When it comes to 2D artwork, an environment artist typically falls into two categories: an environmental concept artist or a background artist.
WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPT ARTIST?
The term “concept art” was first used by Walt Disney Animation Studios in the 1930s. Concept art is used to depict an idea and developed throughout several iterations before it is implemented in the final product. It is also used to show the project’s progress to directors, clients, and investors. An environmental concept artist visualizes indoor and outdoor spaces during the early design phases of many forms of visual media, such as animation and video games. Below are a few environmental concept art examples by one of my favorite artists.
Club Concept Designs by James Gilleard for Netflix’s ENTERGALACTIC
WHAT IS A BACKGROUND ARTIST?
A background artist, sometimes called a background painter or background stylist, is involved in establishing the color, style, and mood of a scene. Background art can be completed through traditional painting, such as the matte paintings seen in the classic Star Wars trilogy, or digital software. Oftentimes, the process is delegated to multiple people: one person, known as a layout artist, will do the lineart for a background and another person, typically known as the background painter, will finish the illustration with color. Below are examples of traditional and digital background artwork.
Watercolor Background Paintings by Barry Kooser for Disney’s Lilo & Stitch
Digital Background Layout by Elizabeth Fuselier for Netflix’s Disenchantment
Digital Background Painting by Devin Elle Kurtz for Netflix’s Disenchantment
FINAL REMARKS
As you can see, environment artists play a large part in world-building for visual media. Check out my FAQs or feel free to contact me on socials if you have any questions!