A background artist is involved in the animation process. He is the one who establishes the style, color and mood of the scene, as characterized by the writer, artistic director or client of the story. The work of artists is very creative and this creativity can be seen in movies, television, video games and other forms of media.

In animation, the line drawing of the background of a scene is a background pattern. It is not the finished background painted in color but just a sketch.

The background designs are drawn from the storyboards that define the action and perspective in the scene. The difference between a storyboard artist and a background artist is that a storyboard artist draws backgrounds in a simple and streamlined style, but on the other hand, background design artists take them to the next level by defining detail and the perspective. The line work is just a part of the finished background.

A background designer has to visualize new locations when required in a script and has to consider the action of the characters as well as the mood of the scene. These design drawings are given to the storyboard artists to show them what a place looks like. It takes a lot of creativity to create places that are credible to people in the world of the characters.

The backgrounds should support the narrative of the story, most importantly. Designers take into account things like personal style of characters or imaginary neighborhoods. Artists draw places that have history, like showing what happened previously in a place, even if it never happened, they design it to make it look like some event happened in that particular place. Artists can also show the history of a place long before the characters existed.

A background designer has to do two things:

design funds for new scenarios, and

to draw / paint those backgrounds for the final animation.

Some studios hire background artists who completely paint the final backgrounds. And sometimes background painters also play the role of a designer where they create new locations with the help of the art director. All background painters and designers follow a unique style based on animation.

Each cartoon has its own unique style and the background designer needs to create places that can be real and blend in with the cartoon’s art style.

There is not much difference between jobs for background painters, background artists, and background designers.

Background artist work

Many background artists use traditional methods like painting or drawing to create backgrounds.

Artists can use digital media such as Adobe Photoshop to produce the desired backgrounds for the story.

A background artist needs details and to do this he communicates with the art director, director, editor or writers from time to time to establish an idea of ​​what the desired background should look like.

They may involve painting primarily background keys or the site plan for greater definition.

You have to seek final approval for the background images.

A background artist has to work within strict deadlines and budget controls.