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How the Concept Art Process Works in 2D Animation from Start to End

how the concept art process works from start to finish

Have you ever wondered where those amazing scenes in movies, video games, or cartoons come from? The trick behind these enchanting designs all comes down to concept art. But what exactly is concept art? How do artists bring imaginative worlds and characters to life?

The global market for digital art and concept design is growing rapidly, and the need for concept artists is high. Motion graphics, 2D animation, explainer videos, and logo animation are just a few of the ways that concept art forms the foundation of creative projects. This blog will teach you about concept art.

In this blog, I am going to take you step by step through the concept art process to show you how artists turn their creative ideas into visual masterpieces.

What is Concept Art?

Concept art is the first visualizations drawn at the very beginning of a project’s development. It could be from a movie or video game, a cartoon or animation piece, or even a SaaS video. Its purpose is to define how the product would look and feel, from characters to backgrounds and props. Essentially, the main aim of concept art is to try to relate the artistic vision before production.

Concept art can include:

  • Character design: How the characters will look.
  • Environment design: What the setting or locations will look like.
  • Props and objects: Any important items or technology in the story.

Why is Concept Art Important?

Concept art is the foundation of any production process for creating anything visual, from 2D animation to video games. It enables:

  • Artists and designers will have a clear reference to work from.
  • The production team visualizes the mood, setting, and tone of the project.
  • Creative risks should be undertaken without wasting precious time and money.

For motion graphics or animation video production, if there is no concept art design, the direction gets unclear, and confusion and delays are seen.

Step 1: Deciding on a Clear Concept

Establish a clear overall concept, which is the first step in the concept art process. This is the collaborative phase wherein the concept artist works closely with the project’s director and creative team to ensure that everyone is on the same page about the vision, themes, and objectives of the project.

During this phase, you’ll discuss:

  • Style: Is this project realistic, stylized, or abstract?
  • Period/setting: Does it exist in the past, future or fantasy world?
  • Key elements: Are there specific elements that need to be shown such as characters, environments, or certain technologies?

Getting these details right will help shape the artwork as the project moves forward.

Step 2: Gathering Reference Materials

Once the idea is well settled, the step of collecting references follows. All of these might range from simple photographs to even concept art paintings or maybe actual object-based references which would help make the concept art as close as possible to the real world. References also give design inspiration.

Some references to gather:

  • Architectural styles that correspond to the time or location of the project.
  • Landscape photography for outdoor environments.
  • Textures of stone, fabrics, metal and so much more.
  • Lighting examples for matching the time of day and mood.

References make the concept art more realistic and ensure consistency throughout the design.

Step 3: Creating Thumbnail Sketches

Thumbnail sketches are small, loose drawings made by the concept artist to get various possibilities out for the design. These quick, messy drawings allow the designer to try various concept art ideas without spending much time and attention on detail.

In this step, the artist can experiment with:

  • Compositions: what things are placed within the frame.
  • Character poses: how characters might move or stand.
  • Camera angles: from what perspective the scene will be viewed.

 

This is an experimental phase where artists generate many options for the creative team to review and give feedback on.

Step 4: Refining with Tighter Sketches

Once the thumbnail sketches are accepted by the client, the artist now refines that design into tighter sketches. The objective is to further add more details and clarity of work with elements still kept looser and stretchy.

At this stage, the following are to be focused on:

  • Clearly define shapes and forms.
  • Getting the perspective and depth correct.
  • Light and shade were added to demonstrate interaction with light in the design.

These concept art sketches do not represent the actual product but demonstrate how the given concept might look real.

Step 5: Monochromatic Value Studies

Before using color, artists often do monochromatic value studies. This means they create it in black and white or using a few colors. This is done to concentrate on the following:

  • Lighting and how it impacts the objects and characters.
  • Depth and perspective to make everything feel grounded.
  • Composition and where to place the focus of the viewer in the art.

This is like drawing a blueprint of light and shadows before getting into the more complex colors.

Step 6: Adding Color and Details

Once the value study is done, the artist proceeds to add color and finish the design. This is when the concept art really starts to come alive.

The artist will:

  • Apply colors to enhance the mood and atmosphere of the scene.
  • Add textures to materials such as wood, metal, or skin.
  • Fine-tune the lighting to improve the visual impact.
  • Introduce special effects if necessary, such as smoke, reflections, or glowing lights.

This is the stage where the design becomes vibrant and rich, and the overall concept art takes shape.

Step 7: Finalizing the Artwork

The last step in the concept art process is finalizing the artwork. This is where the artist makes sure everything is polished and ready for the production team to use.

In this phase, the artist will:

  • Refine all the details for clarity.
  • Double-check the lighting and color balance.
  • Make sure the design is consistent with the overall artistic vision.

Once the concept art is finished, it’s used as a guide for the entire production team to follow, whether it’s for creating animation videos, designing game environments, or building motion graphics.

How to Make Concept Art for Animation

Creating concept art for animation involves a unique set of steps. Here’s how you can approach it:

  1. Define the animation style: Whether it’s 2D or 3D, this will affect how you draw and color your designs.
  2. Think about the character’s movement: In animation, characters aren’t static. Focus on how the character will move and express emotions.
  3. Consider the environment: What type of animation video are you creating? Will the environment be detailed or stylized?
  4. Use references: Gather references for character poses, expressions, and animated movements.

By following these steps, you can create concept art that serves as the perfect blueprint for an animated world.

How to Draw Concept Art for Characters

If you’re specifically interested in character concept art, here’s how you can approach it:

  1. Start with basic shapes: Use simple shapes to block out the character’s body.
  2. Define the silhouette: The silhouette is crucial in character design. Make sure your character is easily recognizable just from their outline.
  3. Add facial expressions: Experiment with different expressions to showcase the character’s personality.
  4. Include clothing and accessories: Think about what your character wears and how it reflects their role in the story.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to create a detailed and expressive character concept art sketch first that can help define the entire project’s visual identity.

You May Also Like: What Are Design Elements and Why They Matter

Types of Concept Art: Understanding Different Styles

Not all concepts in art are the same. Depending on the project, the style and type of concept art can vary widely. Here are some of the most common types:

  • Character Concept Art: Designs the look of the characters, including their clothing, expressions, and body language.
  • Environment Concept Art: Visualizes the settings and locations where the story takes place.
  • Prop Concept Art: Design objects, vehicles, and technology that will be featured in the project.
  • Creature Concept Art: Helps create fantasy or sci-fi creatures, monsters, and animals.

Each type of art concept plays a important role in making the final project visually cohesive.

Conclusion

The concept art process is the initial stage of creating a single creative concept through visual marvels. Step-by-step brainstorming, sketching, refinement, and then the rendering process in a conceptual work make a strong base for any kind of work that would dictate the overall theme in visual terms of the entire production. Concept art whether motion graphics an explainer video, character concept, gives life to that vision as it helps steer the entire team through production.

The next time you watch a cute animation or play a video game, talented concept artists are behind the amazing scenes you view. So let’s get some inspiration and take the first steps of creating concept art for your projects.

Animated Videos feature high-quality 2D animation with stunning motion graphics and innovative 2D designs. Visit blogs for insights.

FAQs

1. What is the concept art process?

Concept art is the initial visual representation that sets the artistic direction for a project. It helps artists and designers develop the style, look, and mood of characters, environments, and props before production begins.

2. How to create concept art for beginners?

To create concept art as a beginner, start by sketching simple ideas, exploring different concept art styles, and refining them into more detailed concept art drawings. Focus on understanding the art process, including shapes, colors, and composition.

3. How to draw concept art for characters?

Learn how to draw concept art for characters, paying attention to the silhouette, posture, and design elements that characterize them. Then add details like facial features and clothing, taking into consideration their role in the story.

4. What are the different types of concept art?

Concept art exists under many headings-including character concept, environment concept art, and even prop concept-to concentrating specific views on individual ideas for any of a project, whether characters, their surroundings, and the various details around it that would contribute.

5. Why is concept art important in animation?

The importance of concept art in animation lies in establishing a visual style and artistic direction for characters, backgrounds, and environments. In short, it gives animators and artists something from which to springboard off and guarantees continuity and clarity during the making of the animation.

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Alex Rudank

Alex Rudank is a digital marketer at Animated Videos, and a true animation enthusiast. His passion for storytelling through interesting vocabulary makes him an integral part of the team. Alex’s expertise ensures that every blog he crafts resonates with our commitment to precision, creativity, and delivering industry-leading animation solutions.