Getting Into Board Game Illustration
Published on 06/05/2024
Getting Into Board Game Illustration
Teacher: Atlanta Japp, West Coast Manager, Advocate Art Incorporated
Over the course of the last two years, the world realized just how much we all still love board games. Although sometimes seen as “old-fashioned,” people are increasingly ditching their digital gaming for these nostalgic pastimes. Not only do these games often provide fun brain teasers, but they are also a wholesome way to socialize with friends and family.
Most of these games were invented a while ago, so it is up to illustrators to produce trendy, new art to keep these products up to date and relevant. Game clients are choosing to embrace new digital styles over the common traditional look. They are pulling ideas from successful book series, video games, tv shows, and box-office movies.
Board games do not offer a lot of surface area for illustration, so it is important to really use up all the space allowed. Remember to use bright, bold, rich colors, and to create dynamic scenes with your characters. Experiment with a sense of dimension to allow the players to feel like they are really part of the game.
If you are looking to work on licensed character projects, remember that these characters will need to be approved, so it is imperative to nail down the original look. With that said, my last piece of advice would be to do your research. Look online to see what is trending, and find photo references and ideas that will enhance your work and allow it to stand out from the rest! Make sure to note down top board game companies, and see if you can research if they did the art in-house or hired a freelancer. Often these jobs go to illustrators represented by agencies, but sometimes they take self-represented artists as well. Board game art may be a rare commission, but once you are hired it can be a lucrative market.
For more free tips for how to improve your illustration portfolio, subscribe to our ITSme Learning Newsletter!
Other News
How to illustrate kids’ puzzles: from simple to complex!
How to illustrate kids’ puzzles: from simple to complex! Teacher: Bhavi Patel, Advocate Art Agent/ ITSme Learning Almost every theme and subject matter can be adapted to both kid and adult age groups; the key element that differentiates the two is the level of difficulty. This is determined by how much detail is in the...
New Signed Artist: Carolina Coroa
Carolina was born in Belém, north of Brazil, a city well-known for its exuberating nature and strong native culture. She graduated two times, in Communication and in Fashion. After finishing her master at Istituto Europeo di Design in São Paulo, she worked for 6 years creating prints and patterns for fashion companies, running her own design studio and studying...
Calling out to all Creatives!
Are you looking for an Internship? A great opportunity to learn at one of the top illustration agencies in the world. Make sure you send us an email at: hello@itsme.biz
New Signed Artist: Katie Crumpton
I was born in South Carolina in 1992 but now I’m currently living in the Bay Area. I moved to California to attend the Academy of Art University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in illustration in 2016. I started drawing from a very young age and was too stubborn to stop. I get inspired...
New Signed Artist: Hana Augustine
I am a 27 yo self taught artist from Indonesia. Since my early childhood I have always had pen and papers with me, I would observe and draw. Drawing has become a medium that speaks to my heart. I grew up with lots of children’s books and fairy tales, I was captivated by their worlds...
New Signed Artist: Daniela Tordi
Daniela Tordi is born in Orvieto, a medioeval town in central Italy. Her childhood memories deal with the frescos of a giant cathedral, real tales from the past. She started illustrating as a self-taught in her thirties, asking to writers for adults to write a children’s story as a special gift. This collaboration, among other...