Building A Game: Tips For Finding Reliable Artists On A Budget

Sourcing Talent without Breaking the Bank

Finding skilled and reliable artists is critical for building a great game, but hiring full-time artists can be expensive. This article provides tips for indie developers and small studios looking to source talented artists, evaluate portfolios, negotiate rates, and build partnerships – all without spending a fortune.

Define Project Scope and Art Needs

Having a well-defined scope and list of required assets is key for finding the right artists for your game. Consider aspects such as:

Game genre and target platforms
Required art types (2D, 3D, concept art, textures, etc.)
Target style and inspiration sources
Number of assets needed per art type
Ideal timescale for completing the assets

Document your specific art requirements and have concept images or descriptions ready to share. This will help narrow your search to artists with compatible skills and experience.

Set Reasonable Expectations for Art Quality

Understand that exceptional quality and low rates are rarely compatible. Set realistic quality expectations based on your budget to guide your search. Consider aspects like:

Level of detail needed for assets to support gameplay
Stylistic factors that contribute to overall look and feel
Technical considerations like polygon counts, texture sizes, animations, etc.

Defining reasonable quality standards upfront ensures you find artists able to meet expectations within budget constraints. Be flexible – better art may be possible through negotiation.

Places to Find Affordable yet Passionate Artists

Many talented yet affordable artists can be found in game-focused communities. Great places to look include:

Online Freelancing Platforms

Websites like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com allow you to post job listings and browse freelancer profiles. Useful features include:

Search filters by skills, rates, reviews, etc.
Built-in messaging for quick communication
Escrow payment systems
Feedback/review systems for accountability

The broad talent pool gives flexibility to find artists aligned with your needs and budget.

Game Development Forums

Artist recruitment subforums on sites like Polycount, ConceptArt.org, and GameDev Network can connect you to skilled community members. Benefits include:

Artists passionate about games contributing in their spare time
Opportunities to contract rising/undiscovered talent
Direct engagement with artists through forums and messaging

Leverage forum search tools and community recommendations to identify promising artists.

Local Art Schools

Students from art, design and animation schools can provide affordable assistance. Consider:

Some students complete real-world projects for their portfolio
May accept rev-share deals to offset lower rates
Local options allow in-person collaboration

Contact faculty and networking groups to source interested students looking to level-up their skills.

Evaluating Portfolios Effectively

A portfolio reveals much about an artist’s capabilities. Look for:

Style Compatibility

A consistent style throughout a portfolio indicates capability meeting styling needs. Seek artists whose existing work already aligns with your game’s target style. If the match seems imperfect, inquire if they can adapt their style to your needs.

Technical Skill Assessment

Review technical qualities like:

Composition, perspective, lighting, color use (2D)
Poly counts, UV mapping, topology flow, texturing (3D)
Rigging quality, animation principles, loops (Animation)

Higher mastery in relevant areas indicates better capability to meet asset requirements.

Communication Clarity

Portfolios also showcase communication ability through documents like concept overviews. Clear writing and explanations indicate easier collaboration. Email exchanges also showcase communication norms.

Checking all three areas helps determine if an artist has the skills and experience to successfully deliver on your game’s visual needs.

Negotiating Rates

Determining appropriate compensation rates is key for establishing budget-conscious partnerships. Common pricing models each have pros and cons.

Per Asset vs Per Hour

Per asset rates incentivize prompt delivery but risk underestimating effort. Per hour pay compensates effort fairly but can exceed budgets if work drags. Hybrid approaches are also possible.

Rev Share Agreements

Revenue sharing offsets low upfront rates but requires defining terms like:

Percentage splits per contributor
Conditions triggering payment
Time limits on rev share obligations

Well-structured rev share deals align incentives for shipping great games but still compensate work fairly. Handle with care.

Kill Fees

Agreeing to small “kill fees” (25%-50%) for initial concept work can prevent wasted effort if the collaboration ends there while still compensating the artist’s time.

Finding the right rate structure keeps collaborations affordable yet still appealing for talented artists.

Building Lasting Partnerships

Great working relationships enable teams to ship multiple games together. Core elements for healthy partnerships include:

Clear Communication

Prompt, specific and respectful communications from first contact onwards establishes trust and accountability between partners. Define contact norms and response expectations early.

Shared Vision

Communicating your game’s purpose along with genre descriptions, concept art and gameplay footage brings potential partners onboard with your creative vision faster.

Timely Payment

Paying owed amounts promptly shows you value your partner’s time and contribution. This incentivizes their continued participation in your game.

Investing in solid relationships with talented artists can pay dividends for many releases down the road – enabling bigger games with better art without expanding fixed costs.