An FX artist creates digital simulations and procedural workflows based on real-world elements or supernatural concepts that move or react under the basic laws of physics. These can be realistic or stylized, depending on the type of effect and how it’s used.
Composition, scale, form, speed, and viscosity are often taken into account to help determine how an effect looks and reacts to its surroundings. Before creating effects for film or TV, effects artists are often required to research real-life phenomena, watch reference videos (when possible), and generate multiple concepts.