Texture Artist (all Levels) | Stellar Creative Lab

Stellar Creative Lab is currently seeking visionary talented Texture Artist/Surfacing Artist at all experience levels to join our team for a premium streaming series with Marvel Animation. In this role, you are the artist who provides the tactile reality of our universe. You aren’t just applying colors; you are defining the history and feel of characters, environments, and objects. This specific project requires an exceptional eye for color design and a “painterly” aesthetic. We aren’t just looking for technical proficiency—we are looking for a Texture Artist/Surfacing Artist with a deep understanding of material properties and the brushwork skills to bring a highly stylized world to life.

At Stellar Creative Lab, we believe that the best animation is produced by teams that feel safe, supported, and inspired. Our studio philosophy is built on the foundation of human-centric production. We understand that the industry has its cycles, but we navigate the “ups and downs” as a connected unit. We reject the “silo” mentality, favoring open communication and a culture where honesty and creativity thrive. When you join Stellar, you are joining a group of professionals who look out for one another while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in digital storytelling.

Job Overview: Texture Artist/Surfacing Artist (Junior, Mid, Senior)

Key Responsibilities for Success

1. Artistic Execution & Look Development

Your work is the final skin of the production. As a Texture Artist/Surfacing Artist, you will be expected to:

• Stylized Excellence: Create high-quality textures that strictly adhere to the show’s unique production design. A major focus is on stylized, painterly aesthetics that require sophisticated digital brushwork.

• Material Intuition: Analyze surface art references (both natural and synthetic) and intuitively translate them into digital material components.

• Visual Consistency: Ensure that every asset—from a background prop to a hero character—maintains the established visual language of the Marvel Universe.

2. Technical Pipeline & Optimization

A great Texture Artist/Surfacing Artist at Stellar is also a smart technician. You will:

• Shader Mastery: Dial in and modify shader networks to achieve specific looks while ensuring they are optimized for rendering. You must understand how your texturing setups impact the “backend” of production.

• Efficiency & Reuse: Design and build basic, optimized materials that can be reused across the studio, helping to streamline the workflow for the entire team.

• Innovation: Participate in departmental efforts to test new tools and workflows, staying at the forefront of surfacing technology.

3. Collaboration & Leadership

• Interdisciplinary Communication: You will act as the bridge between Modeling and Lighting. You’ll collaborate with Look Dev and Leadership (VFX/CG Supervisors) to ensure the “final in-film look” is achieved.

• Feedback Loop: Take constructive guidance from the Director and Supervisors with a professional, growth-oriented mindset.

• Mentorship (Senior Level): We expect a Senior Texture Artist/Surfacing Artist to be a technical anchor for the team, guiding Junior artists through complex setups and fostering an environment of continuous learning.

EXPLORE ALL DNEG JOBS – ALL OPENINGS

The Requirements as Texture Artist/Surfacing Artist

Must-Haves

• Experience Tiers:

  • Junior: Solid grasp of 3D painting, a strong portfolio, and a hunger to learn.

  • Mid-Level: Ability to hit the ground running on complex shader networks with minimal supervision.

  • Senior: Expert in hero asset surfacing, optimization guru, and experienced mentor.

• Core Tools: Professional mastery of Mari, Substance Painter, and Photoshop.

• Artistic Foundation: Strong traditional painting skills and a profound understanding of color theory.

• Education: A Bachelor’s Degree in 3D Animation, Art School training, or equivalent high-level industry experience.

Nice-to-Haves

• Generalist Skills: Previous experience in Look Development is a significant advantage.

• Technical Versatility: The ability to model using Maya or ZBrush to help troubleshoot geometry issues during the surfacing phase.

Why Join the Stellar Creative Lab Team?

Stellar Creative Lab strive to be a studio that respects your time and your talent:

• Hybrid Flexibility: We offer a flexible schedule that balances the collaborative benefits of our Vancouver studio with the convenience of working from home.

• Comprehensive Benefits: We offer full extended health benefits to keep you and your loved ones healthy.

• Professional Growth: We actively support development to ensure our artists stay ahead of tech and creative trends.

• The Project: The chance to work on a Marvel Animation series is a career-defining opportunity to contribute to one of the most beloved cinematic universes in history.

Application Instructions

To be considered for the role of Texture Artist/Surfacing Artist, please submit your application including:

1. A Tailored Resume: Highlighting your specific production experience.

2. Portfolio/Demo Reel: We are specifically looking for examples of stylized/painterly work and complex shader setups.

3. Cover Letter: Briefly tell us why you want to work at Stellar and which experience level best describes your current career stage.

Stellar Creative Lab is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all creators.