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Lookdev Artist Jobs in British Columbia (NOW HIRING)

Texture Artist

Vancouver, BC ยท On-site

CA$36.06 - CA$48.08/hr

Work with other asset departments to create realistic or stylised textures for 3D assets of various styles and complexities Collaborate with Lookdev artists to achieve the desired look Follow the ...

Environment Artist

Vancouver, BC ยท On-site

CA$36.06 - CA$48.08/hr

... Artist will be responsible for the design and creation of detailed large-scale full-CG and matte ... Basic lookdev setup * Environment dressing/layout * Scattering tools & manual layout * Matte ...

Crowd Artists

Vancouver, BC ยท On-site

CA$83K - CA$93K/yr

To pull off the epic scale required for this project, we need a talented Crowd Artist who loves ... Work closely with the FX department, Lookdev, Lighting, Animation department, and your CG ...

Senior Software Engineer, Houdini

Vancouver, BC ยท On-site

CA$150K - CA$210K/yr

... spans lookdev, lighting, CFX, and FX, using USD and Solaris as a backbone. They leverage their ... Communicate with artists to identify areas of inefficiency and help gather their requirements

Mid Compositor

Vancouver, BC ยท On-site

CA$35 - CA$40/hr

... artistic direction. Your Role * Finalizes the overall look, colour balance, and quality for shots ... Lookdev experience is a bonus We Offer * Flexible hybrid/remote work environment * Strong emphasis ...

Lookdev Artist information

What is a lookdev artist?

Lookdev Artists, short for Look Development Artists, are professionals in the visual effects (VFX), animation, and gaming industries responsible for defining the appearance of digital assets. They create the materials, textures, shaders, and lighting that give 3D models their final look, making sure they appear realistic or stylistically appropriate for the project. Lookdev Artists collaborate closely with modelers, lighting artists, and art directors to ensure visual consistency and achieve the desired artistic vision. Their work is crucial in bridging the gap between the creative concept and the technical execution of digital imagery.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lookdev artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lookdev Artist, you need a strong foundation in 3D modeling, texturing, shading, and rendering, often supported by a degree in art, animation, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Maya, Houdini, Substance Painter, and rendering engines like Arnold or V-Ray is essential. Attention to detail, creativity, and effective communication with other departments set standout professionals apart in this role. These skills ensure that assets meet both artistic vision and technical requirements, resulting in visually compelling projects.

How does a lookdev artist typically collaborate with other departments during a production?

A Lookdev Artist works closely with modeling, lighting, and compositing teams to ensure that the visual assets meet the creative vision and technical requirements of the project. Communication is key, as Lookdev Artists often need to adjust materials or textures based on feedback from supervisors or changes in lighting setups. They also collaborate with pipeline developers to ensure assets are optimized for rendering. This collaborative environment helps maintain consistency and efficiency across the production process.

What is the difference between Lookdev Artist vs Texture Artist?

AspectLookdev ArtistTexture Artist
CredentialsPortfolio, relevant art or technical backgroundPortfolio, focus on texturing skills
Work EnvironmentVFX, animation, gaming studiosVFX, animation, gaming studios
ResponsibilitiesDefines material properties, shading, lighting for realistic or stylized looksCreates surface textures, maps, and details for models

The Lookdev Artist focuses on defining how surfaces look under various lighting conditions, including shading and material properties. The Texture Artist specializes in creating detailed surface textures and maps to enhance visual realism. While both roles work closely in the asset creation pipeline, the Lookdev Artist emphasizes material setup and lighting, whereas the Texture Artist concentrates on surface detail and surface quality.

What are popular job titles related to Lookdev Artist jobs in British Columbia?

For Lookdev Artist jobs in British Columbia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Lookdev Artist jobs in British Columbia look for?

The top searched job categories for Lookdev Artist jobs in British Columbia are:

Infographic showing various Lookdev Artist job openings in British Columbia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 27% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution.

Texture & Look Development Artist - Mid (Short-Term)

Image Engine Design

Vancouver, BC โ€ข On-site

CA$85K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago


Job description

Position: Look Development & Texture Artist - Mid

Hiring Range: $85,800 to 101,400/year for a 40 hour work week

Project Contract: $Start as soon as possible - 3month contract

Company Benefits:Extended healthcare from day 1, premiums 100% covered by Image Engine, up to 8 paid Health and Wellness days per year.


*Candidates are required to be based in British Columbia and eligible to work in Canada.*


ABOUT IMAGE ENGINE


Image Engineis a world-class VFX studio based in Vancouver, BC, that has built a reputation for excellence in the visual effects industry since 1995. We specialize in crafting stunning visual effects for feature films and television with anaward-winning portfoliothat includes Skeleton Crew, The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones, Lost in Space, Jurassic World, and District 9.


We offer a full range of visual effects services, from concept designs and pre-visualization to CG animation, compositing, and explosive volumetric digital effects. Our crew is passionate about storytelling and pushing the artistic and technical boundaries to deliver the highest quality work on every project. R&D is central to our philosophy of driving creativity through innovation and we're committed to continually evolving our robust production pipelines.


At Image Engine, we value diversity and teamwork, and we're proud to foster a workplace culture that is supportive, respectful, and empowering. We believe that our success is a reflection of our exceptionally talented team, and we're always looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join us on our mission to create unforgettable visual experiences. Join our team and be part of something extraordinary.


POSITION PURPOSE


The Texture/Look Development Artist is responsible for delivering high quality assets across multiple shows in a quick and efficient manner. They will apply notes provided by the Asset Supervisors/Texture and Look Dev Leads. They will manage their time effectively to ensure tasks are completed within the assigned timeframe and to the specifications required by Image Engine clients. They will identify and troubleshoot problems as needed and will ask for assistance when necessary to ensure effective use of time and resources.

They will begin quality checking their own work and assisting Senior artists to develop new concepts and approaches to improve work quality. They will participate in team meetings when necessary


DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES


  • Address your Lead's feedback while providing solutions to improve the assets, and maintaining a high level of quality.
  • Process requests from other departments in the pipeline
  • Manage time and resources to meet weekly targets
  • Responsible for painting characters or assets for multiple shows simultaneously
  • Write and/or modify custom Arnold/OSL shaders to realize the desired look for production integration
  • Define standard render passes
  • Assist in developing standard lighting rigs & setups for look development
  • Provide dailied versions for assigned tasks in an agreed upon time by your Supervisor/ Lead
  • Attend dailies, reviews, and team meetings as required
  • Keep supervisors apprised of issues arising in pre-production and shot production and offer creative solutions to those issues
  • Work closely with Lead Texture Artist, Lead Lookdev Artist, Lead Lighting TD's and supervisors to ensure that all assets work within the scope of lighting & color pipeline requirements
  • Work with a team of artists in a hands-on capacity to ensure technically and artistically proper implementation of textured and look developed assets
  • Communicate with the R&D/ shader developer in order to ensure all necessary parameters and functionality are included in production shaders
  • Work closely with texture and look development artists to create necessary texture maps for application to creatures, props and environments


EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE


  • 3+ years' of texture painting and look development experience with high end film
  • Demonstrated proficiency in defining and creating photo-realistic assets
  • Experience with rendering large datasets
  • Thorough understanding of traditional art skills (Form, architecture, anatomy, topology, color theory) and how to apply those skills in a digital medium
  • Excellent attention to detail when finalizing, approving or quality controlling assets
  • Ability to balance quick turnaround while achieving a high degree of aesthetic quality


SKILLS AND ABILITIES


Technical skills

  • Intermediate level experience in Python / OSL / Arnold / MEL / C++
  • Proven experience in Maya / Mari / Photoshop / UVlayout / Node based lighting and lookdev package ( Katana / Gaffer)
  • Experience with Linux/UNIX


Core skills

  • Ability to troubleshoot and deal with competing priorities and projects
  • Ability to adapt quickly to new technologies and applications
  • Ability to push assets to the next level
  • Excellent time management and communication skills