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Lead artist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Julia Gaines,
Anne Beekman
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical lead artist skills. We ranked the top skills for lead artists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.0% of lead artist resumes contained maya as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a lead artist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 lead artist skills for your resume and career

1. Maya

Maya, also known as Autodesk Maya, is a software and a graphics application used to create 3D models, effects, and assets intended for use in such 3D products as video games, films, architectural plans and models, and other, often interactive, pieces of media. Maya has, since the late 90s, become a standard and one of the core tools in the film and video game industries, has become a part of the primary learning curriculum in schools devoted to these crafts, and has been used in many famous movies, such as Lord of the Rings.

Here's how lead artists use maya:
  • Developed and implemented an efficient Maya and Photoshop production pipeline for use within the company s ICARUS automation system.
  • Full Sail University Course Description Programs: Maya, Photoshop, Mental Ray, Shake, Z-brush, 3DS Max

2. Animation

Here's how lead artists use animation:
  • Managed animation and art asset implementation into mobile app through Corona engine.
  • Performed character creation, rigging, and animation, along with prop, and environment modeling, and set dressing.

3. Portfolio

Here's how lead artists use portfolio:
  • Collaborate with clients to develop creative solutions for a diverse portfolio of communications and marketing projects.

4. ZBrush

Here's how lead artists use zbrush:
  • Created various 2D and 3D artwork for in game GUI assets, using Zbrush, 3DStudio Max, and Photoshop.
  • Collaborate with level designers to brainstorm ideas and create white box art using a combination of 3ds Max and zBrush.

5. UI

Here's how lead artists use ui:
  • Designed UI schemes, user flows, created logos and marketing content for the platform.
  • Created UI assets in Adobe Illustrator and polished player-facing GUI.

6. Texture

Texture refers to the details within an artwork--whether a sculpture, painting, pottery piece, or video game design--that give the effect of a certain feel. Different textures require different designs; for example, a rough texture may be replicated with stippling while a smooth texture may be represented through wavy lines following one direction.

Here's how lead artists use texture:
  • Lead a team of artists, established the character modeling and texture pipeline in relation to the Unreal Engine.
  • Set up weekly tasks for texture, concept and technical artists after Lead game Designer suggestions.

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7. Unity

Unity is a universal power word that has the same meaning of strength for everyone, regardless of race, nationality, or gender. It connotes equality, togetherness or oneness, and synchronized thinking and opinions to ultimately achieve a specific goal or mission.

Here's how lead artists use unity:
  • Used Knowledge of C# to assist in development using Unity Game Engine.
  • Work closely with Developer on various engines, including Cocos 2D & Unity.

8. Concept Art

Here's how lead artists use concept art:
  • Created fun, stylized 3D environment assets using 3D Studio Max based on concept art provided to our team.
  • Created game ideas, and provided concept art for pitches to sell original titles.

9. VFX

Visual effects or, as it is known more often, VFX is a term used to describe the special imagery as well as the process of creating and applying said effects onto a visual piece of media, such as a photograph, a video, or a film. VFX is used in filmmaking to replace activities, actions, settings, objects, and animals that would otherwise be too expensive or dangerous or otherwise difficult to work with, create, or use.

Here's how lead artists use vfx:
  • Hired on to lead the VFX department as lead Flame artist and VFX supervisor.
  • Worked with VFX Supervisor, director, writers to determine the best VFX to further the storyline and visuals.

10. Style Guides

A Style Guide, otherwise known as a manual of style, as the name suggests, is a single document or a collection of such documents which offer a standard for the creation and formatting of other documents. These can either be designed for general use or for a specific company, for advertisements, or for individuals, organizations, or academic institutions. The style guide often speaks of a number of things, such as appropriate font choices and size, for colour palettes, and formatting of pages.

Here's how lead artists use style guides:
  • Design style guides, license templates and game.
  • Developed prop and environmental concepts, did mood paintings and style guides for other 2D and 3D artists.

11. Art Direction

Art direction is an essential job in the activities related to theatre, advertising, fashion, publishing as well the film industry. All of these fields have a direct or indirect connection with art and therefore require direction and supervision regarding this very aspect of the job. The art director is responsible for how a product turns out visually..

Here's how lead artists use art direction:
  • Provide art direction, scheduling, assignments and quality control for all studio production art (2D and 3D).
  • Provide daily feedback in the form Art Direction to ensure quality and consistency to World Art Team.

12. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how lead artists use graphic design:
  • Trained new artists, developed new properties/projects, graphic design, administrative tasks.
  • Provide video production, photography, graphic design, and painting services.

13. FX

Here's how lead artists use fx:
  • Blitz Video Game Visual FX for rain and water splashes for the cinematics.
  • Model, texture and integrate 3D mesh FX with 3DSMax

14. PC

Here's how lead artists use pc:
  • Worked as a Lead Artist on PC Adventure titles hand painting Disney-style backgrounds and in-game Character talkers.
  • Led 5-person team in production of Breakaway Champions casual PC game.

15. Video Games

Video Games are a form of entertainment where the player interacts with a virtual space. The subject and strategies for video games vary depending on the kind of game. For example, some video games require the player to solve a puzzle in addition to exploring the virtual world, while others encourage combat strategies.

Here's how lead artists use video games:
  • Crafted development materials for numerous network projects as well as designing and producing web-based content and video games.
  • Lead Artist for two student video games titles while at The Guildhall: Iron Games and Dawn.
top-skills

What skills help Lead Artists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on lead artist resumes?

Dr. Julia GainesDr. Julia Gaines LinkedIn profile

Director, Professor, Percussion, University of Missouri - Columbia

Some experience with AV/IT. It will be necessary to be much more familiar with all platforms devoted to customer and student consumption.

What lead artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Anne BeekmanAnne Beekman LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Graphic Design & Illustration, University of Findlay

Designers with a broad range of skills- technology, creativity, and communication-with a strong aesthetic will continue to find jobs.

What type of skills will young lead artists need?

Philip LindseyPhilip Lindsey LinkedIn profile

Professor of Fine Arts, Wilson College

Communication skills, creative and critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, work well independently, and in a team, tech-savvy, broad knowledge (liberal arts) + disciplinary knowledge.

List of lead artist skills to add to your resume

Lead artist skills

The most important skills for a lead artist resume and required skills for a lead artist to have include:

  • Maya
  • Animation
  • Portfolio
  • ZBrush
  • UI
  • Texture
  • Unity
  • Concept Art
  • VFX
  • Style Guides
  • Art Direction
  • Graphic Design
  • FX
  • PC
  • Video Games
  • User Interface
  • UV
  • Game Design
  • Game Engine
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Production Pipeline
  • Motion Graphics
  • Visual Style
  • UX
  • Motion Capture
  • Environment Assets
  • Nuke
  • Asset Creation
  • CG
  • Sketch
  • Character Models
  • Character Design
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Nintendo
  • Level Design
  • Facebook
  • Mac
  • Quality Standards
  • Fiction
  • Storyboards
  • Logo Design
  • Xbox
  • Comics
  • Game Play
  • QA
  • Production Art
  • User Experience

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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