Teodor Kalamov – about the qualities that an artist in the game industry should possess

We meet you with Teodor Kalamov – a former student of ARC Academy. After graduation, Teo successfully performed  in the game industry as a concept artist at Hemimont Games. You can also meet him at ARC Online, where he is a lecturer in the Character Concept Art online course. 

Read more about the projects he has worked on and the skills he believes an artist in the field should possess:

Which program did you complete at ARC Academy and when? 

I completed the Fundamentals program. I was part of the first graduating class of 2019. We learned figure drawing, anatomy, the basics of 3D modeling… But the most important thing is how many great people I met then, who I still keep in touch with to this day.

What are you currently working for – in which company and in what position? 

I work at Hemimont Games as a concept artist. I’m responsible for designing various props, environments, characters – you name it, in general – to be handed off to a 3D artist to model them to exist in the game.

What do your job duties involve? 

A lot of drawing and a lot of communication with the team. Contrary to expectations, drawing is the second most important skill a concept artist should possess. Yes, it is fundamental and you can find work with it, but really the more important skills are: first – good communication (especially in a team) and second – good and inventive ideas. If your drawing is average but your ideas are great – you will be much more in demand than a great artist with mediocre ideas.

What projects are you/have you worked on so far? 

I’ve worked on our latest two games Stranded: Alien Dawn and Jagged Alliance 3. The experience has been extremely educational and I’m proud of what our team has achieved – so much work and passion has gone into each project, one cannot help but be motivated to continue developing.

What was your favorite part of your time at ARC Academy? 

The ridiculous jokes and stories we told each other in the back rows. 

And otherwise more seriously: Being in one place with a group of people who share your passion for art and want to realize themselves as artists just like you is one of the best feelings in general and key to the development of an artist, according to me.

How did studying at ARC Academy help you get started in the studio? 

Our tutors were professionals with experience in the field and they introduced me to the expectations and reality of the industry. I was kind of armed with the knowledge to figure out how to prepare and what to put in my portfolio, which ultimately helped me land a job.

If you have an interest in concept art and dream of building the character design and environment, atmosphere and overall visual language of a project, apply to ARC Academy’s Concept Art program now.

More from ARC Academy:
How to Become a Concept Artist
How to Make Concept Art that Stands Out
What are the Different Types of Game Concept Art?
How to Learn Concept Art for Beginners