A variety of monsters await you in the game, and the Unity engine allows us to make the environment as atmospheric and colorful as possible!
Today we would like to share a speed painting video and, at the same time, ask the illustrator a few questions.
Please, introduce yourself. How long have you been an artist? How many years have you spent working in the gaming industry?
I am Manuel Labbate, born 1985. Having received a classic artistic education at the Academy of Fine Arts, I have already made my first steps in the entertainment industry as a student, a path that ultimately led me towards the world of video games in the mid-2000s.
Let's talk inspiration. What feelings do you typically experience while drawing characters? Do their traits, such as moral alignment, make a difference?
The act of inventing something new is by far the most stimulating aspect of video game development.
The very specific goal which guides the creative process is to try and maintain the delicate balance between artistic vision and functionality. For instance, while creating the protagonist for your story is a fascinating enterprise, an overdesigned character may confuse players or complicate things further down the line, hurting the final experience in the long run.
When coming up with a new character, I always imagine them as a part of the in-game universe they will come to inhabit. Various elements can then be added or pushed aside, depending on how well they fit in with the rest of the setting.
What are your sources of inspiration for creating specific illustrations? Do you base your characters on an image from the past, an element of your current surroundings that can be successfully translated into the game's world, or something else entirely?
Everything that makes up an artist's wealth of experience influences their language and creative ideas.
First, identify what it is that a character is supposed to communicate. From there on, you are free to draw from the vast ocean of human knowledge and cultural achievements, looking for the best way to express that concept through actions, form, symbolism, etc.
Illustrative techniques, on the other hand, involve less research and depend heavily on the game's artistic direction. Just keep in mind that your colleagues will have to somehow translate your 2D images into other formats, breathing life into the game’s world.
So, enjoy the speed painting video!
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