In any story, game, movie, or even cartoon, there is a need for a realistic and unique environment that allows the characters on the screen to come to life. However, most people fail to realize that these backgrounds are more than just a pretty landscape or a carefully planted building.
In truth, when it comes to environmental concept art, it is about providing a whole world to your audience and, through it having them feel and understand the surrounding story.
Concept art, in general, is an attempt to define creativity by setting itself apart from traditional art forms and transforming conventional art into animations on the screen. As a result, environmental concept art primarily focuses on creating an environment that will be used in concept designs or illustrations for film industries or video games. Typically, this art is needed to help expand and define the look of a story, a plot, or even a game.
Every world that you create for your characters needs to have a carefully crafted environment. This means that an environmental artist needs to know how to develop vast wildernesses, bustling streets, and harsh terrains that can provide the audience with the look and feel of these specific areas. Yet, even though this may sound like a highly complicated undertaking, with the proper prep work, it does not have to be.
The most challenging aspect of environmental concept art is making sure the scene fits the action that takes place at that point of the story. That is why these artists must have an excellent eye for architectural design, perspective, and composition, as each stroke that goes into creating the scene needs to match the plot sequence. For these reasons, most environmental concept art is created using 3D software that can help the artist translate all these specific elements into the final product. Ultimately, allowing them to set the mood, imagery, and atmosphere necessary for the story to unfold.
If you are looking to create beautiful and engaging environmental concept art, you need to understand the whole plotline from the audience's point of view. Remember, every piece of environment concept art has a specific goal. Your job as an environmental artist is to imagine and visualize these images and worlds that often may not exist and turn them into a convincing setting that will leave your audience in awe.
Apart from the drawing fundamentals and an eye for design, when you start in environmental concept art, you need to understand the basics of animals, nature, plants, and geological attributes so that you can easily replicate them time and time again. The only way to get good at this is to practice as much as you can and create sketches of landscapes over a set period of time. This can help ensure you understand how to create scenery that naturally transitions over time.
Initially, the concept of creating unique environments can be a challenging task. However, with the proper tools and programs, it can be a lot easier than you think. In fact, when you combine your traditional art practices with CorelDRAW's state-of-the-art technology, you can produce sophisticated and gorgeous environmental concept art in minutes. Best of all, with how easy these programs are to use, you can go from idea to final product in record time while fully controlling the images you design.
Download a Free 15-Day Trial Now!