Search For A Star | Character Art Finalists 2024
The assessments have been completed and we have our finalists selection for this year’s Search For A Star and Rising Star challenges in Character Art!
Our character art category is designed to help students create a high level portfolio project based on a studio brief and workflow, and then getting industry feedback from our assessment team of studio devs from across the industry. The highest achievers are invited to meet and interview with a panel of professionals from across the games industry.
We’ll be interviewing all the finalists and revealing the winners of this year’s challenges at our Search For A Star finals day, taking place on April 4th in Sheffield.
We’ve had a range of fantastic submissions this year, so let’s take a look at the projects that have taken these high achieving students into this year’s finals!
Search for a Star 2024
Students in their final year of a degree or in postgraduate study
Ben Clancy
University for the Creative Arts
Benedict Sinclair
Returning to the challenge with a knowing nod to their Rising Star finalist project from last year, Ben created a time-hopping adventurer with a deep narrative that shows through clearly due to a well-planned character development process.
Our assessors awarded Ben the highest score in creative development, and loved Ben’s creativity and research across the character design that led to such a strong narrative.
See Ben’s portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/benclancy
Charlie Shrehorn-Middleton
University of Hertfordshire
Omni-Man
Charlie’s piece wonderfully channelled Omni-Man as a highly detailed and realistically rendered character and embodiment of the ‘Big Bad’ project theme.
Assessors scored the project very highly, with particular notes towards the workflow, attention to detail, documentation, and the excellent final presentation.
See Charlie’s portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/charlie-shrehorn_middleton
Christiane Schaper
Howest DAE
Breathing Brushstrokes
Also returning for 2024 after recaching the Rising Star finals last year, Christiane’s experiments with a very effective handpainted, oil paint-like style actually helped inspire the narrative development of this project!
Our assessors were really impressed all-round, but especially by the concept and character development and how it manifested into the highest scoring final presentation of the challenge.
See Christiane’s portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/schaper360
Em Marshall
Futureworks
Mother Nurture
Acing both the research and documentation criteria, Em’s proactive and studious approach paid off massively and paved the way for the development of a very strong character all-round.
Assessors loved the character development process, in addition to the strong technical and creative skills that showed a wide range of technique and knowledge.
See Em’s portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/emarshallarts
Tuomas Paul
Howest DAE
Porcelain Demon
Tuomas created a hauntingly effective character, with a simple premise setting a strong narrative that was skilfully rendered into the final piece.
Our assessors though Tuomas’s approach was excellent, showing high level work across all criteria and with a great technical workflow supporting the creative development.
See Tuomas’ portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/tuomaspaul
Rising Star 2024
Undergraduate students not yet in their final year, or at college/school level
Christopher Hotson
Solent University
Robert Punk
Chris’ detailed and well-researched approach to this realistic cyberpunk-styled character led to a great practice of learning and following studio workflow techniques.
In addition to the well-presented character, assessors were really impressed by Chris’s research into technique and technical processes, which in turn directly led to him earning an exceptional score in the technical and workflow criteria.
See Chris’ portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/chris_hotson
Jean Carlo Jurado Hernandez
Middlesex University London
Anubis
With a portfolio of strong work in 2D character design, Jean Carlo brought their own unique concept to 3D with an excellent sculpt refined into a high quality character.
Jean Carlo achieved a great score overall, with assessors taking note of good technical achievement and workflow practices, and the concept development process that set a distinct and clear path for the rest of the project.
See Jean Carlo’s portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/charly_aoi
Joseph Tagsa
University of Hertfordshire
Hyakkimaru
Joseph’s Dororo-inspired character translated a 2D anime design into a realistic 3D model with a huge amount of gravitas and sense of purpose.
Assessors scored Joseph very highly across all criteria, with particular note to following a studio-style workflow combined with strong technical knowledge and creative skills.
See Joseph’s portfolio here : https://www.artstation.com/jtag-04
Samuel Wood
Falmouth University
Arlecchino
Samuel’s vibrant and theatrical project inspired by Commedia dell’Arte shows a great level of characterisation and dynamism, very much fitting with the character’s role as a court jester.
Our assessors also scored Samuel highly across all criteria, complimenting the attention to detail and technical achievements.
Zahra Tilling
University of Hertfordshire
Hell Hound
Zahra’s project doubled as a chance to learn about creature development, resulting in a detailed and unique hulking behemoth that showcases a wide range of character development skills.
With exceptional scores in multiple criteria , Zahra’s project impressed the assessors who noted in particular the strong technical proficiency, workflow practice, creativity and quality of presentation.
See Zahra’s portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/peach-t
