Assistant Illustrator

Skill; Emeryville (CA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent partners with a world-renowned entertainment leader to find an exceptional illustrator. This hybrid role shapes visual storytelling and guides external artists to bring imaginative worlds to life.

You will contribute hands-on illustrations, oversee layouts, and collaborate with editors and designers to deliver assets for ongoing franchises and story programs.

Qualifications

• Strong digital illustration skills across multiple styles.
• Ability to lead art direction and provide feedback to freelancers.
• Portfolio demonstrating versatile illustration work.
• Experience collaborating with editors, designers and staff artists.

Responsibilities

• Create and oversee layouts, clean-up, and painted illustrations for story programs and franchise extensions.
• Assist with layouts, clean-up, and painting for books and materials.
• Collaborate with staff artists, editors, and designers to ensure timely asset delivery.
• Support reference collection for freelance artists and guide art direction.
• Review artwork and apply revisions to meet asset requirements.

Skills

Digital Illustration

Photoshop

Time Management

Art Direction

Collaboration

Portfolio

Education

Bachelor's in Illustration

Tools

Photoshop

Job description

Join a world-renowned entertainment leader, a powerhouse in captivating storytelling and iconic character creation, where your creative vision can help shape the next generation of beloved narratives. Aquent is proud to partner with this industry giant to find exceptional talent ready to make a significant impact.

We are seeking a highly creative and organized individual to step into a dynamic hybrid role where your artistic talent will directly shape the visual narrative of beloved stories. This isn't just an administrative position; it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in a vibrant creative environment, contributing hands-on illustrations while guiding external artists to bring imaginative worlds to life. If you're a strong artist with a passion for visual storytelling and a knack for art direction, get ready to make a significant impact on exciting new projects and franchise extensions.

Your Impactful Contributions

• Create and oversee the creation of layouts, clean-up, and painted illustrations for various story programs and franchise extensions.
• Assist with the creation of layouts, clean-up, and paint illustrations for various books.
• Collaborate closely with staff artists, editors, and designers to ensure seamless title development.
• Support reference collection for freelance artists.
• Assist with the management and art direction of freelance artists, providing feedback and revising commissioned work to meet asset delivery requirements.
• Review artwork, gather references, and make creative revisions or corrections as needed.

What You'll Bring to the Team

• Significant expertise in digital illustration, particularly using Photoshop.
• Demonstrated ability to create illustrations in a wide range of styles.
• Excellent time management skills, capable of meeting deadlines across multiple projects.
• A Bachelor's Degree in Illustration, Fine Art, or a related creative discipline (or equivalent strong portfolio and experience).
• Strong artistic fundamentals, creative versatility, and high-quality execution across multiple styles, as demonstrated in your portfolio.
• Comfort with supporting art direction activities, including providing feedback and coordination.
• Exceptional collaboration skills, flexibility, and coachability.
• Ability to convey information clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing.
• A portfolio that clearly demonstrates artistic range, versatility, and high-quality execution across multiple styles is required for consideration.

Bonus Skills to Shine

• Experience with children's publishing, character work, storytelling, or entertainment-related creative environments.

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.