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Color Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Scattermesh

3D Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA

Construct Reality - Create and maintain the overall look, color, and quality across multiple sequences to create storylines. * Collaborate - Work alongside your fellow artists and studio managers to ...

Scattermesh

Senior Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA

$130K - $156K/yr

Construct Reality - Create and maintain the overall look, color, and quality across multiple sequences to create storylines. * Collaborate - Work with artists, leads, and supervisors to understand ...

Columbia College Chicago

Teaching Artist

Chicago, IL

$6.8K/mo

ALIZE, the premier early college arts program in Chicago. Drawing high school juniors and seniors ... The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation ...

Creative Action

Teaching Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$20/hr

We recruit, train, compensate, uplift and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national ... Arts. We know that our company would not succeed without the dedication and hard work of our ...

Columbia College Chicago

Teaching Artist

Chicago, IL

$6.8K/mo

ALIZE, the premier early college arts program in Chicago. Drawing high school juniors and seniors ... The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation ...

ALLEY THEATRE

Overhire Scenery Artist

Houston, TX · On-site

$17.50/hr

Rob Melrose, Artistic Director at the Alley, took over as artistic leader of the organization in ... Knowledge of painting techniques and color mixing * Ability to read and interpret working drawings ...

Creative Action

Teaching Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$20/hr

We recruit, train, compensate, uplift and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national ... Arts. We know that our company would not succeed without the dedication and hard work of our ...

ALLEY THEATRE

Overhire Scenery Artist

Houston, TX

$17.50/hr

Rob Melrose, Artistic Director at the Alley, took over as artistic leader of the organization in ... Knowledge of painting techniques and color mixing * Ability to read and interpret working drawings ...

Columbia College Chicago

Teaching Artist

Chicago, IL

$6.8K/mo

ALIZE, the premier early college arts program in Chicago. Drawing high school juniors and seniors ... The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation ...

Columbia College Chicago

Teaching Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$6.8K/mo

ALIZE, the premier early college arts program in Chicago. Drawing high school juniors and seniors ... The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation ...

ProSidian Consulting

Graphic Artist

Charlotte, NC · On-site

$115K - $137K/yr

Graphic Artist Conceptualizes and renders graphics based on the proposal content, working in ... Prepares color separations for maps or graphics and various other visual aids for divisional ...

TRICK 3D

TECHNICAL ARTIST

Atlanta, GA

$122K - $146K/yr

The ideal Technical Artist will be a technical problem-solver and have a passion for technical ... We don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual ...

Trick 3d

TECHNICAL ARTIST

Atlanta, GA

$120K - $144K/yr

The ideal Technical Artist will be a technical problem-solver and have a passion for technical ... We don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual ...

Pacific Sportswear

Production Artist

Tacoma, WA · On-site

Your roll as a production artist in the art department is to ensure accuracy and prepare customer artwork and color separated art for Screen Printing and to produce heat transfers with. To be ...

Swaybox Studios

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · Hybrid

$122K - $146K/yr

Deep understanding of visual language- color, scale, perspective, proportion, spatial awareness ... An artistic mindset and willingness to receive and implement constructive feedback, whether that ...

Kids' Orchestra

Teaching Artist

Baton Rouge, LA · On-site

$50 - $60/hr

Teaching Artist Kids' Orchestra - Baton Rouge, LA POSITION SUMMARY Kids' Orchestra is a year-round ... We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual ...

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Color Artist information

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$30.5K

$129.5K

$152.5K

How much do color artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for color artist in the United States is $129,541.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,000.00 and $152,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is colorist a difficult job?

A colorist is responsible for applying color to images or videos, often requiring strong artistic skills and proficiency with software like Adobe Photoshop or DaVinci Resolve. The job can be challenging due to tight deadlines and the need for attention to detail, but it is manageable with experience and technical knowledge.

How to become a color artist?

To become a color artist, typically a candidate needs a strong foundation in art and design, often demonstrated through a bachelor's degree in fine arts, illustration, or a related field. Developing skills in digital painting software such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Painter, building a portfolio, and gaining experience through internships or freelance work are important steps. Knowledge of color theory, shading, and lighting enhances proficiency in creating visually compelling artwork for various media.

What does a typical workday look like for a Color Artist working on a team project?

A typical workday for a Color Artist involves receiving line art or sketches from other artists, carefully applying colors in line with the project’s style guidelines, and communicating frequently with lead artists, art directors, or writers to ensure consistency and quality. You might review feedback, adjust palettes, and manage several drafts simultaneously to meet production deadlines. Collaboration is central, as you’ll often attend team meetings, share progress updates, and sometimes help brainstorm visual concepts. This dynamic environment requires a balance between creative autonomy and teamwork, making each day varied and engaging. Over time, Color Artists may take on more complex projects or progress to art direction roles.

What is a Color Artist job?

A Color Artist is responsible for enhancing the visual appeal of artwork, animations, comics, or films by selecting and applying colors that align with the project's style and mood. They work closely with designers, animators, and directors to ensure consistency and emotional impact. Their tasks may include creating color palettes, shading, and lighting effects. Color Artists require a strong understanding of color theory, composition, and digital tools.

What is the 80/20 rule for artists?

The 80/20 rule for artists suggests that approximately 80% of results come from 20% of efforts, meaning focusing on the most impactful techniques or projects can improve productivity and quality. For a color artist, prioritizing key color choices and techniques can lead to more effective and efficient artwork creation.

Can you make a career out of coloring?

A career as a color artist involves creating color palettes, illustrations, or designs for various media such as animation, gaming, or publishing. Success requires strong artistic skills, proficiency with digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, and a portfolio demonstrating your work. Many color artists work freelance or as part of creative teams, and building a reputation can lead to ongoing opportunities in the industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Color Artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Color Artist, you need a solid understanding of color theory, strong artistic skills, and experience with visual storytelling, typically backed by a degree in art, illustration, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard digital tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or similar software is essential, and familiarity with file formatting and layer management is highly valued. Attention to detail, collaboration, and the ability to meet deadlines are key soft skills that help Color Artists excel. These skills are crucial for delivering high-quality colored illustrations that enhance the visual narrative and align with client or team expectations.

More about Color Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Color Artist jobs? Cities with the most Color Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Color Artist jobs? The most popular types of Color Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Color Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Color Artist jobs include:
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Color Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Color Artist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 47% Full Time, and 53% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $129,541 per year, or $62.3 per hour.

3D Lighting Artist

Scattermesh

Herndon, VA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Scattermesh is a fast-paced small company looking to disrupt, transform, and innovate on behalf of our clients. We are inventors, technologists, artisans, problem solvers, and collaborators seeking to redefine the content experience by changing how content is managed and delivered to clients. We have an amazing team and we want to add a few talented revolutionaries who want to make a difference solving hard problems. Create your story and start making an indelible impact today.
Job Summary
Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire 3D Lighting artists to work across client projects on a full time basis on-site in Herndon, VA. The role requires a skilled artist with strong understanding of lighting and rendering photorealistic images of primarily organic characters. The ideal candidate will have experience lighting scenes from photo reference and should have a strong understanding of customizing shaders to replicate real interactions between surfaces and light.
Responsibilities and Duties
  • Realize the Vision - Elevate high quality 3D character models by optimizing textures and shaders to create realistic renders.
  • Construct Reality - Create and maintain the overall look, color, and quality across multiple sequences to create storylines.
  • Collaborate - Work alongside your fellow artists and studio managers to meet the needs of today while preparing for and solving the problems of tomorrow.

Qualifications and Skills
  • 1-9+ years' experience as a 3D artist or relevant portfolio
  • Strong artistic fundamentals - scale, composition, perspective, proportion, mass and volume, light and color, and surface properties
  • Understanding of real-world lighting and photography, exposure, color grading, lens and camera behavior and HDR workflows
  • Mastery of standard art packages such as Maya, Arnold, Substance / Adobe Painter, etc
  • Skilled in look development and lighting for photorealistic renders
  • Skilled in replicating physically accurate lighting environments in 3D
  • Understanding of PBR rendering and optimizations using Arnold or similar engines
  • Experience working within an established studio pipeline and file structure
  • Is self-motivated and self-reliant
  • Must have a learning mind-set
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
  • US citizenship required

Benefits and Perks
Scattermesh is as obsessed about our employees as our customers. We want to provide great benefits and perks so you can focus on making an impact. We recognize that industry is moving away from better benefits so we have decided to do our part to start reversing the trend. Join us in our quest to disrupt, transform and innovate.
Benefits
  • Competitive Market Leading Pay
  • 25-30 days - Paid Time Off (PTO) / Holiday
  • 100% Company paid medical/dental/vision/plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • 401(k) Matching with no cliff vest

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