Environment Artist Responsibilities

Environment artists are involved in creating environmental background in gaming consoles. Their main job is to design an aesthetically looking environment and scenes for games, and enhance the look and feel of the game from the user's point of view. Some might assume that environment artists are involved in creating and designing landscapes and gardens, though that's not the case here. Professionals involved in environmental field of designing are 'environmental artists'. With changing technologies and perspective, the definition of things pertaining to environment has changed. Environment artists involved in creating backgrounds in 3D technology are termed as 3D environment artists.

An environment artist has to work on gaming software like Max and Maya for developing the background visuals in indoor and/or outdoor settings. They have to model a design pertaining to physical and geometrical requirements, manage the collision point with user interaction, and bring the real world experience in gaming interaction.

Key Responsibilities

An environment artist has to coordinate with the art director and lead artist for designing the concept as per the gaming requirement. They have to carry out the modeling and texturing procedures in game production, designing a unique layout for every level.

The key responsibilities of an environment artist comprise:

• Constructing various aspects of gaming environment like terrains, valleys, scenery, props, and models in 2D and 3D environment
• Modeling and texturing the design to suit the real life form, detailing the scene with painting textures for maintaining the quality requirements of the game developer
• Using physical and geometrical principles for creating live effects, as well as using light and contrast details for creating real life experience
• Communicating with programmers, designers, and other team members for designing the game in a creative manner
• Coordinating with the art director for developing full concept environment with detailing on aesthetics, light and contrast, and other illustrations
• Understanding the game features for creating game based environment, enhancing the overall look and style of the game, and making it a fun-based experience
• Creating high resolution environment models for enhancing overall visual-effects and optimizing the environment for level based performance
• Improvizing the existing environment with designing, characters, etc., for improving the game style
• Mentoring junior technicians and other artists, providing them apt training on the nature of their work

Required Qualifications and Skills

An environment artist with a Bachelor's degree in fine arts or equivalent is generally preferred over the other graduates. An environment artist must have a sense of creativity and aesthetic knowledge for creating a real life based environment models of forests, rocky terrains, skyscrapers, sci-fi, and outer space environments, which create a thrill and excitement in the game player. Apart from this, he should also have knowledge in the technical field required for game development, and he should keep updating himself on latest technological advancements.

An environment artist must have software skills in 3DS Max, Maya, Photoshop, Mudbox, Zbrush, and Unity 3. Though gaming is programmed mostly in Max, it is essential for an environment artist to have a subtle knowledge of this software. Other softwares are used for supporting the functionality of gaming or enhancing the visual effects of the environment.

For making a successful career as an environment artist, it is advisable for a non-artist candidate to take extra classes in traditional art, perspective drawing, level designing, architecture, and text painting. Usage of arts related knowledge in environment designing reflects in the detailing procedures and enhances the quality of the backdrop.

Salary Compensation

The average salary range of an entry level environment artist falls in between $40,000 to $65,000 annually. For senior level post, the average salary falls in between $65,000 to $90,000 per annum.

Career Prospects

Gaming industry is expanding in a limitless fashion, launching variety of games for mobiles, PCs, and gaming consoles. The trade market expects a huge rise in the job availability in the gaming industry, estimating more openings for environment artists.

Environment artist works in the field of game development, requiring them to work extensively on various softwares. It is necessary for a person applying for this profile to be aware of all technical and artistic applications required for this profile. A brief look on the environment artist responsibilities will prove beneficial for understanding the work profile and career prospects in this field.