Meet the Artists: Why are Personal Projects important for Concept Artists?

We are showing our incredible team some love with our new series 'Meet the Artists'! We are kicking off the new series with Athena's Senior Concept Artist Eliott Bon, and we are talking about how important personal projects are for Concept Artists!

Could tell us a bit about yourself and your professional career?

Hello, my name is Eliott, and I am a Senior Concept Artist at Athena Productions. I am based in Quimper, France. I graduated with a Graphic Design degree back in 2017 and from there I've had a bit of a winding path! I was taking small jobs, such as working as a gardener and I was working on concept art in my own time. I began to get some concept art/illustration gigs before I joined the team at Athena as a Senior Concept Artist!

What excites you about Concept Art?

The industry is constantly evolving and new tools are always being released, and the strong community keeps you pushing further. I love being creative and improving every day with my own projects, and the endless possibilities of worlds waiting to be created is exciting.

Did you always want to be a Concept Artist? Or did you have a different dream as a kid?

Originally, I wanted to become an NBA All Star, but the dream got cut short real quick! As a kid I've always loved drawing, telling stories and playing video games.

I remember playing the first God of War on PS2 when I was 11 years old. I saw a bonus video about the making of the game, and I thought 'Are people really doing this for a job?!'. I was stunned by the pure passion, and the team work that it took. I said to myself that day that I wanted to be a Concept Artist. The rest is history!

Every artist’s process is very different. What does does the concept art process look like for you at Athena?

It's always a bit different depending on the project, we usually start with a brief and references from the client and the Art Director, giving you a head start. From there, I search for references on my own and begin to brainstorm ideas. Then I will begin sketching in 3D using Blender.

I can always ask for help from my Art Director or the team, and we will figure out things together. When I feel the concept is ready, I will send it back to the Art Director. Sometimes you get feedback, and other times the artwork will go straight to the client for review.

Burnout is a common thing in our industry. How do you keep yourself balanced, and healthy in your professional life?

Some artists will find balance in personal work while others might find it in shifting focus outside of art entirely. Either way it's important to have time off and do other activities even if it's still artistic! For myself, spending time in nature and going on hikes is something that always refuels my batteries. I've been thinking of starting traditional Plein Air painting lately myself!

You do a lot of personal projects learning new techniques Eliott. How important is it for Concept Artists to keep learning?

Personal projects are extremely important to keep improving and learning as an artist in the industry. As 3D is used more and more in Concept Art, raising your technical skills is a must to be able to quickly and efficiently express your ideas. The more you practice, the deeper your stories, designs and creations can become, and I have found it extremely rewarding.

What key qualities do you think Concept Artists need?

In my opinion, the most important quality successful concept artists have in common is passion. If you are driven by passion you'll be just fine. Being open minded, communicative and curious are all extremely important as well.

For Junior Concept Artists, having good fundamentals is important because technical 3D Skills are only really effective when there is an understanding of basic principles. I would recommend learning more about color theory, lighting and composition. Don't get me wrong though, being capable of using 3D is a must nowadays!

What are your biggest takeaways working on Triple AAA Video Games?

The thrill of working on something bigger than what you produce, knowing that your work is going to inspire a wider range of artists working together in production.

It's amazing how passionate, receptive and easy going people are in the industry, it's really inspiring!

Are there any IP’s that you dream of working on?

Honestly, there are so many IP's I would love to work on, especially the childhood games I played with my brother such as Uncharted or Last of Us. The Witcher is also a franchise that is close to my heart and it would be amazing to contribute to. There are so many that I can't really name them all!

Any final words or thoughts to our readers?

Thank you so much for reading! Keep doing art and enjoy :)