Drawing Basics and Video Game Art: Classic to Cutting-Edge Art Techniques for Winning Video Game Design

"This book supports my own 30-year crusade to demonstrate that games are an art form that undeniably rivals traditional arts. It gives detailed explanations of game art techniques and their importance, while also highlighting their dependence on artistic aspects of game design and programming.”

 

— John Romero, co-founder of id Software and CEO of Loot Drop, Inc.

Video games are not a revolution in art history, but an evolution. Whether the medium is paper or canvas—or a computer screen—the artist’s challenge is to make something without depth seem like a window into a living, breathing world. Video game art is no different.

 

Drawing Basics and Video Game Art is first to examine the connections between classical art and video games, enabling developers to create more expressive and varied emotional experiences in games. Artist game designer Chris Solarski gives readers a comprehensive introduction to basic and advanced drawing and design skills—light, value, color, anatomy, concept development—as well as detailed instruction for using these methods to design complex characters, worlds, and gameplay experiences. Artwork by the likes of Michelangelo, Titian, and Rubens are studied alongside AAA games like BioShock, Journey, the Mario series, and Portal 2, to demonstrate perpetual theories of depth, composition, movement, artistic anatomy, and expression.

 

Although Drawing Basics and Video Game Art is primarily a practical reference for artists and designers working in the video games industry, it’s equally accessible for those interested to learn about gaming’s future, and potential as an artistic medium.

Also available as an eBook

"This book supports my own 30-year crusade to demonstrate that games are an art form that undeniably rivals traditional arts. It gives detailed explanations of game art techniques and their importance, while also highlighting their dependence on artistic aspects of game design and programming.”

 

— John Romero, co-founder of id Software and CEO of Loot Drop, Inc.

Video games are not a revolution in art history, but an evolution. Whether the medium is paper or canvas—or a computer screen—the artist’s challenge is to make something without depth seem like a window into a living, breathing world. Video game art is no different.

 

Drawing Basics and Video Game Art is first to examine the connections between classical art and video games, enabling developers to create more expressive and varied emotional experiences in games. Artist game designer Chris Solarski gives readers a comprehensive introduction to basic and advanced drawing and design skills—light, value, color, anatomy, concept development—as well as detailed instruction for using these methods to design complex characters, worlds, and gameplay experiences. Artwork by the likes of Michelangelo, Titian, and Rubens are studied alongside AAA games like BioShock, Journey, the Mario series, and Portal 2, to demonstrate perpetual theories of depth, composition, movement, artistic anatomy, and expression.

 

Although Drawing Basics and Video Game Art is primarily a practical reference for artists and designers working in the video games industry, it’s equally accessible for those interested to learn about gaming’s future, and potential as an artistic medium.

Also available as an eBook

CHRIS SOLARSKI received a BA in computer animation and began working as a 3D character and environment artist for Sony Computer Entertainment in London. Eventually, Solarski enrolled in art classes at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. During that time, he discovered the exciting connection between classical art techniques and video game design. He currently develops his own video games under Solarski Studio. He also works as creative director of the Swiss-based social gaming startup Gbanga, and lectures at SAE Institute in Zurich.

Foreword by Tristan Donovan  

Preface        

 

Introduction                       

 

Level 01/ Fundamentals  

Materials      

Basic Pencil Techniques  

Basic Perspective  

Basic Volumes        

Basic Lighting and Values          

Visual Measuring Tools    

Drawing Process   

 

Level 02/ Advanced Drawing Concepts       

Advanced Perspectives and Volumes           

Advanced Lighting and Values           

Atmospheric Perspective           

Landscape Drawing        

 

Level 03/ The Human Figure      

Gravity and Movement  

Proportions 

Skeletal Landmarks           

 

Level 04/ Anatomy           

Six Stages for Rendering Anatomy      

The Foot       

The Leg        

The Pelvis     

The Spine and Ribcage  

The Shoulder Girdle          

The Arm       

The Hand     

The Head and Neck         

Facial Expressions 

 

Level 05/ Elements of Design     

Frame           

Camera Angle      

Scale

Grouping    

Lighting        

Line    

Shapes         

Subverting Conventions 

 

Level 06/ Character Design       

Good Studio Practice     

Brainstorming and Character Concept         

Visual Metaphors              

Mind-Map, Research, and Mood Board       

Thumbnail Development            

Final Character Drawing and Model Sheet              

 

Level 07/ Environment Design   

Character/Environment Shapes          

Building Construction      

Character-Centric Environment Design         

Top-Down Environment Design            

Gameplay Map    

 

Level 08/ Color and Digital Tools          

Color                        

Adding Color with Digital Tools            

 

Professional Portfolio and Getting Work        

Bibliography                       

Index