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Ekaterina Maximova

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Ekaterina Maximova, I’m an Artist and Animator.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
The most crazy job I ever had was purifying onions in a snack bar near my College. I got there accidentally and it was only a 4-days job . After that, I promised myself to work solely in Art, no more experiments).  I also worked as a Scenery Artist just after my graduation. Actually, my major is “Theatrical Scenery painting”, so I worked in the specialty. It was a very interesting job, but I understood that I need something else.

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
It was the first time when I meet with Traditional Animation. I took part in the feature movie “Dobrynya Nikitich i Zmey Gorynych”. This is a story about characters of Traditional Russian folklore. It was a great job and a wonderful time! I made cel-Animation, met great people. I remember that moment when I saw my name in the movie’s titles, I was so excited and proud of myself.

How did you become interested in animation?
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be an Artist, and I always Continue reading

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Texture Artist-DreamWorks TV

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Title: Texture Artist, TV

Department:   Texture

Reports To: Line Producer, TV  / Art Director, TV/VFX Supervisor

Apply HERE.

Summary:

The Texture Artist will primarily paint 2D line art in Photoshop to give the characters, locations and props the final CG look of the show. In addition, they will specifically describe the texture, color and material properties for the surface of the asset.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Utilize Photoshop to paint 2D line art to give the characters, locations and props the final CG look of the show. It would be beneficial to have some experience painting CG models in Mari.
  • Able to align with style of the show and utilize specific styles to texture characters, props, and sets.
  • Collaborate with the Art Director and VFX Supervisor to help create the textures for our CG assets.
Required Skills
Requirements:

 

  • Minimum 2 years’ experience in the television, feature film or gaming industries.
  • Strong background in texture painting, color theory and application.
  • Able to paint, texture and demonstrate strong artistic skills.
  • Experience creating high quality texture maps, including all supporting maps (transparency, specular, bump, etc).
  • Understanding of the CG pipeline, UV layout and principles.
  • Mari, Maya and UV unwrapping skills a plus, but are not required.
  • Flexible to changes, able to multitask, prioritize and follow through on requests.
Job Location
Glendale , California, United States
Position Type
Full-Time/Regular
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Character Modeler-DreamWorks TV

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DreamWorks Animation

Apply HERE.

Title:               Character Modeler, TV

Department:   TV Production HUB

Reports To:    Production Supervisor, TV

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsible for creating models during prebuild including characters, character blend shapes, and character UV unwraps.

  • Ensure that character assets are of high quality while staying within the production’s parameters, pipeline and schedule detailed and adaptable to various styles.
  • Generate overview notes for the designs in order to meet the requirements for the production.
  • Responsible for ensuring all deliverables are completed on time and according to production standards.
  • Ensure that creative and technical Modeling standards are adhered to by partner studio within the confines of the production schedule.
  • Provide recommendation and suggestions for designs and animatics while ensuring timelines are met.
  • Document workflows and processes using Camtasia video and Publisher software.
  • Review & note assets submitted by our Partner Studios.
  • Serve as character modeling point person in show specific meetings and reviews.
  • Complete all tasks within a timely manner.
Required Skills
Requirements:

  • Ideally 2-4 years of industry experience in film, broadcast, and/or games
  • Advanced knowledge of hard surface characters and organic models.
  • Intricate understanding of Maya’s referencing system and ability to organize complex hierarchies.
  • Solid modeling and rigging skills.
  • Prior experience working in a fast paced production environment.
  • Creative problem solving skills and adaptability skills.
Job Location
Glendale, California, United States
Position Type
Full-Time/Regular
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Layout Artist- Blizzard Entertainment

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Layout Artist

Employer: Blizzard Entertainment
Location: Irvine,CA
Date Posted/Updated: 12/16/16
Job ID: 129507

Apply HERE.

Job Description:

Blizzard Entertainment is currently seeking an experienced 3D generalist to join our cinematics layout department as a layout artist (temp). The layout department is the -hub- of cinematics, facilitating the flow of assets from modeling, surfacing and rigging, as well as assembling and helping to compose shots from previz, working through animation, simulation and FX, all the way to lighting and compositing. The temp layout artist will work with previz, modeling, and rigging to translate rough scenes into production-ready shots, support animation and camera with environments, continuity, and troubleshooting, and coordinate with modeling, animation and FX with shot by shot set dressing and crowd population. Broad technical and artistic understanding of 3D pipelines, shot composition, and film language are all important.

Responsibilities
– Using Maya, assisted by internal tools and python scripts, translate previz scenes into scenes ready for animation.
– Support animation at various stages, managing layouts, caching and assembling characters with look variants, and rendering for review.
– Add or adjust shot set dressing, crowd cycles, static character poses, and continuity changes.
– Fill in any additional gaps, and catch and solve technical and artistic problems revealed through assembly that are not handled by other departments or through typical pipeline procedures.
– Organize and manage assets, and work closely with programmers to develop, improve, or fix tools that not only serve the layout department, but the cinematics department as a whole.
– Work with artists, programmers, leads, supervisors, directors, and production staff on multiple projects simultaneously, balancing the needs of each and ensuring communication between them.

Requirements
– A minimum of 3 years’ experience in production or feature film in a 3D generalist role, such as layout or previz.
– Depth of knowledge in 3D pipelines, both technically and artistically.
– Strong understanding of the principles of storytelling, film, and composition.
– Basic skills in modeling, rigging, animation and cameras.
– Some experience with lighting, rendering and compositing.
– Data administration skills and interests (e.g. asset management, scene building, tools, etc.)
– Familiar with scripting, especially within a 3D environment.
– Strong, proactive communicator and problem-solver able to learn and work independently and creatively with diverse personalities under resource and time-limited conditions.

Pluses
– Extensive experience with Maya
– Proficiency in python scripting
– Knowledge of RenderMan and/or Redshift renderers
– Some experience with 3dsmax and Nuke
– Expert organization and communications skills, both written and oral
– A thirst for learning and a knack for efficiency
– A passion for Blizzard games, stories, characters and worlds

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Bryan Ballinger

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Associate Professor of Digital Media Arts,  Freelance Illustrator, and Collector of Absurd Non-Perishable Food Items.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Shoveling out chicken coops was probably the craziest.  Between kamikaze roosters and all the airborne particulate matter, it wasn’t the most effervescent experience…
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
One of my favorite projects was doing the artwork the popsicle stick theater segments for some episodes of the VeggieTales Animated series , Another project was doing the art work for an animated TV spot for the National Associate of Broadcasters.   I also did some illustration work for a Finnish Blues Band called The Milk Cows.

How did you become interested in animation?
When I was a kid my dad used to show me the old original Popeye cartoons, which he himself loved. So that’s probably when my interest started. What really  blew my socks off though is when Continue reading

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Hej Stylus

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I haven’t had a chance to play around with this yet but it looks interesting. The idea is that by offsetting your stylus you can get more of a brush stroke. I’m not entirely sure that will do what they claim but you can check it out for yourself easily enough by downloading it and trying it out.

You can learn more here.