An introduction to games technical art
Marie Dealessandri
Features Editor
Wednesday 11th May 2022
Atomhawk Design
As we highlighted in our GamesIndustry.biz Academy guide to becoming a game artist, there are a myriad of specialties existing within that wider art label.
From characters to UI, being an artist in games can require vastly different skillsets. One such specialty is technical art.
Ahead of our full guide to finding a job as a technical artist in the coming weeks, technical art director at Atomhawk Liam Flemming gives us an introduction to the craft.
"By and large, technical artists work as a bridge between artists and programmers," Flemming tells the GamesIndustry.biz Academy.
"More traditional art roles are usually focused on the creative side of the process, such as designing the characters, props, or environments, essentially defining an artistic vision, and executing on it by building the required assets. They home in on more traditionally artistic skills such as the ability to draw, design or sculpt.
"Technical artists ensure assets and pipelines are developed in such a way that the artistic vision remains as intact as possible"
"Technical artists on the other hand are more focused on ensuring assets and pipelines are developed in such a way that the artistic vision remains as intact as possible without exceeding the demands of the platform the game runs on."
Technical art roles are problem-solving positions, Flemming continues, explaining that they will solve these visual or artistic issues drawing on both programming and art skills, whether that's by pushing forward R&D, automating a pipeline, or enhancing the game's visuals or performance.
"In short, a technical artist is comfortable being dropped into any area tasked with improvement, breaking
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