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Story Artist Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

City of Rialto

Instructor

Rialto, CA · On-site

$24.17 - $26.66/hr

... such as storytelling, arts and crafts; inspects playground and day care facility equipment; cares for recreation equipment or supervises a subordinate in this work; ensures the safety of all ...

City of Rialto, CA

Instructor

Rialto, CA · On-site

$24.17 - $26.66/hr

... such as storytelling, arts and crafts; inspects playground and day care facility equipment; cares for recreation equipment or supervises a subordinate in this work; ensures the safety of all ...

Xpel

Digital Content Creator- Retail

Santa Ana, CA · On-site

Core Duties Creative Strategy & Storytelling * Conceive and develop original content concepts ... Direct the artistic execution of content projects, including visual composition, editorial style ...

SUNNY DISTRIBUTOR INC.

Video Editor

City Of Industry, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

... artistic editing techniques, and creating finished projects. To ensure success as a video editor ... Creative mind and storytelling skills. * Attention to detail and good time management skills.

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All JobsStory Artist JobsStory Artist Jobs in Riverside, CA

Story Artist information

See Riverside, CA salary details

$31.8K

$135.1K

$159.1K

How much do story artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for story artist in Riverside, CA is $135,145.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $132,500.00 and $158,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a story artist?

Story artists are creative professionals who visualize scripts, concepts, or ideas into a sequence of drawings known as storyboards. They work closely with directors, writers, and animators to map out how the story will unfold visually, helping to plan camera angles, character actions, and scene transitions. Story artists play a crucial role in animation, film, and video game production by ensuring that the narrative flows smoothly and effectively before production begins. Their work serves as a blueprint for the entire creative team.

How do story artists typically collaborate with directors and other departments during a production?

Story Artists work closely with directors to translate scripts into visual sequences, often participating in story meetings to refine narrative and pacing. They also interact with writers, editors, and other artists to ensure their storyboards align with the overall vision. Collaboration often involves receiving feedback and making revisions, as well as communicating ideas clearly to departments like layout, animation, and design. This teamwork is essential for maintaining consistency and achieving the creative goals of the project.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a story artist?

To thrive as a Story Artist, you need strong drawing skills, storytelling ability, and a solid understanding of cinematic language, often supported by a degree in animation, illustration, or a related field. Proficiency with digital art tools like Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, and familiarity with animation pipelines is essential. Creativity, collaboration, and the ability to accept and apply feedback are standout soft skills in this role. These skills are crucial for visually communicating narrative ideas, contributing to cohesive storytelling, and working effectively within production teams.

What is the difference between Story Artist vs Character Designer?

AspectStory ArtistCharacter Designer
Required SkillsStorytelling, sketching, visual storytelling, understanding of narrative flowCharacter drawing, design, anatomy, personality development
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, film production, story development teamsAnimation studios, character design departments, concept art teams
Industry UsageCreates storyboards to visualize scenes and sequencesDesigns characters for animation, film, and games

While both roles are integral to animation and film production, a Story Artist focuses on visual storytelling through storyboards, illustrating scenes and narrative flow. A Character Designer specializes in creating and developing characters' appearances and personalities. Both roles require artistic skills, but their focus areas differ, with Story Artists emphasizing storytelling and scene visualization, and Character Designers concentrating on character creation and design.

What job categories do people searching Story Artist jobs in Riverside, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Story Artist jobs in Riverside, CA are:
What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Story Artist jobs? Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Story Artist job openings:
Story Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Story Artist job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,145 per year, or $65 per hour.

Environment Artist (Senior/Principal)

Bonfire Studios

Irvine, CA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

What's the one game you couldn't put down? The game that connected you with friends, and made you feel like you belonged? If a game has ever defined a chapter of your life, then you already know the spark we're chasing. Our mission is to ignite that same feeling for players; the thrill of competition, the joy of community, and the belonging of finding your own corner of a larger world.
Great games begin with people who dare to dream big. If that sounds exciting, you might be exactly who we're looking for.
Bonfire is a group of experienced and ambitious developers, proud to be creating our first original IP: Arkheron. It is a fast-paced, competitive PVP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world where 15 teams of three battle their way up the Tower. In a world built from memories, you will loot powerful items to create and adapt a unique build-out that will change your strategy and combat experience with every Ascension.
The best way to understand our Art team is in their own words - here's how they describe their work.
Our goal is to immerse players in an extraordinary and haunting realm. From initial concept art to final in-game elements, we are crafting a compelling aesthetic experience that seamlessly blends with and brings to life the game's narrative, level design, combat and audio. We play the game daily and our deep understanding of it allows us to deliver visuals that put the player experience first, while still pushing artistic boundaries to fully capture the unique tone and unforgettable atmosphere of the Arkheron's world.
We are looking for a Senior/Principal Environment Artist with the technical grit to turn surreal concepts into high-fidelity, AAA landscapes. You aren't just an asset creator here - you are a primary architect. You will elevate the visual language of our first IP, translating our established world into immersive environments where every vista serves the story and every layout is purpose-built for competitive gameplay.
YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE BY:
  • Building high-quality, in-game environment art that brings the world of Arkheron to life-architecture, materials, props, vistas, and set dressing.
  • Owning environment assets end-to-end, from concept or blockout through final in-engine implementation.
  • Creating fully realized architectural kits, ensuring they are visually cohesive, performant, and flexible for level design.
  • Partnering closely with design, lighting, engineering, and other art disciplines to ensure environments support gameplay, readability, and visual storytelling.
  • Balancing artistic fidelity with gameplay and technical needs, making smart tradeoffs that serve player experience.
  • Conducting research and gathering reference to push quality, authenticity, and cohesion across the world.
  • Contributing ideas early and often, helping shape the visual language and identity of a new IP.
  • Operating with a high degree of autonomy, pushing work forward in a small, evolving team without needing rigid structure.
  • Wearing multiple hats, using your experience to contribute beyond pure asset creation when it benefits the game.
  • Collaborate with downstream departments to proactively follow your environmental work through production and into final implementation.
  • Helping shape the game and studio culture, bringing thoughtfulness, curiosity, and craftsmanship to how we build together.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU:
  • Are a strong, self-directed world builder who can take an idea from a rough sketch to a polished, in-game environment.
  • Have deep experience creating AAA-quality environment art, ideally with at least one shipped AAA title.
  • Bring a sharp eye for organic forms, architecture, materials, color, composition, and spatial storytelling.
  • Are proficient with industry-standard tools (Maya or equivalent, ZBrush, Photoshop, Substance, and real-time engines).
  • Understand the realities of game development pipelines, including optimization, lighting, PBR materials, UVs, and engine constraints.
  • Think developer- and product-first, caring about how environments affect gameplay, flow, and player experience.
  • Thrive in highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams, and communicate clearly with partners across the studio.
  • Are comfortable working through ambiguity and taking initiative without waiting for perfect direction.
  • Value trust, openness, and diverse perspectives.
  • Have a growth mindset and enjoy learning, experimenting, and refining your craft.
  • Want to make a meaningful impact in a tight-knit studio where your work visibly shapes the game.

THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE ROLE FOR YOU IF:
  • You prefer working in large, highly specialized teams with narrow ownership and rigid pipelines.
  • You need extremely detailed direction for every task and are uncomfortable navigating ambiguity.
  • You're most excited by standalone asset creation rather than holistic world building.
  • You're not interested in collaborating closely with design, lighting, and engineering.
  • You're looking for a role where responsibilities are strictly defined and don't evolve over time.
  • You're uninterested in contributing beyond your immediate discipline or shaping a new IP.

YOU'LL LOVE WORKING AT BONFIRE BECAUSE WE:
  • Embrace bold challenges with creativity and courage, making the tough calls to build a game we're proud to play every day.
  • Keep fun at the core: we play Arkheron daily, staying grounded as players. If it's not more fun than yesterday, we fix it. We don't chase trends; we listen by playing.
  • Stay truly independent, with decisions driven by the team - not by investors or a board.
  • Thrive in a culture of passion, trust, and shared ownership; where transparency matters and egos don't.

The base salary range for this role is $174,800 - $221,817. Depending on your experience and level (whether you're closer to mid-level or principal), your offer may land above or below that range. We don't just look at years on a résumé - we think about the impact you can have on the team and the game. Of course, compensation at Bonfire goes beyond salary. Every new teammate receives equity, plus a full benefits package and some extra perks to make work (and life) better. When we connect, we'll happily walk you through the full details.
Want to get a feel for what it's like to work here? You can check out more about our culture, team, benefits, and perks at www.bonfirestudios.com. And don't worry - anything you share with us in the application process is just for recruiting and won't be shared. You can read more in our privacy policy.

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