Becoming a Concept Artist
From time to time, we get questions from you wonderful players about life at KingsIsle or information about the gaming industry in general. We try our best to answer these questions, and last year we got the following question:
What does it take to be a concept artist for KingsIsle or in general? I really love to draw and illustrate and I’ve always beamed at the idea of being a concept artist at KingsIsle because while seeing the finished product is amazing, I would have never guessed that it’s in the concept artist’s hands to make the landscape, characters, etc! I’d love to know how that comes around and to be a concept artist, do you need to know a thing or two about programming?
We headed over to KingsIsle Concept Art Lead, Dave Greco, for his insight to this question.
I’m glad I can help answer such a great question! As a concept artist, we work with the writing and design team to help visualize the look of a world or characters before it goes into art production. It’s a super creative and collaborative position to be in.
The first thing it takes to be a concept artist at KingsIsle Entertainment is a true passion for painting, a drive to create artistically and like most trades, many years of practice. A great place to start is getting into some type of art program throughout high school and then finding an accredited art school after graduation for further education. No programming knowledge required! It is definitely a bonus to have at least a base knowledge of current 3d packages though. That way you can either use them with your own work, or to be able to check out a modelers work to paint over.
Since most concept artists paint digitally these days, one of the best things you can do is to acquire some type of digital drawing tool and dive into Photoshop or any other painting program. Play with color, brushes, and just paint till the sun comes up. One of the best practices you can do is to draw from life as much as possible. Take the time to draw everything you see walking around you, from your friends to people just sitting in a coffee shop. Practice makes perfect, and art is no different. Time and dedication to your craft will open up so many doors for you past graduation.
I think at the core of becoming a professional artist is the desire to create new worlds and ideas through the use of a pencil or paintbrush. If you have a true passion for creating art, then the ability to become a concept artist down the road is very real. As far as the concept team here goes at KingsIsle, we look for the ability to paint and even more importantly, the ability to be creative. It’s an amazing career for any artist to strive for one that I am truly grateful to have.
Thanks for the information Dave! We hope all you budding artists out there enjoy his advice. Happy painting!
KingsIsle Blog 
this is so funny
I loved this article. I always wanted to know how the animation of this game works. I have a question. Where do you guys get the inspiration to write the story line and the inspiration to draw. I don’t get where you get the inspiration. Is so hard for me to understand!
Yeah, I want to know that as well. Where do you get the inspiration and will KI ever release a book or movie based on the game’s story?
Great pictures love your games hope you come out with a new one soon and I will definitely play it Thanks for the great games!
teach me how to draw those drawings
All I can say is practice. Look up some tutorials on YouTube of proportion, detail/texture, etc. Whenever you have time, draw. It also helps to create your own characters. Oh, and you have to have patience. Lots and LOTS of patience XD
wow the pictures reallly look cool i want to show you all my characters what it looks like if i did that
awesome drawings
just wow, i love wizard101 its the best. I would love to animate 🙂 thnx
Hey, I’ve played Wizard101 for a while and never seemed to stumble upon that question, but it must be a little hard to do that, isn’t it? Painting everyday for more and more worlds! You must need a big art team!
me to it’s great
that is really inspireing , i have alway liked kingsisle and i love the characters and there back stories. i acctually want to become a concept artist.
Wow, I’m currently in high school and one of the career choices I’d like to take part in is game designer or a concept artist. I’m currently learning slowly how to draw by myself and even saved up enough money to buy myself a tablet and get started with digital art with free software like GIMP or 3D Model with Autodesk Maya.
This was a motivating post. I hope to someday work with a company as great as Mr. Greco’s.
Thanks, Kingsisle!
awsome really nice
cool very cool
Now, this is very interesting for King Isle to display this. I like who you are encouraging the talents most people don’t strive for. Like in my high school it’s all about athletics, trust me we got alot of people to show that it built off of athletics. But, this little shy guys and girls, who can draw and animate like me, it awesome. I think there should be clubs for Art. More jobs doing things you LOVE to do. And see, alot of people should read this. It’s awesome how your encouraging young people these days. Thanks – Nora SunFlame
i think what you can do is out of this world
isn’t that the point? 🙂 they draw (fantastic) other worlds 🙂
how do you become a desiner for wizard101
I would like to make new monsters and magic
WOW!
I’ve been playing Wizard101 for over 2 years now. I’ve always loved the art and stuff, it’s a wonderful and I love it sooooo much. Thank you Kingsisle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…I have some time on and in game to see some art in the game!(you just don’t know it!)
cool i never seen some thing like that
i like your paintings i a’m a rely good artist
Those are really good drawings XD
omg omg omg lol how many times can you say that…… btw you artists are fabu!!!!!!!!
if you could make another games i’d sooooo play it =D
That is really awesome!! How do you make the pictures look so 3D?
i rely enjoy seeing new unique artwork, this art work is fantastic
this game is awesome
they did not draw that it looks to good be drawn
I want to draw like that how do I is there a secret
how can a person work for kingsisle
u guys are awsome
i love wizard101
i love this game thxs so much for creating this game with all your effort!!!!!
that is really cool like the pics 😉
wow can I get a job there?
I think this would be a very cool job position to have 😀
The new worlds are nice and definitely all of the characters, but, I have to say, the clothing is heavily lacking. You need a fashion consultant Wizard 101.
also i love malorn ashthorn he reminds me of anubis the god of the dead in egyption mythology great work on him
U draw there characters and things in the game excalty on paper but painting it sounds interesting
I think you have a awesome job good work 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 your art is amazing I love it
I LOVE the game’s art. It is totally awesome. only 1 thing I don’t like though… the eyes on the fire school spell “Dragon”.
This game is the best game I saw in my life and I wish this game stays forever and update
can u wear malorn ashthorns clothes if your a girl i love his outfit
cool 😀
i love wizard101 cause all the pets mounts wands clothes school worlds i just love everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dude those pics are just amazing, i love art and i would totally draw and show you what i’ve got as an artist! 😀 😛
Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!! I JUST LEARNT SOMETHIN’ ;D no wait I learnt somethings 🙂
The pictures are so unique and really amazing! My uncle works animation um which is “Maya” So
he teaches me animation ugh, it’s soo hard! and um if you’ve seen my uncles channel on youtube it called John Saleem 🙂 and sub and like and comment! and watch his vids! 😀 But kingsisle your
amazing. Anyways Good Article! I just love the drawings.
the part when duncan grimwater says he will become as powerful as malistare is sooooooooooooooo funny
Lol
Kingisle thank you for the facts of a concept artist. 🙂
interesting.