Environment Artist

James Gleeson

***************@*****.*** 905-***-**** Whitby, ON

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Over two years experience in building high quality game assets for both portable and PC virtual reality, including experience in performance budgeting.

• Extensive Experience in hard surface 3D modelling using Maya, Blender and Zbrush with optimized topology and edge flow for games ranging from highly stylized to hyper realistic.

• Proficient in organic sculpting in Zbrush and optimizing topology for rigging and animation.

• In depth texturing skill in substance 3D painter for both hard surface and organic assets, including UV optimization and texture map combining skills.

• Highly skilled in environment art with a specialization in unreal engine, with in depth engine knowledge, including blueprints and particle systems, for high quality and optimal environments.

• Skilled in building procedural assets from the ground up in Houdini using nodes and the VEXpression Houdini language.

EDUCATION

Game Art - Advanced Diploma Graduated June, 2024

Durham College

Oshawa, ON

• Aquired a range of valuable skills in 3D modelling, animation, environment art, rigging, texturing, and cinematics, as well as proficiency in Maya, the Adobe Suite, Unreal Engine, unity, and much more in preparation for a career in the game industry.

• Learned how to build many kinds of assets and tools in Unreal engine such as modular 3D assets, material shader graphs, particle effects, fog effects, and Level design.

• Gained a keen eye for detail and error, as well as high level communication skills through working with and assisting classmates and co-workers on various projects.

• Recreated a studio environment to simulate the industry-standard pipeline, and effectively manage workloads using tools such as Gantt charts and Trello boards.

• Participated in various events both extracurricular and through the school, Including Ubisoft NEXT 2023, Ubisoft NEXT 2025, developed a game for and managed a booth at VRTO in collaborations with the MRC, and took part in the Global Game Jam 2023 RELATED EXPERIENCE

VR Generalist October 2022 – June 2024

Mixed Reality Capture Studio

Oshawa, ON

• Collaborated with industry partners to develop and enhance multiple virtual reality titles, ensuring alignment with project goals and creative vision.

• Designed and built immersive high-fidelity environments using Unreal Engine, incorporating unique artistic elements and attention to detail.

• Utilized industry-standard software, including Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter, to create hyper-realistic 3D assets that reflect distinctive art styles set by the client.

• Tracked project progress and presented work during weekly meetings with the team lead, ensuring alignment on goals and timelines. Then compiled documentation to showcase completed assets for client presentations, as well as making adjustments to said assets according to the client’s feedback

• Gained Proficiency in the Muse headband and its Unreal Engine plugin to create visual scripts via Blueprints, integrating the headband functionality into gameplay.

• Assisted in Porting the mobile version of the game to VR, adapting gameplay mechanics and user interfaces for an immersive experience.

• Designed user interfaces for tutorial screens, stat screens, and menus. Additionally, created immersive skyboxes from scratch to enhance the overall environment. ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS

VR Environment Artist / Character Artist

Minimally Invasive, Marion Surgical - shipped title

• Utilized Substance Designer to develop detailed tileable materials for large environment props, ensured materials met project specifications and integrated seamlessly with existing assets.

• Collaborated with a team to help realize the overall art style of the game

• Designed and modelled intricate enemy creatures end to end with optimized topology and UVs for rigging and animation.

• Collaborated with animators to ensure efficient polygon flow, smooth movement and deformation for characters during gameplay and animations. Unreal Engine Environment Artist

Unnamed Indie Project - unreleased

• Built game ready low poly stylized assets in Maya using concept art provided by producers.

• Worked with programmers to troubleshoot and problem solve as a bridge between artists and programmers.

• Built cel shaders using unreal engine material blueprints and post process blueprints, that suit the producers requested style

Looking Glass portrait model viewer

VRTO 2025 - Event

• Solo developed a real time hand tracking 3D model viewing software in Unreal engine

• incorporated the 3D imaging effect of the Looking Glass Portrait, and the hand tracking technology of the leap motion hand tracking sensor.

• Educated and connected with event goers about the technology behind the portrait as well as the game I built and how I built it.

• Utilized Lidar photo scanned objects as viewable objects in the game Warehouse Associate June 2024 – January 2025

Victoria Secret

Oshawa, ON

• Organize and manage inventory in the warehouse, ensuring efficient stock arrangement and easy access of items to streamline and optimize workflow for the sales team.

• Assist customers by providing clear directions to locate products within the store. Computer Sales Associate Oct. 2020 – Dec. 2020

Best Buy

Whitby, ON

• Provided Personalized assistance to customers in identifying and selecting computer products that best suited their needs and preferences.

• Utilized selling techniques to encourage customers to purchase warranties alongside their products

CNC Machine Operator June. 2022 – Aug. 2022 / January 2025 - Present Quantum CNC

Whitby, ON

• Operated CNC machines to manufacture heat sinks for circuit boards, ensuring precision and quality in production to meet client requirements.

• Collaborated with team members to meet project deadlines as directed by the supervisor.

• Made adjustments to the program and preformed routine maintenance on the CNC machine as needed, addressing issues such as manufacturing errors, and ensuring adequate coolant levels to maintain optimal machine performance.

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