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Cg Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Art Director

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... lighting, and effects, to maintain artistic consistency and elevate the quality of every frame ... CG animated feature films a plus * Demonstrated ability to develop visual ideas from initial ...

15 FINGERS LLC

VFX Artist / Video Editor

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$65K/yr

Deep practical understanding of lighting and composition principles -- for 3D/CG work as well as evaluating and enhancing live-action footage -- even without a camera-operation background. * Comfort ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... and Visual Development Artists how to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream CG ... lighting and color theory * Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop * Experience working hands-on with ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

... and Visual Development Artists how to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream CG ... lighting and color theory * Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop * Experience working hands-on with ...

Canoo

Creative / Art Director

Justin, TX · On-site

$142K - $150K/yr

An understanding of digital programs/tools for stills, animation, lighting, and shading Required ... Experience with creating photoreal CG environments is a bonus * Experience with Unreal Engine (AR ...

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How much do cg lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for cg lighting artist in the United States is $24.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.55 and $27.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a CG lighting artist?

A CG Lighting Artist is responsible for creating the lighting setup in computer-generated (CG) environments to enhance mood, depth, and realism in animated films, visual effects, or games. They work with 3D models, textures, and shaders to ensure that scenes are visually compelling and consistent with the artistic vision. Using software like Maya, Houdini, or Unreal Engine, they adjust light sources, shadows, and reflections to achieve the desired look. Their work plays a crucial role in storytelling by emphasizing emotions and guiding the viewer’s eye.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the CG lighting artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a CG Lighting Artist, you need a solid background in 3D art, a keen understanding of lighting theory, and strong visual storytelling skills, usually supported by a degree in animation, art, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Houdini, and rendering engines like Arnold or V-Ray is essential, and experience with compositing tools like Nuke is often required. Attention to detail, communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in creative teams are vital soft skills. These abilities ensure visually compelling results that meet creative vision and project deadlines in fast-paced production environments.

What are the typical responsibilities and workflow for a CG lighting artist in a production studio?

As a CG Lighting Artist, your primary responsibility is to create and refine lighting setups that enhance the mood, depth, and realism of digital scenes in animation or visual effects projects. You’ll work closely with other departments like modeling, texturing, and compositing to ensure the final images align with the project's artistic direction. Daily tasks often involve setting up light rigs, adjusting render settings, troubleshooting technical issues, and performing quality checks on rendered frames. Collaboration and regular feedback sessions with art directors and supervisors are common, so being adaptable and receptive to critique is important. This role offers opportunities to develop specialized expertise and advance to lead or supervisory positions with experience and demonstrated artistic vision.

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Cg Lighting Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cg Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,263 per year, or $24.6 per hour.

Art Director

Skydance

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

Skydance Animation is seeking an Art Director to help shape the visual identity of an upcoming animated feature film. This role is central to defining and executing the overall look and feel of the film, ensuring a cohesive and compelling visual experience that supports both story and character.
The Art Director will report to the Production Designer and will work in close partnership with the Director and the rest of the creative leadership team to bring the film's visual vision to life, translating conceptual ideas into a clear and actionable visual direction for the broader art team. Throughout production, they will collaborate across departments, including environments, characters, lighting, and effects, to maintain artistic consistency and elevate the quality of every frame.
This position requires a strong artistic sensibility, a deep understanding of visual storytelling, and the ability to lead and inspire artists in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. The ideal candidate is both a visionary and a problem-solver and someone who can balance creative ambition with production realities while pushing the film's aesthetic to new heights.
Prior experience on an animated feature film is required.
Responsibilities
  • Champion and help execute the Director's creative vision for the film's visual identity, in close partnership with the Production Designer, ensuring consistency and excellence from development through final delivery
  • Define, develop, and clearly communicate the film's artistic style, with a particular focus on environments, sets, props, and color design, establishing a cohesive visual language across all departments
  • Create and contribute high-quality concept art, visual development materials, and key imagery
  • Collaborate with the Production Designer to lead and oversee the Los Angeles and Madrid based Art Departments, fostering alignment, consistency, and a unified creative direction across global teams (including occasional travel as needed)
  • Provide ongoing artistic direction, feedback, and mentorship to team members, supporting their growth while maintaining high creative standards
  • Work closely with studio leadership, production, and technical teams to align on creative goals, production timelines, tools, and budget, balancing artistic ambition with practical execution
  • Prepare and deliver compelling presentations that communicate the film's visual direction to studio executives, stakeholders, and external partners
  • Partner with production leadership, Talent Development, and Talent Acquisition to identify, evaluate, and help secure top artistic talent for key roles across departments (both internally and externally)
  • Facilitate clear and proactive communication across departments
  • Other duties as assigned

Requirements
  • 6 years of experience working on animated feature productions; experience in leading or supervising an Art Department, preferably within CG animated feature films a plus
  • Demonstrated ability to develop visual ideas from initial concept through final execution, with a strong sense of ownership and creative problem-solving
  • Exceptional understanding of design fundamentals, including composition, color theory, lighting, shape language, and visual storytelling
  • Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to guide, motivate, and develop artists in a collaborative production environment
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize across multiple demands while maintaining a high standard of artistic quality
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset and the ability to clearly articulate creative direction to diverse teams
  • Ability to balance creative vision with production realities, aligning the needs of the show, department, and studio
  • Solid understanding of animation production pipelines, workflows, and tools, with proficiency in industry standard software such as Adobe Photoshop
  • Experience working across multiple locations or with distributed teams is a plus

The compensation range for this non-exempt position in Los Angeles, CA is $2,900-4,000/week. The rate offered may vary based on the candidate's location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors. The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc.
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