Inside Illustration Season 7 – Illustration for Gaming
The seventh season of Inside Illustration is now available, and the theme for the new multi-platform season for AOI Members is illustration for gaming.
For video games, the story and game play are important, of course, but gaming also requires visuals that impress or intrigue, with illustrators creating concept art, assets, characters and more that form the identity of the game and draw gamers in, keeping them engaged and coming back for more.
This Inside Illustration season includes a comprehensive How To get into Illustration for Gaming resource for those interested in exploring this season’s theme, a Podcast with top guests, a four part Creative Course on book covers for members, an in-depth Article, an interview with the creator of a gaming magazine using illustration, a Folio of members’ work, and members describe why the visuals make their favourite game.
The Podcast
In this episode we’re discussing the importance of visuals for games, the significance of originality (and how there could be more weird games), the necessity for patience for long term projects, networking for artists in gaming, the impact of AI on the industry and lots more. Guests for the Illustration for Gaming season podcast are Catherine Unger, art director and 2D illustrator who has worked for State of Play Games, Broken Rules Games, Disney and more, plus Adam Vian, Creative Director, designer, writer and artist at indie game studio SFB Games, whose latest game is Crow Country.
In conversation with our guests is host is Rachel Emily Taylor, artist, writer and BA Course Leader at Camberwell College of Art.
The Article
Indie vs. Triple-A games – insights into the gaming industry
The gaming industry is big business across AAA and Indie games, with over 3.3 billion players worldwide, and in Dr Alina Potemska‘s piece, she explores how working on the visuals side offers roles that range from the highly specialised to ones that allow for more creative freedom, talking to Rich Harper, Principal Technical Artist at Rare / Xbox / Microsoft and Yaroslav Odnorogov, Art Director at Splash Damage.
They also consider critical thinking, specialisation, software and where to start when considering working as an artist in gaming. “I think the modern industry is transforming”, says Yaroslav, “orientating from big games to something that is much more niche.”
The Creative Practice Course
Learn from four top creators working in video games
AOI members have the exclusive opportunity to explore a range of illustration approaches within gaming by taking part in our Creative Practice Course, with illustrator Dave Bain and experienced gaming creators.
Creating your own game: what to consider, with Anna Hollinrake creator of Crescent County; Concept Art: Crafting characters and assets with Ari Cervelló of award winning games, Gris and Neva; Building illustrative worlds with Tom Mead, creative director at Spiral Circus Games (above), and Narrative driven gameplay with Fred Hoffman of Newfangled Games
How to get into lllustration for Gaming
Are you interested in the various roles an illustrator can take on for games? Get an understanding of roles, studios and folio requirements with How to get into lllustration for Gaming. This downloadable publication (exclusive for AOI members) by experienced industry all-rounder Anna Hollinrake, creator of Crescent County, covers all you need to know, from the range of roles for artist, different studios types and contracts, technical requirements, building your portfolio for gaming and more.
With insightful quotes from illustrators working in the industry, Paul Scott Canavan, Rory Jobson and Josh ‘Badger’ Atack offering their perspectives as concept artists and art directors.
“Concept artists can use loads of different mediums to create their work. The goal is expressing a cool design, so 2D, 3D, photo bashing… It’s all super valuable. Paul Scott Canavan
The Interview
A Profound Waste Of Time
Caspian Whister, founder of A Profound Waste of Time magazine, discusses how videogames are a genuine creative craft which were not being served by a publication taking that aspect seriously, and how the magazine’s highly illustrated articles are an act of re-interpretation of games.
A huge part of the gaming audience cares about aesthetics and design, and the magazine reveals how the art style of a game can truly elevate the experience, along with showcasing how indie game visuals can be more experimental than the big players’ games.
The Folio
Members’ gaming illustration imagery
The artwork of AOI members explores a whole range of approaches that can be used in gaming illustration, and we’ve collected a range of images from AOI Folios to offer a selection of illustrations from members.
These capture figures, products, live drawing, pixel art and more, from flat-colour to collage.
April 2025
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