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Senior artist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted experts
Paige Williams,
Paige Williams
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior artist skills. We ranked the top skills for senior artists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.7% of senior artist resumes contained maya as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior artist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior 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 senior artists use maya:
  • Composed reference material and tutorials for utilizing Maya with the Elemental proprietary game engine.
  • Performed stereoscopic tracking of cameras and objects for the feature film, Journey2 using 3D EqualizerR4, PfTrack and Maya 2011.

2. Animation

Here's how senior artists use animation:
  • Established and maintained the animation pipeline technical requirements and system structure.
  • Collaborated with the Animator to optimize assets for animation.

3. AAA

American Automobile Association, commonly pronounced as AAA or triple A, is an organization in North America. AAA is a privately held non-profit driven public party affiliation and administration association with more than 60 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA offers types of assistance to its individuals, including emergency aide.

Here's how senior artists use aaa:
  • Worked as a character technical artist, on 3 different AAA projects.

4. ZBrush

Here's how senior artists use zbrush:
  • Sculpted high poly asset in Zbrush, baking down assets in 3D Max and creating all associated texture maps.
  • Trained groups of artists in ZBrush and 3DSMax techniques for next-gen art pipeline.

5. In-Game

Here's how senior artists use in-game:
  • Designed the interface and produced the interface artwork, 3D in-game shapes/textures for the Nintendo Wii game Circus Games.
  • Created rendered 3D artwork and converted it to in-game art using the FliSO Editor and Flash.

6. 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 senior artists use vfx:
  • Pushed limits of cutting edge tech to create compelling 3D visualizations, animations, and VFX.
  • Created particle VFX for environments and game assets using in-house particle tool.

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7. 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 senior artists use texture:
  • Helped to define the rendering-engine color-space as well as texture map color-space requirements.
  • Learned new techniques for creating normal and texture maps, enhancing production.

8. Game Engine

A game engine is a type of game framework where a 3D Artist creates animation, graphics, three-dimensional models, visual effects, and models with special effects using computer software and program.

Here's how senior artists use game engine:
  • Worked closely with engineers to implement game UI in multiple game engines, including Unity.
  • Work with programmers to ensure art assets run smoothly in the game engine.

9. Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine refers to a software framework responsible for several well-known video games, such as Fortnite, Borderlands 3, and Hellblade. This software excels in 3D rendering and realistic animation for video games, making it one of the most popular game engines for game developers today. This framework can also be used to develop 3D renderings of still spaces, such as potential apartment furnishings and completed construction sites.

Here's how senior artists use unreal engine:
  • Canceled Unreal Engine 3 Tech Demo (PS3) Oversaw implementation of Unreal 3 engine and defined pipeline.
  • Worked in a team to create 3D Environments in Unreal Engine for a virtual reality simulation.

10. Concept Art

Here's how senior artists use concept art:
  • Created many treasures, props, and collectibles for multiple levels with little or no concept art to work from.
  • Worked with concept art team to provide conceptual art for all assets from characters, arenas and game objects.

11. 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 senior artists use unity:
  • Created all Unity art assets for several mobile casino slot games and a studio blockbuster movie release app.
  • Modeled, textured and animated intro movies in Unity for several games

12. PC

Here's how senior artists use pc:
  • Supported a complete redesign of the pre and post-game user flow for PC title Infinte Crisis.
  • Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor" for the PC: 2D Interface art design.

13. UI

Here's how senior artists use ui:
  • Character Design, Slot symbols, UI, Background Art, Graphic Design, and Illustration
  • Designed and integrated VR UI interfaces for a high-fidelity Mixed Reality Code Blue CPR trainer.

14. Visual Effects

Visual Effects or VFX is converting the image into a fictitious character and then implementing those pictures in shooting films and movies. The visual effects appear by manipulating the actual footage into imagery and creating incredibly realistic images.

Here's how senior artists use visual effects:
  • Created visual effects (Magic, smashables, player/npc abilities, cinematics, etc.)

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 senior artists use video games:
  • Designed user experiences and visuals for mobile video games.
  • Worked on conception and prototype for video game project.
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What skills help Senior Artists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on senior artist resumes?

Paige Williams

Academic Dean, Art Academy of Cincinnati

The skills that stand out on artist resumes are skills that distinguish them from other applicants. Potential employers are looking for individuals whose resumes provide evidence of exploration, risk-taking, and the ability to adapt. These traits are evidenced through experiences with internships, study abroad, and other real-world experiences such as client-based projects, exhibitions, performances, and readings in public spaces. Art school is experiential. Students aren't just observing but doing while they are in school. The ability to learn and adapt to new technology is also important. Art students don't just learn but utilize technological skills with purpose in their own creative work.

What soft skills should all senior artists possess?

Paige Williams

Academic Dean, Art Academy of Cincinnati

The World Economic Forum has identified the four most important skills that ALL students graduating from college in the 21st century will need to be successful. These are the same skills that artists, designers, and creative writers explore through 21st Century Art Education at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC): Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication. 21st Century creatives will need to understand how to explore solutions to complex problems, think outside of the box, work with others, and effectively articulate their ideas. At the Art Academy of Cincinnati, our students in first-year experience engage in courses whose focus is communication, collaboration, ideation, research, and discovery from day one.

What hard/technical skills are most important for senior artists?

Paige Williams

Academic Dean, Art Academy of Cincinnati

Students entering the creative workplace need the visual, verbal, and written vocabulary to articulate their ideas and provide meaningful and constructive criticism. Students at the AAC learn criticism methods and engage in writing across the curriculum in every studio and academic course. A rigorous capstone experience requires that students write a ten-to-twelve-page thesis that thoroughly explains what they make (subject), how they make it (form), and why it matters (content). They then are required to present their ideas in a public forum.

Learning the latest technological advances and adapting as technology evolves is important for every student entering the workforce.

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

Dr. Randall BradleyDr. Randall Bradley LinkedIn profile

Director and Professor, Baylor School of Music

This is a good question. I'm not sure there is a region that is better; however, the places in which the coronavirus has had the least impact are starting to open up and search for leadership first. Secondly, I think one of the most open places for worship leaders to find positions will continue to be in smaller towns. There are many smaller town churches that desire well-trained music and worship leaders; however, most younger people are not particularly interested in settling in places that are further from major metropolitan areas. We are seeing similar challenges among medical professionals, educators, etc. Yet, with the recent interest in smaller rural communities as safe places to escape a pandemic, this trend could shift.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about senior artist

List of senior artist skills to add to your resume

Senior artist skills

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

  • Maya
  • Animation
  • AAA
  • ZBrush
  • In-Game
  • VFX
  • Texture
  • Game Engine
  • Unreal Engine
  • Concept Art
  • Unity
  • PC
  • UI
  • Visual Effects
  • Video Games
  • FX
  • Python
  • Graphic Design
  • Art Assets
  • Art Direction
  • UV
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Environment Art
  • User Interface
  • Prototyping
  • Fine Arts
  • Motion Graphics
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Sketch
  • Environment Assets
  • CG
  • Motion Capture
  • Game Environments
  • PS4
  • Nuke
  • Art Style
  • Game Assets
  • IP
  • Proprietary Software
  • Feature Film
  • Proprietary Tools
  • Xbox
  • HTML
  • MMO
  • Color Correction
  • Technical Issues

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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