Custom 3D Kits for Environment Concept Art by Jose Vega

Ready to level up your environment concept art? This workshop dives into creating your own custom 3D kits, giving you the tools to build epic scenes faster and with more control. You’ll go from initial ideas to polished Photoshop illustrations, mastering a workflow that blends Blender, Substance Painter, and Photoshop.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Techniques for creating versatile 3D kit assets.
• Workflow for assembling complex scenes using custom kits.
• Strategies for generating initial ideas and gathering references.
• How to model, texture, and refine assets for concept art.
• Integrating 3D renders with Photoshop painting for final illustrations.
• Utilizing ZBrush and Gravity Sketch for asset creation.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic understanding of concept art, familiarity with 3D workflows, intermediate Photoshop skills.
• Tools: Drawing tablet (recommended for painting and sculpting).
• Hardware: A computer capable of running Blender, Substance Painter, and Photoshop smoothly.

📝 Description

This workshop walks you through the entire process of building a custom 3D kit specifically for environment concept art. You’ll start by learning how to generate ideas and gather references, then move into creating individual assets using Blender and Substance Painter. We’ll cover techniques for building up more complex pieces from simpler components, including using modifiers in Blender.

The course also explores using ZBrush for sculpting and Gravity Sketch in VR for unique asset creation. You’ll learn how to assemble these assets into a complete scene, and then use Photoshop to paint over your renders, adding detail and atmosphere to create a final, polished illustration. The instructor emphasizes a practical, efficient workflow that allows for rapid iteration and high-quality results.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Concept artists looking to incorporate 3D into their workflow.
• Environment artists wanting to speed up their asset creation process.
• 3D artists interested in creating assets for concept art.
• Anyone looking to build custom asset libraries for efficient scene design.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Jose Vega is a Principal Concept Artist at Absorb 3D and has over a decade of experience in the entertainment and art industries. He’s currently a Senior Concept Artist for Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast and previously served as the Background Supervisor for Castlevania. Jose has worked with major studios like Riot Games, Warner Brothers, Sony, and Marvel Entertainment, bringing his expertise in environment art and concept design to numerous high-profile projects.

🏁 Final Result

• A portfolio-ready environment concept art piece created using a custom 3D kit.
• A reusable library of custom 3D assets for future projects.
• A comprehensive understanding of a 3D-centric concept art workflow.