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Senior Visual Development Artist Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

Perform research as necessary to support visual development. * Work with Art Director and Leads to provide feedback and guidance to artists. * Create storyboards, background illustrations, and ...

Senior Visual Database Lead

Arlington, TX · On-site

$95K - $129K/yr

Recognition, professional development, advancement and having fun! Summary This position resides within the Content & HPC (High Performance Computing) group, specifically as a Lead Geospatial ...

Senior Visual Database Lead

Arlington, TX

$95K - $129K/yr

Recognition, professional development, advancement and having fun! Summary This position resides within the Content & HPC (High Performance Computing) group, specifically as a Lead Geospatial ...

Senior Technical Artist

Frisco, TX · On-site

$118K - $142K/yr

Analyze memory and performance throughout a project's development. * Create efficient and user ... Strong balance of creative/visual aesthetics and technical skills. Gearbox Entertainment believes ...

Senior Technical Artist

Frisco, TX

$118K - $142K/yr

Analyze memory and performance throughout a project's development. * Create efficient and user ... Strong balance of creative/visual aesthetics and technical skills. Gearbox Entertainment believes ...

... development of acquired properties including Duke Nukem, Risk of Rain, and Homeworld. The company ... Responsibilities * Work with the visual effects team to create impressive real-time particle ...

... development of acquired properties including Duke Nukem, Risk of Rain, and Homeworld. The company ... Responsibilities * Work with the visual effects team to create impressive real-time particle ...

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Senior Visual Development Artist information

What is the difference between Senior Visual Development Artist vs Concept Artist?

AspectSenior Visual Development ArtistConcept Artist
CredentialsPortfolio, relevant art degrees, experience in visual storytellingPortfolio, art degrees, strong drawing skills
Work EnvironmentFilm, animation, gaming studios, collaborative teamsPre-production, brainstorming sessions, independent or team projects
Industry UsageUsed in animation, gaming, film for visual style developmentPrimarily in entertainment, gaming, film for initial design concepts

The main difference is that Senior Visual Development Artists focus on creating the overall visual style and look for projects, working closely with art directors. Concept Artists primarily generate initial character, environment, and object designs during early production stages. Both roles require strong artistic skills and industry experience, but their focus and stage of involvement differ.

How does a Senior Visual Development Artist typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

As a Senior Visual Development Artist, you will frequently collaborate with directors, art directors, character designers, and 3D modelers to ensure a unified visual style across the project. Your role often involves translating story concepts into detailed visuals that serve as references for other departments. Effective communication and the ability to receive and incorporate feedback are essential, as you’ll participate in regular reviews and brainstorming sessions to align creative direction. This collaborative environment allows you to contribute to the overall artistic vision while learning from cross-functional teams.

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

To thrive as a Senior Visual Development Artist, you need advanced drawing and painting skills, a strong understanding of color theory and composition, and a portfolio showcasing experience in concept art for animation or games. Mastery of digital painting tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, and familiarity with 3D software like Blender or Maya is often expected. Strong communication, creative problem-solving, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the effective translation of storytelling ideas into compelling visuals that drive the overall look and feel of a project.

What is a Senior Visual Development Artist?

A Senior Visual Development Artist is a creative professional who helps define the visual style, mood, and look of animated films, video games, or other media projects. They create concept art, color scripts, environments, characters, and props that guide the production team in achieving a cohesive visual direction. Senior artists in this role are also responsible for mentoring junior artists, collaborating with directors and other departments, and ensuring that the visual storytelling aligns with the project's vision. Their work is critical in establishing a project’s unique identity and atmosphere.
What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Development Artist jobs in Texas? The most popular types of Visual Development Artist jobs in Texas are:
Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Nintendo

Austin, TX

$125K - $144K/yr

Other

Medical, PTO

Posted 5 hours ago


Nintendo rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

183rd of 245 rated software companies


Job description

THIS IS AN ONSITE CONTRACT POSITION - Austin, TX 

Position includes: 

  • Paid weekly
  • Health care benefits available
  • Paid time-off provided
  • Paid holidays observed
  • Access to Nintendo discounts

RETRO STUDIOS: 

Founded in 1998, Retro Studios is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd., and a powerhouse in game development. Working hand-in-hand with Nintendo, we craft award-winning titles for the company's cutting-edge platforms, blending innovation, artistry, and gameplay excellence. 

Our home base is Austin, Texas, a vibrant city known for its creative energy, live music, stunning natural scenery, and forward-thinking culture. With year-round sunshine and endless options for outdoor adventures, Austin offers the perfect backdrop for world-class developers to stay inspired, balanced, and at the top of their game. 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:    

  • Collaborate with the Art Director, Artists, and Designers to define the look of our games by working to establish consistent visuals for characters, environments, props, and effects, with an emphasis on boss characters.
  • Work closely with Design to rapidly iterate gameplay thumbnails to be used in conjunction with design specifications to communicate gameplay properties, interactions and sequencing of boss characters.
  • Adopt a broad range of styles from realistic to highly stylized based on goals and direction for a given project to produce concept art with an appropriate sense of color, drama, shape language, personality, and design.
  • Take ownership of concept work for various game features while actively collaborating with other disciplines such as Design, Art, and Engineering to achieve high-quality, innovative concept art.
  • Produce boss, character, environment, and prop concept art in the form of thumbnails, sketches, breakdowns, reference sheets, paintings, and other digital imagery.
  • Provide visual contextualization support for game design efforts at all stages.
  • Perform research as necessary to support visual development.
  • Work with Art Director and Leads to provide feedback and guidance to artists.
  • Create storyboards, background illustrations, and promotional artwork.
  • Provide and receive feedback professionally. 

*This job description outlines primary duties and requirements and is not intended to identify all tasks that may be performed; individuals occupying the position may be required to perform other duties.  The company may modify job duties from time to time, either in practice or in writing. 

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS:   

  • Has 3 or more years' gaming industry experience as a concept artist, including at least one complete product cycle shipping AAA title.
  • Must present online portfolio with high-quality, varied examples of character and environment concept art.
  • Excellent 2D drawing skills with a strong grasp of composition, color theory, perspective, lighting, environment and architecture.
  • Examples of modern rendering process using 3D art and modeling tools (Maya, Blender).
  • Mastery of fundamental artistic principles.
  • Experience executing a wide range of artistic styles.
  • Good communicator, self-motivated, driven to grow professionally.
  • Undergraduate degree in art-related subject, completion of an intensive art training program, or equivalent professional experience. 

Retro Studios is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers we represent, and the communities we call home. We do all of this with kindness, empathy, and respect for each other. 


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