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Splash Artist

Everything you need to know about the job of a splash artist including required skills, responsibilities and salary.

Image: Tyler James (Blizzard)

What does a splash artist do?

A splash artist is responsible for the look and feel of a game's loading screens, helping to keep players immersed while the game loads. This can include a game's logo, title screen, and other key images (characters, environments, etc.) that players see in between levels and challenges. Splash art illustrators also create art for a game’s auxiliary media (booklets, marketing, etc.).

Splash art illustrators are commonly used for games that play individual matches (like League of Legends) or have frequent load screens.  

Splash artist job description

Splash artists work with game programmers and designers to create a cohesive look for a game's loading screens. Splash art is the first thing players see when they start up the game, and it can set the tone for the entire experience — it helps bring detail to the characters and key moments of a game to help further immerse players in its world. 

Role and responsibilities of a splash artist in video games:

  • Craft high-quality 2D Splash Illustrations with minimum oversight.

  • Maintaining the illustration quality and mentoring vendors by participating in review meetings and providing constructive feedback to external art teams.

  • Sharing of craft expertise and knowledge through discipline community, mentorship, and art collaboration.

Concept Artist Interview CGSpectrum Grad Edwin Ho Shares His Success Story

How much does a splash artist make?

The salaries of Concept/splash Artists in the US range from $74,000 to $139,000, with a average salary of $99,000.

$74k Jnr. Concept/splash Artists
$139k Snr. Concept/splash Artists

Skills required to become a splash artist for games

A splash artist needs to have a strong sense of composition and design. They need to be able to create a visually appealing piece that captures the essence of the game world. They will also need to be skilled in digital art and illustration to create realistic and detailed images.

Video game companies may look for the following skills in a splash artist:

  • Showcase the ability to create high-quality 2D splash illustrations, from thumbnails to the final product

  • Extreme proficiency in art fundamentals, visual storytelling, anatomy, lighting, materials, and color theory

  • Expertise in splash style, including stylized anatomy, heroic compositions, and cinematic/realistic believability

  • Advanced experience creating high-end digital art assets in Adobe Photoshop

  • Highly experienced with 2D illustration asset production pipelines

What software and tools do splash artists use?

Splash artists use a variety of software and tools which allow them to create detailed, high-quality images. Some popular programs include Photoshop and Illustrator. Splash artists may also use 3D software to create more immersive and realistic game worlds.

Splash artists may need knowledge of a combination of the following software:

maya
TOUCH

Maya is a comprehensive 3D animation software used for creating detailed models, animations, and visual effects. It's popular in film, TV, and game development for its powerful tools.

3dsmax
TOUCH

3ds Max is a professional 3D computer graphics program for making 3D animations, models, games and images. It is developed and produced by Autodesk Media and Entertainment.

maxon_zbrush_box
TOUCH

Maxon ZBrush is a digital sculpting tool that combines 3D/2.5D modeling, texturing and painting

photoshop
TOUCH

Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe for Windows and macOS. It was created in 1987 by Thomas and John Knoll

mudbox
TOUCH

Mudbox is a proprietary computer-based 3D sculpting and painting tool. Currently developed by Autodesk, Mudbox was created by Skymatter

corel
TOUCH

Corel Painter is a raster-based digital art application created to simulate as accurately as possible the appearance and behavior of traditional media associated with drawing

How to become a splash artist


Download software 

Download free digital art software like Gimp, Krita, Sketchpad, FireAlpaca, and ArtWeaver to start practicing. 

Practice 

Sharpening your skills helps you grow and become more confident and reliable. 

  • Develop a solid understanding of art fundamentals—line, color, light, values, shape, composition, and perspective.
  • Be observant of real-world references like people, creatures, and places which you can use as inspiration. 

Build skills

Build the skills companies are listing on job sites. For more support, enroll in a reputable course. CG Spectrum’s illustration courses include mentorship from award-winning industry pros, an industry-led curriculum, and career services. 

  • Learn how to interpret a brief and execute feedback
  • Regularly practice art fundamentals and digital painting techniques

Watch trends

Online tutorials, webinars, etc., can keep your skills fresh. 

Attend conventions 

Use conventions to network, meet likeminded people, and be inspired. This is how award-winning Illustrator Eric Wilkerson got his first professional book cover illustration commission after college graduation. 

Network

Networking is vital to getting your name and skills recognized and meeting experts who can offer advice or even jobs. Familiarize yourself with the industry and build your community—publishing houses, authors, and illustrators. 

Share work

Social media is great for showcasing work, building an audience, having your work shared by others, and seen by potential clients and collaborators. 

Presentation

Your portfolio is how you will market your services. Make your work presentable and user-friendly to impress prospective clients. 

Collaborate

Know someone designing a game who needs game art? Collaborating with your peers is not only fun, but it can also help you create more polished work for your portfolio. 

Intern

Internships at game studios can help you break into the industry. It’s one way to gain hands-on experience, network, and experience studio life. 

Join competitions

Practice your skills and create portfolio pieces by participating in contests on platforms like The Rookies and ArtStation.

For further info on the skills and qualifications that will help you become an illustrator, why not check out our comprehensive guide?

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Tips to break into the illustration industry

Your portfolio should show you understand the foundations of art while also establishing your own personal style. According to professional Illustrator Eric Wilkerson, your portfolio needs to demonstrate consistency while ensuring it’s tailored to the right audience.  Other tips include: 

  • Quality over quantity! Revise older work to meet your current standards
  • Only include your best. Work in progress is fine
  • Seek inspiration from professional artists’ portfolios
  • Center on one art genre for cohesion
  • If using a PDF, add chapters for easy viewing
  • Use a platform that allows you to update your work easily (e.g., ArtStation, The Rookies, or Behance)
  • Aim for a clean, intuitive, gallery-style website with enlargeable thumbnails
  • Don’t overcrowd your homepage —5 images max
  • Optimize your images and ensure they load properly
  • Present each piece with a brief explanation (concept, rationale, brief)
  • Show process, sketches, roughs, and reference
  • If necessary, create mockups of how your art would look in various formats
  • Triple-check for errors (layout, framing, spelling, etc.)
  • Get feedback from at least 3 mentors or industry pros before publishing
  • Feature both your commercial and personal art
  • Keep your ‘about’ page concise; it can be less formal
  • Share your finished portfolio on your social channels


Additional resources to help you get started as an illustrator:

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Industry Pathways

Tyler James, Curriculum Manager and Mentor of Concept Art & Illustration at CG Spectrum talks about his 18-year journey in the game industry. Passionate about fantasy from an early age, Tyler tells us about his early roles as a 3D character artist, to concept artist, and art director on projects like Neverwinter Nights 2, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, Rift, and Hex. Tyler also shares invaluable insights about building characters, facing imposter syndrome, and collaborating with world-class teams. !