Unit Three

Concept Art Basics

In this unit, students learn how artists turn ideas into visuals. They practice drawing fundamentals, explore visual storytelling, and create a concept art sheet for their own game world. Students begin to bring their ideas to life by sketching and refining a prop that reflects their creative vision.

ℹ️

This unit emphasizes sketching, iteration, and presentation. By the end, students will have a concept art piece ready for their portfolio that shows both process and final design. This is not a drawing class, but it is an art class. You won’t be judged on your drawing skills, but rather on your ability to convey a design.

Topics Covered

Drawing fundamentals: line, shape, proportion, perspective
Light, shadow, and value for depth and form
Visual storytelling: mood, setting, and context through art
Concept art workflows: thumbnails, iterations, refinement
Creating a polished prop or environment tied to their game world

Assignments

(A3.1) Sketching Fundamentals Practice (A3.2) Perspective & Value Study (A3.3) Thumbnail Concepts (A3.4) Refined Prop Drawing (A3.5) Concept Art Portfolio Page

Learning Report

Objectives

Demonstrate fundamentals of perspective, proportion, and value
Use sketches and thumbnails to explore multiple design ideas
Apply storytelling principles to concept art (tone, context, and mood)
Produce a refined concept art sheet with both process and final design
Publish the work on a portfolio site with reflection on design choices

Materials

Drawing tools: sketchbook, pencils, or digital tablet
Reference images (collected by students)
Digital tools: Canva, Photoshop, or Krita for refinement

Assessment
Students show mastery by creating a concept art sheet that demonstrates drawing fundamentals and communicates a clear design idea. Portfolio entries should include both process work and the final design.

Activities
Students complete daily drawing warm-ups, create thumbnail variations of their chosen prop or environment, and refine one design into a polished piece. They share their process in class critiques, then finalize and publish their work to their portfolio.

Education Standards

The following standards are drawn from the 2024 AME Industry Skills Framework:

1.4 — Apply principles of art, design, and composition to creative works
2.2 — Correctly use industry-appropriate terminology
10.2 — Use research, imagery, and inspiration to generate concept ideas
10.3 — Visualize thinking using sketches, thumbnails, and storyboarding
10.5 — Create multiple drafts and apply feedback for refinement
11.4 — Research current industry-standard tools and practices

Unit Two Assignment 3.1