Background Artist

The Background Artist designs and paints detailed backgrounds, collaborating with the Art Director and creative leads to align with the show's vision. This role involves creating scene set designs, floor plans, and orthographic designs, as well as painting backgrounds and other related art. The artist ensures all work meets the show's style and quality, completes designs within deadlines, and proposes approaches considering downstream departments. Sony Pictures Animation is a Los Angeles-based studio creating feature animation and animated series globally, empowering filmmakers for bold and innovative visual storytelling.

Must Have

• Work closely with Art Director to create scene set designs, floor plans, and orthographic designs with multiple angles as needed
• Paints backgrounds, layouts and any other background-related art that the production may require, ensuring style and quality of show is met
• Complete all rough, revised and final designs necessary within assigned deadlines
• Be available to fulfill all color projects – including but not limited to – color scripts, color lead sheets, storyboards, special backgrounds / effects as it pertains to each episode
• Propose design approaches that consider downstream departments (modeling and texturing)
• Ensure all artwork is properly backed up, stored appropriately, and all shipping materials are prepared and ready on time
• Able to work independently and within a team environment
• Work closely with the Art Director to resolve design issues
• Demonstrate high-level drawing and painting skills
• Solid understanding of composition, value, perspective, color, shape language, and overall design
• Demonstrate proficiency in style of show
• Photoshop knowledge required

Good to Have

• Previous experience on an animated feature film, tv series, or game preferred
• Ability to articulate creative ideas
• Stylistic versatility

Perks & Benefits

• Qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement

The Background Artist is in charge of designing and painting detailed backgrounds. Working with the Art Director and other creative leads, you will explore designing and painting backgrounds that align with the vision and aesthetic of the show.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with Art Director to create scene set designs, floor plans, and orthographic designs with multiple angles as needed
• Paints backgrounds, layouts and any other background-related art that the production may require, ensuring style and quality of show is met
• Complete all rough, revised and final designs necessary within assigned deadlines
• Be available to fulfill all color projects – including but not limited to – color scripts, color lead sheets, storyboards, special backgrounds / effects as it pertains to each episode
• Propose design approaches that consider downstream departments (modeling and texturing)
• Ensure all artwork is properly backed up, stored appropriately, and all shipping materials are prepared and ready on time
• Able to work independently and within a team environment
• Work closely with the Art Director to resolve design issues

Qualifications:

• Previous experience on an animated feature film, tv series, or game preferred
• Ability to articulate creative ideas
• Must demonstrate high-level drawing and painting skills
• Must have a solid understanding of composition, value, perspective, color, shape language, and overall design
• Must demonstrate proficiency in style of show
• We value inventiveness! Each Sony Pictures Animation project has its own distinctive and outstanding visual language so it is helpful to have stylistic versatility
• Photoshop knowledge required