Lead Artist

**Company Description**
Keywords Studios is one of the largest go-to technical and creative services providers to the global video games industry. We provide integrated art production, engineering, audio services, testing, localization, and player support services for PC, Playstation, Nintendo, Xbox video games. How big are we? 17,000 employees. 80+ Studios. 20+ Countries. EUR$650M+ Revenue. Best of all, we continue to grow in a sustainable way.

Keywords Studios Australia, consists of Wicked Workshop (Vic), Tantalus Media (SA, Qld, Vic), and Mighty Games. In 2023 we added over 70 new, talented individuals surpassing 250 employees in Australia. We're anticipating similar growth for 2024. Whilst we're backed by a highly successful global parent company, we still enjoy the intimacy and independent studio feels. If you're a passionate, collaborative, can-do, delivery focused individual, we'd love to hear from you.

Tantalus North is thrilled to announce we are expanding and on the lookout for leadership-level artists (Lead and above) to join our dynamic team This is an exciting opportunity to show your expression of interest and to be a part of our next exciting chapter.

As a leader in the art discipline, you will be responsible for hiring, organising and motivating a team of artists to deliver at the highest standards. Utilising your artistic, technical and managerial expertise, you will work closely with the team and other department leads to plan and direct work to meet deadlines and product vision.

You will be an accomplished production-focused artist with a proven track record in the game industry, and excellent communication and people skills. In this role you are required to anticipate and find solutions on both team and art production levels to deliver stunning visual experiences.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Provide clear, concise visual direction and guidance across all Art development at Tantalus North and review all digital assets, providing feedback in a timely manner.
- Share your passion for excellence, create inspiring artwork/style guides to clearly promote the high visual quality standards we are aiming for and ensure that everyone is working together to meet these standards.
- Drive the vision forward by aligning with and fully understanding the art direction and then working alongside our internal and insourced art team/s to ensure creative cohesion.
- Continually look for opportunities to innovate and improve the visual quality on all projects.
- Take an active role in planning of project pitches and be comfortable dealing face to face with external clients to discuss opportunities for working with them on their games.
- Help to build and raise the profile of the growing art team.
- Mentor Artists in the team, providing support and nurturing to encourage their continued growth, helping to improve their skills and build their knowledge and confidence.
- Oversee and provide detailed feedback to multiple art disciplines including UI, Environment Art, Lighting, VFX, Character and Concept Art.

**DEMONSTRATED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS**
- An impeccable eye for aesthetic quality, visual excellence and a high attention to detail demonstrated through an impressive art portfolio.
- Highly proficient in current development tools and software including Unreal, Unity, Maya/ 3DS Max/Blender, Zbrush and Substance.
- A confident art leader with excellent verbal and written communication skills. You will have the ability to articulate visual ideas with clarity and conviction and provide clear feedback and guidance.
- Good understanding of fundamental art principles; colour and lighting theory, composition and staging techniques.
- Able to creatively supervise and drive artwork, directing other artists and leading by example.
- Agile, overseeing internal and globally diverse art teams on multiple projects and from various disciplines, and be able to adapt to a variety of art styles.
- Understand up-to-date game development technical processes, you will take a keen interest in latest workflows and have an interest in learning, evaluating and evangelizing appropriate usage of new software, tools and technologies.
- You will have good leadership skills, be a collaborative team player, with significant game art management experience.
- You will have a calm, positive and professional attitude alongside excellent interpersonal skills.

**Qualifications** DEMONSTRATED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS**
- An impeccable eye for aesthetic quality, visual excellence and a high attention to detail demonstrated through an impressive art portfolio.
- Highly proficient in current development tools and software including Unreal, Unity, Maya/ 3DS Max/Blender, Zbrush and Substance.
- A confident art leader with excellent verbal and written communication skills. You will have the ability to articulate visual ideas with clarity and conviction and provide clear feedback and guidance.
- Good understanding of fundamental art principles;