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Junior Look Development Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Visual Development Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.90K - $4K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Visual Development Artist to join our team on an ... look and feel of fully realized worlds that enhance storytelling and create a rich cinematic ...

Skydance

Visual Development Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$2.90K - $4K/wk

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Visual Development Artist to join our team on an ... look and feel of fully realized worlds that enhance storytelling and create a rich cinematic ...

AGBO

Asset Artist

Los Angeles, CA

Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led independent studio shaping the ... Participate in look development and R&D to elevate visual fidelity while balancing performance ...

AGBO Films LLC

Asset Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led independent studio shaping the ... Participate in look development and R&D to elevate visual fidelity while balancing performance ...

AGBO

Asset Artist

Los Angeles, CA

About The Company Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led independent ... Participate in look development and R&D to elevate visual fidelity while balancing performance ...

AGBO

Asset Artist (Remote)

Los Angeles, CA · Remote

Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led independent studio shaping the ... Participate in look development and R&D to elevate visual fidelity while balancing performance ...

Scattermesh

3D Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

The role requires a skilled artist with strong understanding of lighting and rendering ... Skilled in look development and lighting for photorealistic renders * Skilled in replicating ...

Scattermesh

Senior Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$130.60K - $156.30K/yr

The role requires a skilled artist with strong understanding of lighting and rendering ... Mastery of look development and lighting for photorealistic renders, including human skin, eyes ...

Scattermesh

3D Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

The role requires a skilled artist with strong understanding of lighting and rendering ... Skilled in look development and lighting for photorealistic renders * Skilled in replicating ...

Scattermesh

Senior Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$130.60K - $156.30K/yr

The role requires a skilled artist with strong understanding of lighting and rendering ... Mastery of look development and lighting for photorealistic renders, including human skin, eyes ...

Dreamscape Learn

Junior Artist

Culver City, CA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

To be successful, the Jr. Artist must be knowledgeable in using industry-standard software tools ... Participate in the development of AAA quality environments and assets * Follow defined and ...

Embraer

Unreal Engine Technical Artist

Melbourne, FL

$117.70K - $140.90K/yr

... Look Development Design, build, and optimize complex Unreal materials and shaders using the ... Collaborate with artists to ensure assets are built correctly for Unreal ingestion. _____ 5) VFX ...

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Junior Look Development Artist information

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How much do junior look development artist jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior look development artist in the United States is $88,976.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $87,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Junior Look Development Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Look Development Artist, you need foundational skills in 3D modeling, texturing, shading, and lighting, often backed by a degree in computer graphics or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software like Maya, Substance Painter, Houdini, and rendering engines such as Arnold or V-Ray is typically expected. Attention to detail, creativity, and strong communication skills help you collaborate effectively and refine visual quality. These skills and qualities are crucial for creating realistic, visually appealing assets and integrating them seamlessly into production pipelines.

What are the common challenges faced by Junior Look Development Artists when collaborating with other departments?

Junior Look Development Artists often work closely with modeling, lighting, and compositing teams to ensure that the visual style and materials of assets are consistent with the project’s artistic direction. One common challenge is adapting textures and shaders to work seamlessly under various lighting conditions or across different rendering engines. Clear communication and openness to feedback are essential, as assets may need multiple revisions based on input from supervisors and other departments. Building strong collaborative skills early on helps streamline the workflow and ensures that the final look aligns with the studio’s vision.

What does a Junior Look Development Artist do?

A Junior Look Development Artist is responsible for creating the visual appearance of 3D models in films, games, or animations. They work on textures, shaders, and materials to make digital assets look realistic or stylized according to the project's needs. Typically, they collaborate closely with modeling, lighting, and rendering teams to ensure consistency and quality. This entry-level role is ideal for those starting their careers in visual effects or animation, providing foundational experience in asset surfacing and rendering workflows.

What is the difference between Junior Look Development Artist vs Junior Character Artist?

AspectJunior Look Development ArtistJunior Character Artist
Required SkillsMaterial creation, shading, lighting, texture setupModeling, sculpting, topology, UV mapping
Work EnvironmentVFX, animation, gaming, film industriesVideo game studios, animation, film production
Common TasksDeveloping surface looks, refining visual styleCreating character models, detailing characters

While both roles require a strong understanding of 3D art, the Junior Look Development Artist focuses on creating and refining the surface appearance of assets, such as textures and materials, whereas the Junior Character Artist specializes in modeling and sculpting characters. Both roles are essential in the production pipeline and often work closely together to achieve cohesive visual results.

More about Junior Look Development Artist jobs
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What are the most commonly searched types of Look Development Artist jobs? The most popular types of Look Development Artist jobs are:
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Junior Look Development Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Look Development Artist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,976 per year, or $42.8 per hour.
Visual Development Artist

Visual Development Artist

Skydance

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$2.90K - $4K/wk

Full-time

Posted 16 hours ago

Job description

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Visual Development Artist to join our team on an upcoming feature film. In this role, you will help shape the worlds our story takes place in by developing compelling, immersive environments that support narrative, mood, themes, and character.
You will generate a wide range of visual development materials, including environmental designs, drawings, models, floor plans, and set dressing elements, all while ensuring consistency with the film's established style, story themes, and overall visual quality. Working closely with Production Designer, art department, and creative leadership you will help define the look and feel of fully realized worlds that enhance storytelling and create a rich cinematic experience.
The ideal candidate has a strong sense of design, composition, and storytelling through environments, with the ability to translate narrative needs into believable, visually engaging spaces.
Previous experience on a feature animated film is required.
This position is based in Los Angeles, California, and requires the selected candidate to work in an on-site hybrid capacity.
Responsibilities
  • Create art for project concepts, environments, set designs, and related visual development elements (textures and surface details are a plus)
  • Generate work across all stages of development, including sketches, rough explorations, refined designs, and final environment concepts
  • Develop environment designs, including turnarounds, floor plans, and layout studies to support spatial storytelling and production needs
  • Create set dressing and environmental detail callouts to help define world-building elements and visual continuity
  • Produce 2D and/or CG visual development models to explore scale, composition, and cinematic staging of environments
  • Conduct visual and narrative research to inform design decisions and ensure environments feel grounded, intentional, and story-driven
  • Develop presentation materials that clearly communicate design intent, mood, and storytelling purpose
  • Brainstorm and explore inventive environmental ideas that enhance storytelling, deepen world-building, and reinforce tone and emotion
  • Apply strong knowledge of architecture, landscape design, and spatial composition to create believable and engaging environments
  • Contribute creative solutions, respond effectively to feedback, and iterate on designs throughout production
  • Meet production schedules and deadlines while maintaining a high level of artistic quality and consistency
  • Maintain organized files following show-specific versioning and naming conventions
  • Proactively communicate questions, issues, or production concerns to supervisors and production staff
  • Revise and resubmit work as needed based on feedback from the Production Designer or Art Department leadership
  • Collaborate closely with the Production Designer, art team, leadership, and production staff regarding status updates, progress, and any production challenges

Requirements
  • 8+ years of experience in environment design/ visual development on animated feature films
  • Strong visual storytelling skills, with the ability to design environments that support narrative, mood, and character action
  • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present work clearly and respond effectively to feedback
  • Strong understanding of architecture, perspective, composition, and spatial design
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as collaboratively within a team environment
  • Adaptable and responsive to evolving creative direction and production needs
  • Working knowledge of Autodesk Maya, Blender, or ZBrush is a plus
  • Must be, or be willing to become, a member of The Animation Guild Local 839

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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