Environment/Props Concept Artist

Job Description

Steedcrest is a new concept art and illustration studio working with game developers who need production-ready art from a team they can actually rely on. We're at the start: small team, clear direction, and the goal of growing into a studio that works on AA and AAA titles.

For any questions, please reach out to us at: [email protected]

What You’ll Do: 

We value the "thinking phase" above all else. You will be expected to provide rough sketches and thumbnail explorations for approval before any rendering begins.

• World Building: Create believable architectural styles and ecosystems that feel lived-in and historically grounded. Scale and atmosphere must matter to you as much as surface detail;
• Props & Vehicles: Design functional transport and hero assets that maintain the internal logic of the project's world.
• Layout Thumbnails: Iterate on environmental compositions through thumbnails, exploring diverse camera angles, perspective shifts, and lighting setups to define the mood and player flow;
• Callouts: Deliver "Breakdown Sheets" for 3D modelers (e.g., cross-sections of a building or a material sheet for floor textures).

Portfolio Requirements:

Your portfolio must showcase a mix of personal artworks (demonstrating your creativity) and commercial projects (commissions, studio work, or client-led tasks) to prove your versatility and discipline.

We prioritize candidates who show their process. Entries must include (at the minimum for one artwork) the progression from initial rough thumbnails and ideation sketches to the final rendered asset, whether in a collage, .GIF, or timelapse format.

Please note that we are not looking for anime-like styles at the moment.

Required Skills:

• Teamwork & Communication: Ability to collaborate seamlessly within a studio pipeline, take constructive art direction, and maintain active communication via Discord/Slack.
• Fundamentals: Master-level understanding of anatomy, cinematic lighting, and focal-point composition.
• Professionalism: Ability to hit strict deadlines and provide regular WIP updates.
• Creative Interpretation: A strong ability to synthesize a cohesive visual design from a text-heavy brief or a moodboard.
• Technical: High proficiency in Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or equivalent software, as long as final projects can be exported in a working .PSD format. Use of 3D block-outs to ensure perspective and lighting accuracy is highly encouraged for environments.
• Pipeline: Ability to provide clean, layered source files and adhere to organized naming conventions for easy studio hand-offs.
• Authenticity: Zero tolerance for Generative AI.

Universal Perks for Both Roles:

• No Exclusivity: You are free to continue your personal commissions and other projects;
• Professional Contract: All work is under a robust legal agreement with clear payment terms;
• Remote & Flexible: Work from anywhere on your own schedule, provided milestones are met;
• Indie/AA/AAA Experience: Opportunity to contribute to high-end industry titles in a structured, respectful studio environment.

Nature of Engagement:

• Project-Based Contracting: This is not a full-time position. You will be engaged as an independent contractor on a project-by-project basis.
• Pay per Project: Compensation is calculated per SOW (Statement of Work) or per-asset, rather than a monthly salary.
• Scalable Workload: We will reach out to you based on your availability and the specific needs of our active AA/AAA contracts.