Character artists develop concepts for characters and then bring those characters to life, either drawing them by hand or using digital design tools. They render sketches and use illustration software programs to produce artistic projects. They collaborate with designers, art directors, and other creative professionals to establish and refine the vision for the characters, setting, and other elements.
Character artists may have a college degree or a diploma from a technical training program – often in an art or design field – but experience and demonstration of talent and ability is generally more important to employers, who will ideally want to see a portfolio of past work. These artists must have an understanding of anatomy, lighting, color theory, texture, and other artistic concepts. Some roles may require specialized skills in areas such as animation or 3D modeling.