Creating and developing production art for games demands not only a deep understanding of the needs and goals of other departments in a game studio but also the consciousness and knowledge of technical restrictions. This 3-hour workshop covers these essential topics in a real game-dev context to share with you how you can visually communicate ideas with other departments in a studio while also understanding their needs and limitations.
This workshop is an advanced tutorial using Photoshop, 3D-Coat & Octane for Blender. Asim leads you through the entire process, from initial research to brainstorming, designing a building, blocking it out in 3D, creating composition thumbnails, setting up a basic scene in 3D, and finally, through to a fully fleshed-out environment concept art piece. Asim shares his experience, knowledge, and the design thoughts he goes through while always taking other aspects into account, such as Game Design, Level Design, Art Direction, and so on.
By following this workshop, you will not only learn Asim’s production-proven techniques and his personal painting process, but you will also learn insights into other aspects that affect your art, providing you with more awareness when tackling your own projects.
Project files accompanying this workshop include Asim’s Photoshop file and sketches for your personal reference.
7 Lessons
Asim introduces his workshop, which demonstrates how creating successful environment art begins long before any actual creation takes place. The foundation of good design lies in thoroughly understanding the brief, asking comprehensive questions, and conducting targeted research. By treating the Merchant House not just as a visual asset but as a functional gameplay element with storytelling potential, Asim will create a more meaningful and effective environment that serves both the player experience and the game's narrative goals.
Duration: 17m 50s
This lesson emphasizes that successful concept art thumbnailing is as much about managing the creative process and mindset as it is about technical drawing skills. Asim demonstrates that by combining efficient workflows, effective inspiration/mood management, and strategic thinking about gameplay needs, artists can quickly generate compelling architectural designs that meet both artistic and functional requirements in game development.
Duration: 28m 27s
This lesson emphasizes that effective concept art combines thoughtful design decisions with technical execution skills. Asim demonstrates that the most successful designs often embrace imperfection and asymmetry rather than sterile perfection, while maintaining a flexible workflow that balances creative exploration with practical client needs. The key takeaway is that concept art serves as a communication tool that should prioritize clear visual storytelling and cultural authenticity over technical perfection.
Duration: 21m 23s
The lesson demonstrates that effective 3D modeling is about efficiency and workflow, not technical perfection. Asim emphasizes the importance of mastering a core set of tools so thoroughly that technical limitations don't hinder creative expression. This approach treats 3D modeling as a foundation for concept development, recognizing that final details and refinements will be added in subsequent painting and post-processing stages.
Duration: 17m 46s
This lesson emphasizes that successful composition work requires clear communication with clients, systematic workflow processes, and restraint in the early stages. Asim teaches the importance of establishing a solid foundation with simple shapes and values before progressing to details, while always keeping the intended mood and game functionality in mind. His goal is to create readable, effective thumbnails that serve both artistic and practical needs in game development.
Duration: 34m 57s
This lesson demonstrates how 3D software can be effectively integrated into concept art workflows to increase efficiency and flexibility in collaboration. Asim's focus is on using 3D as a foundation tool rather than a crutch, leveraging its strengths for quick iterations and real-time feedback while maintaining traditional artistic skills. His approach prioritizes speed and adaptability over technical perfection, making it ideal for professional concept art production where client needs frequently change.
Duration: 12m 50s
This comprehensive final lesson demonstrates how successful environment concept art extends far beyond creating visually appealing images. Asim emphasizes the importance of emotional storytelling, technical collaboration, and iterative refinement throughout the creative process. He discusses how, by combining personal inspiration with practical gameplay considerations and maintaining open communication with development teams, concept artists can create environments that not only look stunning but also serve the broader goals of game development and player experience.
Duration: 51m 29s
Primary tools
For this workshop you’ll need:
* Note that these programs and materials will not be supplied with the course.
Project Files
When you download the workshop files, you'll get access to Asim Steckel's complete Merchant Building project with all the resources you can analyze. Inside, you'll find:
- Source artwork files – The original Photoshop file and high-resolution images showing the final merchant building design
- Concept sketches & references - Initial sketches, composition studies, and reference materials used during the creative process
Skills Covered
Who’s this Workshop for?
This workshop is designed for intermediate- to advanced-level concept and environment artists working in game development studios or aspiring to join them. It's particularly valuable for artists who want to understand production workflows and cross-departmental collaboration in professional game development settings.
Freelance artists, art students, and professionals from other creative industries will also benefit significantly from these comprehensive lessons. They'll gain crucial insights into game industry standards, technical constraints, and the collaborative processes essential for successful production art in modern game studios.
Learning Outcomes
By completing this workshop, artists will master production-proven techniques for creating professional environment concept art while understanding cross-departmental collaboration requirements.
Key skills include:
- How to conduct effective visual research and brainstorming for game environment concepts.
- How to design buildings and structures that meet game design and technical requirements.
- How to create effective 3D blockouts using industry-standard workflows and production pipelines.
- How to develop compelling composition thumbnails that communicate design intent to development teams.
- How to set up professional 3D scenes using 3DCoat and Octane for Blender.
- How to collaborate effectively with game design, level design, and art direction departments.
- How to apply technical restrictions and limitations while maintaining artistic vision and quality.
- How to execute complete environment concept art pieces using production-proven painting techniques.








