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Animation Lighting Artist Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Bachelor's degree in fine arts, communications, graphic design, or animation OR three (3) years related experience in the organizing, writing, storyboarding, shooting, editing, lighting, and ...

Bachelor's degree in fine arts, communications, graphic design, or animation OR three (3) years related experience in the organizing, writing, storyboarding, shooting, editing, lighting, and ...

Bachelor's degree in fine arts, communications, graphic design, or animation OR three (3) years related experience in the organizing, writing, storyboarding, shooting, editing, lighting, and ...

Animation Lighting Artist information

See Virginia salary details

$5

$28

$37

How much do animation lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation lighting artist in Virginia is $28.86, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.57 and $32.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an animation lighting artist do?

An Animation Lighting Artist is responsible for creating the lighting and shading in animated films, TV shows, or video games. They establish mood, atmosphere, and visual continuity by adjusting light sources, shadows, and reflections. Using software like Maya, Houdini, or Renderman, they work closely with the art and rendering teams to enhance scenes for storytelling. Their work ensures that characters and environments are visually appealing and convey the intended emotion.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animation lighting artist?

To thrive as an Animation Lighting Artist, you need a strong grasp of lighting theory, color, composition, and computer graphics, often backed by a degree in animation, visual effects, or a related field. Expertise with industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, RenderMan, and Arnold is commonly expected, and knowledge of render pipelines is highly valuable. Strong communication, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail help artists collaborate effectively and achieve a director's vision. These skills ensure the creation of visually compelling scenes that enhance storytelling and meet project deadlines in a team-oriented environment.

What are some typical challenges animation lighting artists face during production?

Animation Lighting Artists often encounter tight deadlines, frequent revisions, and the challenge of balancing artistic vision with technical constraints such as render times and optimization requirements. They must also collaborate closely with other team members, such as animators, compositors, and technical directors, to ensure consistency and maintain quality throughout the production process. Adaptability and problem-solving are key, as lighting needs may change based on evolving creative direction or feedback. Successfully overcoming these challenges contributes significantly to the visual storytelling and overall production value of the project.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Lighting Artist jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Animation Lighting Artist jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Animation Lighting Artist jobs in Virginia?

For Animation Lighting Artist jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animation Lighting Artist jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Animation Lighting Artist jobs in Virginia are:

Infographic showing various Animation Lighting Artist job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 73% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,027 per year, or $28.9 per hour.

Adjunct Faculty - Animation and Motion Design

Regent University

Virginia Beach, VA

$100/hr

Full-time, Part-time

Re-posted 7 days ago


Regent University rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

260th of 618 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Adjunct Faculty - Animation and Motion Design

Apply now Job no: 50000453
Work type: Part time
Location: Virginia Beach
Categories: Faculty & Adjunct, School of Communications & the Arts

The Department of Film & Media Arts at Regent University's School of Communication and the Arts invites applications from experienced animation and digital media professionals to join our adjunct faculty. We are building a pool of skilled instructors and will select candidates whose backgrounds best serve our students, so whatever your area of expertise within the craft, we encourage you to apply.

Disciplines and Delivery Formats

Teaching opportunities are available at the undergraduate level, at Regent's campus in Virginia Beach on-campus. We are actively seeking instructors with professional experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • 2D & 3D Animation
  • Character Animation
  • Storyboarding & Visual Development
  • Motion Design
  • Compositing
  • Visual Effects (VFX)
  • Digital Modeling, Texturing, and Look Development
  • Lighting and Rendering
  • Animation Pre-Production and Pipeline Development
  • Cinematography for Animation
  • Editing and Post-Production
  • Visual Storytelling and Narrative Development
  • Interactive Media and Emerging Technologies
Whether your background is in feature animation, television animation, motion graphics, commercial production, visual effects, game cinematics, virtual production, or a combination of these fields, we want to hear from you. We value depth of industry experience and a genuine passion for mentoring the next generation of Christian storytellers.

Expectations include 1) a dedication to Christ-centered teaching and learning; 2) a record of or potential for academic scholarship; 3) the ability to teach undergraduate-level courses; 4) facility with online instructional technology; and 5) a willingness to embrace the College and University Identity and Mission statements and subscribe to a statement of Christian faith.

Salary: $100/credit hour/student up to $3,000 per course

Please submit your CV, a brief statement of teaching philosophy, and any relevant professional credits along with your application.

Regent University does not discriminate in employment in its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status. For full Non-Discrimination Policy click here.

Benefits

Not eligible for benefits

#LI-DNI

Advertised: 08 Jun 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 08 Jun 2027 Eastern Daylight Time

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