While we’ve been pointing our focus at Citizen Conflict Alpha 2.0 and perfecting our QORPO ID, we haven’t forgotten about our upcoming Battle Royale action AneeMate. We are frequently presenting the game-ready little monster, a.k.a AneeMates, on our Twitter profile, and the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
How do these mythical creatures of the Elements Islands come to life? Every game character beings its journey as concept art, which is further designed, modeled, and developed. Who’s setting the creative direction and breathing life into the vivid ideas behind the cute, though formidable inhabitants of the AniMate world? Meet our incredibly imaginative and talented Character Concept Artist, Bárbara Montesano, who’s pushing the boundaries of creativity with the team.
She takes pride in her extensive previous experience with art and creative direction, 2D design, and concept art development. Having started her miscellaneous artistic journey working on artwork for local bands, she also has ample experience from several advertising agencies.
Bárbara has quickly refined her passion for fine character development and taken a step into game dev. From the initial idea to “living-and-breathing” concept art, she is an incredibly inventive idea maker, building immersive world AneeMate creatures to life. Let’s take a look at her background, challenges, and exciting journey through unbound ideas.
Hi, Bárbara! Could you, please, introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina, a city known for its vibrant culture and the current world champion of football. Ever since I can remember, I had strong artistic inklings. Drawing has been my passion since my early childhood.. As a little girl, I used to spend hours playing with pencils and notebooks, creating various images to reflect upon my imagination and feelings.
Ever since people around me recognized my love for art, I started to be frequently gifted with all kinds of drawing supplies, which allowed me to improve my skills and express myself more vividly. Despite being a shy child, over time, I have grown in confidence, which I believe also reflects in my art. My artwork has become a way for me to communicate and express my emotions freely. As I continue on my artistic journey, I look forward to exploring new techniques and styles to enhance my skills and creativity further.
Thank you for letting us know you a bit closer. Have you always been determined to pursue an artistic career?
Personally, I've never really had the dream of making a living from my art. Living in a country with low demand and limited encouragement to pursue such a goal, I've always viewed drawing and creating as a hobby. Throughout my childhood and high school years, I was often known as the classmate who "drew well" but never thought much about taking it any further.
Despite this, I've continued to develop my skills and explore new techniques in my free time. Creating art has been a source of joy and relaxation for me, a way to express my emotions and thoughts without any restrictions.
Great! When did you realize it’s the right time to uphold your hobby and passion for the art to the profession?
It came around the time I had to choose my University studies and decide what to do in life. Quite naturally, I started studying graphic design at the age of eighteen because it was the most creative career option available to me, and it wasn't until my twenties that I had a creative awakening, so to speak.
I wanted to let go of the idea of studying something just for the prospect of making money. I had to study what I really loved, regardless of the consequences - a very typical decision in one's twenties, I suppose. So without much thought, I enrolled in the art university in my city. I studied art for many years while working in unrelated fields since I was eighteen.
Was it hard for you to find a job fitting your artistic expectations?
In my case, becoming a full-time artist/designer was a matter of a slow, continuous process rather than finding the right job at the right time.
As a big music lover, especially rock music, I have always enjoyed attending concerts and discovering new sounds. It was this passion for music that led me to start my freelance career as an illustrator. One day, I began creating designs and drawings for posters of my favorite bands and songs and shared them on my social media platforms.
To my surprise, my designs were well-received, and people who knew me loved them. This gave me the confidence to keep going and start looking for my first clients. I slowly began growing my portfolio, creating more designs, and expanding my network.
Before long, I began to realize that I could potentially make a living from my passion for music and illustration. The positive feedback and growing number of clients were a sign that I was onto something viable. From that moment on, I was motivated to work harder and pursue my dream of becoming a professional illustrator. Before too long, I landed my first job in an advertising agency.
Looking back at your professional beginnings in advertising and your studies, were there any challenges to overcome?
I had to learn a lot on my own, researching online or boldly consulting with professionals. Since the university I attended was focused on fine arts and what I needed to embrace more professionally was illustration.
Needless to say, there was a lot of self-taught learning involved, with all the mistakes and successes that come with it. I went through a period where I worked a lot. I was working 9 hours a day at an advertising agency just to continue freelancing from the moment I got back home until the early morning hours.
How come it didn’t break you at some point?
Honestly, I don't know where I found the energy to carry on like that. But I loved what I was doing. Creating logos for bands, album artworks, visual concepts for music videos, flyers, or social media posts - all of that was driving me forward.
Even now, after all those years, it's still something I occasionally do. I still find some time to work on projects that truly make me happy. It was after several years of this hustle I seriously decided to pursue a full-time creative job. I wanted this to be my life, so I started creating a portfolio to be considered in the gaming industry.
Is that how you got from advertising to QORPO Game Studio?
I took on the challenge of building my portfolio, enhancing my skills, and gaining more knowledge about the industry to broaden my horizons and expand my opportunities. Despite having many interviews and going through a period of intense searching, I felt that none of my efforts were in vain. I believe that in our line of work, there is always room for growth, and it's gratifying when we can reflect on our efforts, offer constructive critique, and make improvements.
When I got in touch with QORPO for the first time, I felt confident in my abilities and the value I could offer. It was a great opportunity for me to further develop my skills and contribute to a meaningful project. At that time, I felt confident in what I could bring to the table.
What made you join QORPO specifically in favor of suitors from other game studios and developers?
I recall feeling overtly positive and enthusiastic after my initial interview with QORPO, especially when they shared details about the project they were hiring for - a game that had similar vibes to 'Pokémon.'
As a true Millennial, I have always been a big fan of Pokémon, and hearing that I could potentially create and design creatures for the game felt like a dream come true. I was bursting with excitement about the prospect of working on such a project. It almost felt surreal.
Thankfully, I managed to get in, and here we are. In June, I'll be celebrating my one-year anniversary as a Concept Artist and Character Designer for AniMate at QORPO Game Studio.
There are several top-tier artists involved in AniMate. What specifically are you working on?
I conceptualize and design creatures across their evolution stages. I'm also involved in the process of brainstorming their personalities, attacks, and movements.
I have to say that seeing the project progress excites me a lot. Every render, every animation, every idea... it's a beauty continuously coming to life. The team behind AniMate is amazing at what they do, and I'm grateful to be a part of it. I’m also thrilled about the entire universe we are creating for AniMate.
What are your future prospects within your field of expertise?
My main objective is to keep developing my skills as an artist, gaining knowledge from industry procedures, and contributing to the highest level possible for this project. I aim to enhance my work with every delivery, relentlessly seeking to improve. After all, the world of AI is constantly evolving, and it's important for me to stay current with all these advancements.
Speaking of AI, how do you think it impacts your work as an artist?
As an artist, I have incorporated AI as a new source of inspiration in my creative process. While I find it to be a valuable tool for generating initial ideas, I also believe that it should be regulated as its expansion can be overwhelming.
On the other hand, despite the concerns that AI may replace human jobs, I am confident that human creativity and problem-solving skills are incomparable, and the use of AI will only motivate us to strive for excellence as professionals.
Earlier in this interview, you mentioned that you are big on music. What are some of your favorites?
To be honest, my favorite music artists are local, but I have a special appreciation for groups like The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Metallica within their respective genres. Their music always manages to renew my energy and keep me motivated. Another band that I find particularly inspiring is Gorillaz, who I've admired since childhood.
I think it's their unique blend of visual art and music that sets them apart, and I find Jamie Hewlett's work to be especially impressive. In addition to musicians, there are also visual artists who have influenced me greatly, such as Alphonse Mucha, Toulouse Lautrec, and Moebius, just to name a few.
Thank you for your time, it was pleasure talking to you.
Thanks for the interview!
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