Concept To Completion Vol. 2 - Creating Card Art for Varia

Is it a dream of yours to work as an artist in the tabletop gaming or card game industry? Do you want to peek behind the curtain and see what REALLY goes into making production-ready artwork for large clients, every step of the way? Are you wanting to finally take the leap and become a freelance illustrator? If any of these descriptions fit you, you've come to the right place!

In this installment of Concept to Completion, we bring a card to life for the internationally renowned card game, Varia! In this 14 HOUR (yes, that's 1-4) video course, we go from the very beginnings of getting an art prompt for Varia, to submitting and getting the "all clear" from the art team to our final art piece.

Here is just a small snippet of topics covered in this 14-hour video lecture series:

• Making your portfolio attractive enough to get clients
• Understanding proper business etiquette (such as phone calls, emails, video calls, etc) when working with professional clients
• Knowing what to charge for your work (and avoiding the dreaded limbo of "how much do you charge <> how much is your budget?")
• Working with a provided "art bible" (or design documentation/visdev document) while putting your own artistic flair on what is required
• Balancing the work-life balance of quick deadlines and turnarounds
• Juggling various mediums to bring your ideas to life in the quickest, most high-quality way
• Using Blender (or any basic 3d software) to establish ideas
• How to think 'cinematically' for the most dynamic images
• Color theory for impactful image design
• The balance of "design vs. artistry" when creating tabletop and card game art
• Professional tips-and-tricks for VERY fast revisions based on feedback
• Taking critique and feedback professionally (aka - don't make it personal)
• Understanding your artistic limits and boundaries when working with clients
• Real-time painting and designing with narration, each step of the way
• Knowing when "good" is "good enough"
• The secrets to getting repeat business from high-profile clients

This was my 8th card for Varia, and I've worked my way from a junior artist to Senior Illustrator within the ranks of Guildhouse Games projects. I've also worked with other professional clients such as Warhammer 40k, Riot Games, Star Wars, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, ADIDAS and more, bringing each internationally-renowned IP to life in a myriad of products.

If you've ever wanted to take the leap and become a professional artist, or are just curious as what a day-in-the-life really looks like for a freelance illustrator, Concept To Completion Vol. 2 has you covered!

BONUS:

Enjoy a complimentary copy of Wes Gardner's Brush Pack 2022, included in the course (a $4 value, FREE)!