Bringing Gambit to Life: The Art Behind the Battle

In this episode, Art Director Anthony Jones walks us through his creative process on the Gambit art team—showing how he develops a cohesive visual style that honors diverse tabletop franchises, using a cheetah from Northstar Game’s Nature as a test case.

• Crafting a Unified Visual Identity:
  With many franchises in the mix, Anthony leans into a stylized, blocky, and charming aesthetic that ties everything together while still letting each property shine.

• Process Over Perfection:
  His workflow starts fast and loose in Procreate—blocking in shapes and color without sketches or line art. It’s all about establishing volume, form, and overall composition first.

• Evolving Through Iteration:
  Using references, he refines proportions and volume, then adds details like cheetah spots—adjusting them to fit the Gambit style, even if that means exaggerating their size.

• Layered Depth & Atmosphere:
  Anthony enhances the scene with environmental elements—wind-blown leaves, dramatic lighting, and distant clouds—to give the painting life and mystery without crowds or clutter.

• Style Flexibility:
  While this cheetah piece leans painterly, Anthony notes that other parts of the game use line art or even 3D modeling—whatever best suits each faction’s character.

  
  When you look at concept art, do you prefer rough color-driven sketches or detailed linework from the start? Join the discussion on Discord!