A background artist is involved in the animation process. He is the one who sets the style, color, and mood of the scene, as characterized by the writer, art director, or client in the story. The work of artists is very creative and this creativity can be seen in movies, television, video games and other forms of media.

In animation, the line drawing of the background of a scene is a background pattern. It is not the finished background painted in color but only a sketch.

Background designs are drawn from storyboards that define the action and perspective in the scene. The difference between a storyboard artist and a background artist is that a storyboard artist draws backgrounds in a rough and simplified style, but on the other hand, background artists take them to the next level by defining the detail and the perspective. The line work is only part of the finished background.

A background designer has to visualize new locations when they are required in a script and has to consider the action of the characters as well as the mood of the scene. These design drawings are given to the storyboard artists to show them what a place looks like. There is a lot of creativity involved in creating believable places for people in the world of the characters.

The funds must support the narrative of the story, most importantly. The designers take into account things like the personal style of the characters or the imaginary neighborhoods. Artists draw places that have history, like showing what happened in a place before, even if it never happened, they design it to look like some event happened in that particular place. Artists can also show the history of a place long before the characters existed.

A background designer has to do two things:

to design backgrounds for new scenarios, and

to draw/paint those backgrounds for the final animation.

Some studios hire background artists who completely paint the final backgrounds. And sometimes background painters also play the role of a designer where they create new locations with the help of the art director. All background painters and designers follow a unique style based on animation.

Each cartoon has its own unique style and the background designer must create places that can be real and blend with the cartoon’s art style.

There is not much difference between jobs for background painters, background artists, and background designers.

background artist work

Many background artists use traditional methods like painting or drawing to create backgrounds.

Artists may use digital media such as Adobe Photoshop to produce the desired backgrounds for the story.

A background artist needs details and for this he communicates with the art director, director, editor or writers from time to time to establish an idea of ​​what the desired background should look like.

They may involve painting mainly the background keys or the establishing plane for more definition.

You have to seek final approval for background images.

A background artist has to work within tight deadlines and budget controls.