach and we have a story to work with, it greatly helps define my boundaries and allows for a deeper investigation. If there is no existing story, I need to create one that conveys the intended message.
Initial Sketches and Reference Gathering
Building on this short yet abstract narrative foundation, I start researching references and grouping visual insights based on compositions and narrative styles. Using these as a guide, along with my intuitive approach, I create the initial rough sketches, which help us better visualize potential structures and options.
Mood, Tone, and Shape Language
After obtaining sketches that support the narrative and convey the rough ideas, I focus on key elements like mood, tone, and shapes. At this stage, shape languages and their meanings become crucial, and I work to convey the message through these shapes, atmosphere, and tone. This is where the first rough assets emerge, whether as props or scene elements, reaching their initial stages for later use in compositions.
Synthesis and Composition
With the rough assets in hand, I begin to think more deeply about how they can be synthesized within the narrative and game mechanics, and what purposes they can best serve. Following this, I start creating the first black-and-white compositions and scene drawings using the assets I’ve developed. I don’t always stick to black-and-white; I often progress compositions by incorporating color tones, which helps us see design and mood elements more clearly. Sometimes, considering the strong messaging potential of animation, I even add animated sketches alongside my compositions, completing the initial rough concept work.
Final Refinements
After obtaining these rough concept works, which are focused on telling a strong story and thoroughly explaining the subject, I can then move on to refining them. This final step involves enhancing the artistic elements that contribute to the aesthetic structure and making adjustments that will further satisfy the viewer, ultimately reaching the final image.
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