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Designing Creatures and Characters: How to Build an Artist's Portfolio for Video Games, Film, Animation and More

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Ever wondered how you could become a character designer for video games, film or animation? Veteran art director and concept artist Marc Taro Holmes shares proven methods for honing the skills and building the portfolio necessary to become a pro gaming artist. This is the first and only work-at-your-own pace home study program that teaches the crucial insider knowledge needed to break into the entertainment-design industry and develop your own style--all you need are a pencil, paper and your imagination.

The projects within this straightforward guide are constructed to help you apply your existing drawing and digital art skills to character design. Or, if you're still working on your skills, it will help you improve while at the same time turning your mind into an idea-generating machine.

Unlock the Secrets to Character and Creature Design

• Follow the creature design process from start to finish: 35 projects are divided into 4 challenge levels, ranging from brainstorming and drawing character blueprints to completing market-ready illustrations. As the levels advance, the projects become more complex.
• Learn to solve design problems: Every project introduces you to an open-ended fictional assignment inspired by industry experience. Each project has a list of minimum deliverables--the basics to get to the next stage--plus bonus goals. You receive virtual merit badges for each achievement you complete.
• Think like a pro: Over the 155 possible artistic achievements, you'll be asked to find a solution to every type of conceptual problem you might encounter as a professional creature or character designer.
• Build your portfolio: Work toward creating an outstanding portfolio. Improve your skills and push yourself to create a fine-tuned presentation that could get you your eventual dream job.
"This is a workout for the imagination, a boot camp for creativity." --Marc Taro Holmes

192 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2016

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Marc Taro Holmes

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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Profile Image for Kai.
145 reviews28 followers
December 11, 2017
This is a great book packed with tips and projects. Particularly good for those interested in the design side of gaming or becoming a concept designer. The projects are fun and interesting and help you hone your ideas and practice discipline. The author knows his stuff. Not a book for someone just learning the basics of drawing.
Profile Image for Modi123.
109 reviews
December 22, 2017
A really well put together book that is substantially less 'how to draw' but more 'how to efficiently iterate, design, and think about what to draw'... with a dash of some portfolio making.

The author essentially is cutting out the crap by having you focus on on adjective or so and tells you to flesh it out. Gives an outline of what your outcome should look like, and why this is important in the office.

I can't stress this is enough - it is not an art skills book, but more of a career and design skills book. Well worth the read to fill in my conceptual gaps.
Profile Image for David Dâng.
436 reviews4 followers
March 26, 2021
2021年3月25日閱於光明港。
很有意思的是書中引入了電子遊戲裏的「成就」這一概念,來幫助讀者進行自我激勵。
書裏還有「企劃案簡報範例」來幫助讀者快速確定策劃角色時需要回應到的點,對從業者幫助應該是會很大的。
27 reviews
November 19, 2022
This is an art book I would absolutely reccommend to anyone looking to boost their creativity. The prompts in this book are genius.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews

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