Kekai Kotaki

‘Start with an idea, and do your best to bring it to life’

Featured in a recent interview in Imagine FX Issue #41, Kotaki talks about his career and method of approach. He works as a lead concept artist in AreaNet, developing conceptual designs for the mass multiplayer game ‘Guildwars’. Initially working in black and white before adding colour, Kotaki often begins with a single keyword or description as his inspiration to create his concepts. Resolving initial elements is key as Kotaki describes his paintings as a continuous process where ‘nothing is safe’ as elements are continuously refined and reworked.

Kotaki also featured in a workshop ‘Painting a Heroic male’ where he demonstrates his process in more detail, beginning with a rough sketch that is continuously reworked and refined to completion.

Initial shapes are blocked in to define the form and composition. Layer by layer, more details are added to start to bring definition to the piece. Flipping an image can help reveal any flaws in a piece. A subtle use of colour is added, adding a cold overlay to 'cool' the warm tones and rework the piece.

Finally, full colour is reworked with final touches and details.

I am most fond of Kotaki’s style creating bold character designs with the implication of detail and deliberate colour palettes. These serve as striking images capturing the essence of the subject portrayed. The high standard in forming concepts and digital painting in something which I most aspire to and hope to achieve with my own concept designs in this project.

Howlett, Claire. (2009). The Art of Kekai Kotaki. Imagine FX. 41. March. p. 44-49.