Art Style Creator

This skill guides the creation of comprehensive art style definitions for visual projects.

Workflow

Step 1: Vision & Context

Gather project context:

• Project type: Game, illustration, animation, UI, branding

• Target audience: Age group, cultural context

• Vision statement: 2-3 sentences describing the visual direction

• Key words: 5-7 words capturing the style essence

• Primary influences: Reference styles, artists, or works

Step 2: Color Palette

Define the color system. See color-theory.md for detailed guidance.

Ask for:

• Palette type: Monochromatic, analogous, complementary, triadic, etc.

• Dominant color (60%): Background, large areas

• Secondary color (30%): Supporting elements

• Accent color (10%): Highlights, focal points

• Mood alignment: Match colors to intended emotion

• Forbidden colors: Colors to avoid and why

Step 3: Line Work

Establish line characteristics. See line-and-shape.md for details.

Define:

• Outline approach: Full / Partial / None / Color holds

• Base weight: Thin / Medium / Thick (with pixel/pt measurement)

• Quality: Clean / Sketchy / Geometric / Organic / Calligraphic

• Weight variation: Different weights for FG/MG/BG

• Line color: Black / Dark local color / Color holds

Step 4: Shape Language

Define shape characteristics. See line-and-shape.md.

Specify:

• Dominant shape: Circle (friendly), Square (stable), Triangle (dynamic)

• Complexity level: Simple / Moderate / Complex

• Edge treatment: Sharp / Rounded / Mixed

• Character shapes: Heroes, villains, NPCs

• Environment shapes: Architecture, nature, props

• Silhouette priority: High / Medium / Low

Step 5: Composition

Set layout rules. See composition-lighting.md.

Define:

• Framing system: Rule of thirds / Golden ratio / Center-focused / Dynamic

• Symmetry preference: Symmetric / Asymmetric / Varied

• Depth approach: FG/MG/BG presence and treatment

• Perspective type: 1-point / 2-point / 3-point / Isometric

• Visual hierarchy: Primary method (size/contrast/color/position)

• Negative space: Minimal / Moderate / Abundant

Step 6: Lighting & Atmosphere

Define lighting style. See composition-lighting.md.

Specify:

• Overall brightness: Dark / Dim / Neutral / Bright

• Contrast level: Low / Medium / High / Extreme

• Shadow rendering: Gradient / Cel-shaded / Hatched / Minimal / None

• Primary light direction: Front / Side / Back / Top / Variable

• Light hardness: Soft / Medium / Hard

• Shadow color: Black / Colored / Complementary

• Atmospheric effects: Fog, particles, god rays

Step 7: Texture & Detail

Set detail approach. See texture-mood.md.

Define:

• Detail level: Minimal / Low / Medium / High / Photorealistic

• Texture rendering: Painted / Photo / Procedural / Flat / Stylized

• Detail distribution: High detail for focus, low for background

• Surface treatments: How to handle different materials

• Aging/weathering: None / Subtle / Visible / Heavy

• Noise/grain: None / Subtle / Visible

Step 8: Mood & Tone

Establish emotional baseline. See texture-mood.md.

Specify:

• Core emotion: Joy, sadness, fear, tension, peace, mystery, etc.

• Intensity: Subtle / Moderate / Strong

• Tone position: Light ↔ Dark spectrum

• Energy level: Calm / Moderate / Energetic

• Genre alignment: Fantasy, sci-fi, horror, noir, etc.

• Elements to avoid: What would break the mood

Step 9: Technical Specs

Document technical requirements. See technical-specs.md.

Define:

• Working resolution: Dimensions at DPI

• Export resolution: Final output specs

• Color mode: RGB / CMYK / Indexed

• File formats: Working and export formats

• Asset sizes: Characters, environments, UI elements, icons

Step 10: Generate Style Document

Output the complete art style definition using the template below.

Output Template

[PROJECT NAME] — Art Style Guide

Overview

Project: [Name] Style Name: [Unique identifier] Version: 1.0

Vision Statement

[2-3 sentences describing the visual vision]

Key Words

[5-7 words capturing the essence]

1. Color Palette

Primary Palette

Extended Palette

• Highlight: #XXXXXX
• Shadow: #XXXXXX
• Neutrals: #XXXXXX, #XXXXXX

Color Rules

• [Rule 1]
• [Rule 2]

Forbidden Colors

2. Line Work

• Outline: [Full/Partial/None/Color holds]
• Base weight: [Thin/Medium/Thick] at [X px at Y resolution]
• Quality: [Clean/Sketchy/Geometric/Organic]
• FG weight: [Weight]
• BG weight: [Weight]
• Line color: [Black/Colored/Color holds]

3. Shape Language

• Dominant shape: [Circle/Square/Triangle/Mixed]
• Complexity: [Simple/Moderate/Complex]
• Edges: [Sharp/Rounded/Mixed]
• Heroes: [Shape description]
• Villains: [Shape description]
• Environments: [Geometric/Organic/Mixed]
• Silhouette priority: [High/Medium/Low]

4. Composition

• Framing: [Rule of thirds/Golden ratio/etc.]
• Symmetry: [Symmetric/Asymmetric/Varied]
• Depth layers: [FG/MG/BG treatment]
• Perspective: [Type]
• Hierarchy method: [Size/Contrast/Color/Position]
• Negative space: [Minimal/Moderate/Abundant]

5. Lighting

• Brightness: [Dark/Dim/Neutral/Bright]
• Contrast: [Low/Medium/High]
• Shadow style: [Gradient/Cel-shaded/Hatched/None]
• Light direction: [Default direction]
• Hardness: [Soft/Medium/Hard]
• Shadow color: [Black/Colored] at [opacity]%
• Atmosphere: [Effects if any]

6. Texture & Detail

• Detail level: [Minimal/Low/Medium/High]
• Texture style: [Painted/Flat/Stylized/etc.]
• Focus areas: [High detail]
• Background: [Low detail]
• Weathering: [None/Subtle/Visible]
• Grain: [None/Subtle/Visible]

7. Mood & Tone

• Core emotion: [Emotion] at [intensity]
• Tone: [Light ↔ Dark position]
• Energy: [Calm/Moderate/Energetic]
• Genre: [Genre]
• Avoid: [Elements that break mood]

8. Technical Specs

• Working: [Dimensions] at [DPI]
• Export: [Dimensions] at [DPI]
• Color mode: [RGB/CMYK]
• Formats: [Working] → [Export formats]
• Character size: [Dimensions]
• Environment size: [Dimensions]
• Icon size: [Dimensions]

9. References

Primary Influences

1. [Influence]: [What to take]
2. [Influence]: [What to take]

Avoid

10. Do's and Don'ts

Do

• [Correct practice]
• [Correct practice]

Don't

• [Incorrect practice]
• [Incorrect practice]

Reference Files

Load these as needed for detailed guidance:

• color-theory.md - Color wheel, palette types, psychology, construction rules

• line-and-shape.md - Line characteristics, shape psychology, silhouettes

• composition-lighting.md - Composition principles, perspective, lighting setups

• texture-mood.md - Detail levels, texture types, mood mapping, genre guides

• technical-specs.md - Resolution, color modes, file formats

• style-references.md - Art movements, contemporary styles, animation styles

• glossary.md - Art terminology definitions

Quick Style Presets

For rapid style definition, use these genre presets as starting points:

Genre Colors Lines Shapes Lighting Detail

Anime Saturated, clean Clean, variable weight Soft, appealing Cel-shaded Medium

Cartoon Bright, primary Bold outlines Round, exaggerated Flat/minimal Low

Realistic Natural, full range No outline Complex, accurate Gradient High

Pixel Art Limited palette Sharp, 1px Blocky, simplified Dithered Low

Noir Mono + accent Heavy contrast Stark, geometric High contrast Medium

Fantasy Rich, varied Flowing, ornate Organic, majestic Dramatic High

Sci-Fi Cool, neon accents Clean, geometric Streamlined Artificial Medium-High

Horror Desaturated, sickly Jagged, broken Distorted Low key Varied

Minimalist Limited, pastel None or thin Simple geometric Flat Minimal