Generalist Artist - Digital Matte Painting Feature Animation - ILM

Generalist Artist – Digital Matte Painting for Feature Animation

Location:

Vancouver, BC, Canada. Type:
Full‑time, Hybrid – 2–3 days onsite, occasional remote work.

We are looking for a talented and collaborative artist to join our Environments team. As a Digital Matte Painter, you will create striking digital environments that support the storytelling and visual style of our feature animation projects.

• Create high‑quality digital matte paintings and set extensions that align with the film’s art direction and maintain stylistic consistency across shots and sequences.
• Integrate 2D and 3D elements with a strong understanding of composition, color, light, and atmosphere to achieve visually compelling and cohesive environments.
• Collaborate closely with Environment, Lighting, and Compositing teams to ensure that matte paintings integrate seamlessly into the final shots.
• Translate concept art and visual development materials into production‑ready environments that reflect the story’s tone and mood.
• Maintain continuity and visual consistency across sequences while adapting to creative feedback and evolving direction.
• Troubleshoot technical and artistic challenges independently, while seeking guidance and sharing solutions across departments.
• Proactively communicate progress with production and supervisors, ensuring that deadlines and creative goals are met.
• Research and gather visual references to support environment design, composition, and lighting.
• Participate in reviews and contribute to a positive, collaborative team dynamic.

• Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Digital Art, Computer Graphics, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 3 years of production experience in matte painting, environment creation, or related disciplines within feature animation.
• Proficiency with Photoshop and Nuke.
• Good knowledge of 3dsMax, Maya, or Houdini (with VRay or Render Man).
• Familiarity with Gaea, Speed Tree, ZBrush, Substance Painter, or Linux‑based pipelines is a plus.
• Strong understanding of lighting, color theory, atmosphere, and composition within a stylized or cinematic animated context.
• Ability to create artwork that blends with the unique aesthetic and visual style of an animated feature.
• Excellent problem‑solving and time‑management skills; able to adapt under shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills; open to feedback and eager to contribute to a team‑oriented environment.
• Desire to grow professionally within the studio.

The hiring range for this position in Vancouver, BC, Canada is C $87,200 to C $111,600 per year based on a 40‑hour work week. A full range of medical, financial, and other variable pay or benefits may be offered depending on the level and position offered.