Senior VFX Artist - Environment & Matte Painting

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Work from home

Flexible hours

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior VFX Artist to craft immersive environments and matte paintings for film and television in a fully remote role. You will shape mood and scale across diverse scenes, collaborating with the VFX supervisor and art director and mentoring junior artists.

You should excel in digital painting, composition, lighting, and perspective, with strong 3D integration and a proactive, deadline-driven approach for remote production workflows.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of professional VFX experience with matte painting and environments.
• Portfolio showcasing high-quality matte paintings for film/TV.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality digital matte paintings for film, television, and other visual media.
• Develop detailed 3D environments including terrain, architecture, and set extensions.
• Integrate 2D and 3D elements for photorealistic or stylized results.
• Collaborate with VFX Supervisor and Art Director to interpret briefs.
• Maintain consistency in style, lighting, and color across shots.
• Optimize assets and scenes for efficient rendering in the pipeline.
• Mentor junior artists and provide constructive feedback.

Skills

Matte painting

Environment creation

3D rendering

Photorealistic style

Communication

Tools

Photoshop

Maya

Blender

ZBrush

Nuke

Unreal Engine

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic production house known for its visually rich content across film and television, is seeking a talented Senior VFX Artist specializing in Environment and Matte Painting. This is a fully remote role, allowing you to contribute from Upington, Northern Cape, ZA, or any suitable location. You will be responsible for creating stunning digital environments and breathtaking matte paintings that establish the mood and scope of diverse scenes. The ideal candidate possesses exceptional digital painting skills, a strong understanding of composition, lighting, and perspective, and the ability to work with 3D elements to enhance realism. You will collaborate with the VFX supervisor and art director to bring imaginative worlds to life.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality digital matte paintings for film, television, and other visual media.
• Develop detailed and believable 3D environments, including terrain, architecture, and set extensions.
• Integrate 2D and 3D elements seamlessly to achieve photorealistic or stylized results.
• Work closely with the VFX Supervisor and Art Director to interpret creative briefs and achieve desired aesthetics.
• Maintain consistency in style, lighting, and color across multiple shots and sequences.
• Optimize assets and scenes for efficient rendering and integration into the VFX pipeline.
• Collaborate with other VFX artists, including modelers, texture artists, and compositors.
• Research and gather reference materials to ensure accuracy and realism in environments.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in matte painting and environment creation software and techniques.
• Provide clear documentation for assets and workflows.
• Troubleshoot technical challenges related to environment creation and integration.
• Mentor junior artists and provide constructive feedback on their work.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a VFX Artist, with a strong focus on matte painting and environment creation.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing exceptional digital matte paintings and environmental work for film or TV.
• Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Adobe Photoshop, Maya, Blender, 3ds Max, ZBrush, and Substance Painter.
• Strong understanding of composition, color theory, lighting, perspective, and atmospheric effects.
• Experience with 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering for environment creation.
• Familiarity with VFX compositing software like Nuke or After Effects is a plus.
• Excellent artistic eye and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines in a remote setting.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Passion for storytelling through visual environments.
• Knowledge of camera projection techniques for matte painting.
• Experience with real-time engines like Unreal Engine or Unity is advantageous.

Benefits

This fully remote role offers a competitive salary of Rand per annum, flexible working hours, and the ability to work from home. Our client provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and opportunities for professional development. You will have the chance to work on exciting and diverse projects, contributing your unique artistic vision. While the role is remote, Upington, Northern Cape, ZA is mentioned as a geographical context for this posting.