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Jude Smith is a senior idea artist at Respawn Entertainment. He started his profession at Kabam in Vancouver, labored for Blackbird Interactive as an idea designer for Hardspace Shipbreaker, and now works on the core Apex Legends staff at Respawn.
But Jude’s introduction to artwork was a world away from video video games. We caught as much as be taught extra about how he received began in idea artwork and the way his work has advanced (See our what’s idea artwork? explainer for a primer).
Where did you develop up and the way did this affect your artwork?
I used to be raised on a small peninsula in Virginia referred to as the Eastern Shore, the place there’s a small neighborhood of painters who primarily deal with wildlife and the landscapes by the water.
During my childhood, I continuously took portray classes from native artists and discovered to work with numerous mediums, similar to oils, acrylics, watercolour, and pastels. I consider this had a big influence on how I strategy artwork as we speak. People usually point out that my digital artwork reminds them of conventional work.
Outside of artwork, what has most affected you?
Music has at all times influenced my style and magnificence. I grew up enjoying in a band with associates, and that inventive outlet taught me loads about self-expression and storytelling. I now not play music, however I nonetheless take heed to quite a lot of albums, and generally it sparks concepts, particularly after I join with it on an emotional degree. It helps me think about tales that I wish to inform.
Is there a painting you saw in your formative years that changed everything?
I can’t recall a specific painting, but I vividly remember seeing Ryan Church’s concepts in the Art of Star Wars books for Episodes II and III, which amazed me as a kid. I’d been into drawing and painting since I was young, but I never realised that art was actually used to create movies and games.
That realisation made me decide from then on I wanted to become a concept artist. My parents thankfully even bought me a copy of Photoshop and a Wacom tablet for me to practice with.
Tell us about your first paid commission
My initial paid job was a pretty cheesy illustration for a zombie indie game. I had just graduated from college and was grabbing every chance I could to build up my resume. Although that piece doesn’t quite represent my portfolio now, it was certainly a leap forward for my technical skills, and I was finally reaching a point in my career where I felt my work was beginning to align with the industry’s talent standards.
What’s the last piece you finished, and how do the two differ? Lately, when I’m working on art, like my recent piece, the Artificial Hunt, I’ve been concentrating more on what I genuinely want to convey as an artist. Initially, it was all about pursuing opportunities and creating a portfolio that would catch the attention of studios.
Now, with nearly a decade of experience, I try to stress less about my creative skills and following trends. Instead, I focus on trusting my nstincts and producing work that I find personally engaging, and I feel doing this has significantly improved my art over time.
Is making a living as a digital artist all you thought it would be?
Overall, I feel that this career has been incredibly rewarding. Working on the projects I’ve been a part of and being surrounded by like-minded artists has taught me so much, and I’ve really grown from these experiences.
What surprises me the most is how fast and consistently the industry changes. I thought that once I got my foot in the door, I would finally feel like a ‘professional’. But honestly, I still feel the same as I did when I started, and being a good artist to me means always striving for growth.
What advice would you give to your younger self to aid you on the way?
I’d advise my younger self to stop worrying about being a generalist, trying to prove I can fit in everywhere, and instead concentrate on creating a specialised portfolio that showcases the kind of work I genuinely want to pursue. Once I made that shift, my career really started to take off.
Has digital art changed for the better since you’ve been working?
Nero is a personal character design that blends my love for anime and sci-fi influences. I believe that it has changed a lot, especially for people looking to learn and build their skills or expand their reach as independent artists.
Nowadays, there are so many online resources out there that can help guide you in perfecting your techniques or promoting yourself to the right audiences, no matter your educational background or studio experience, and achieve success.
What character or scene that you’ve painted do you most identify with?
Probably the Artificial Hunt piece. With all the worries about artificial intelligence taking over creative jobs, I felt the need to express my thoughts on the topic. So I painted a really dramatised picture of what I imagine our future might look like if we get too caught up in our technological advancements.
What’s your next step in art or life?
Lately, I’ve been feeling the need to expand beyond just concept art and start doing more illustrative work, focusing on more of what it is I really want to say with my art. I think these days it’s more prevalent than ever to develop your personal style if you want to stay relevant in the industry.
You can see more of Jude’s work on his ArtStation profile.
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