Lead CG Environment Artist

General Summary
The Lead CG Environment Artist oversees and supports the tasks of generating complex and pipeline compliant 3D backgrounds, layouts and environments to establish a cohesive digital world for feature stop motion animation.

Job Functions

• Lead the effort to create 3D environments by combining painting skills in animation software, photography, design, and practical and digital modeling.
• Create 3D landscape elements that match concept art using 3D tools and techniques including camera setup, modeling for projection, camera animation, projection setup, image re-projection, atmospherics and light passes.
• Generate and refine 3D landscapes to match production design and Look of Show, and maintain a level of realism based on the art direction of the project.
• Work closely with Matte Painting/Digital Matte Painting team on the creation of specified environment assets.
• Integrate imagery into shots, preserving a unified sense of lighting, perspective and color.
• Collaborate with the Production Designer, Set Designers, Layout Artists, Camera team and others to help develop visual ideas that enhance the story, and communicate needs to VFX Assets, Animation, Effects (FX), Lighting and Compositing.
• Oversee shots and sequence visual development, and provide technical guidance and quality control for artists across the CG Environments and CG Assets teams.
• Support the VFX Art Director to produce visually creative and technically sound solutions that address the needs of shots and sequences.
• Identify areas of industry innovation and help to develop and maintain custom tools, templates, scripts, workflows and documentation for the CG Environments team.
• Support CG Supervisor, Digital Pipeline and Technology departments to advise and develop new tools, techniques and technical solutions, and improve the environment creation workflow.
  
  

Qualifications

• 5+ years of high-end professional experience designing CG environments and backgrounds for photorealistic feature films and/or television.
• Excellent sense of color, lighting, texture, perspective and composition.
• Strong understanding of geography and landscape.
• Strong aesthetic sense and ability to interpret the unique 'style' of the film into 3D designs.
• Strong knowledge of 3D software including ZBrush, Mari, Maya, Terragen, World Creator, Houdini, Unreal Engine, Photoshop, and Nuke.
• Knowledge of Katana and Renderman, a plus.
• Ability to take direction and work both collaboratively and independently as a creative problem-solver.
• Deadline driven, able to multi-task and work well under pressure.
  
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; stand; sit; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear both in person and by telephone. The employee must lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee works under typical office conditions and is exposed to variable indoor temperatures. The noise level is usually quiet or moderate.
  
  

Location
On-site in Hillsboro, OR

Salary
Salary is commensurate with skills and experience.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.