Principal 2D Generalist Artist – Hearthstone | Irvine, CA

Your mission 

Pull up a chair and join us by the hearth! As a Principal 2D Generalist you will help provide the art needed to realize the vision for the game from the concept phase to the in-game models. You will work to create 2D concepts that support and further the vision of the game, painting textures for use on in-game assets and work to provide a consistent aesthetic for the Hearthstone art team. If you have a firm grasp of composition, color, painting and visual design, this is the role for you. 

We value diverse voices and varied backgrounds, and we're looking for individuals to help us build fun, compelling, and inclusive gameplay experiences for Hearthstone. Previous Hearthstone gameplay is not a requirement to apply for this role, however it is a plus. 

This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA. 

Responsibilities: 

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities: 

• Design and render in-game assets from concept to final masterpiece, bringing Hearthstone's whimsical world to life. 

• Craft visionary character, creature, environment, and prop concepts that inspire the team and contribute to Hearthstone's unique visual magic. 

• Work closely with the art team to maintain a seamless and cohesive look across all game elements. 

• Share an inspiring artistic vision that breathes life into Hearthstone's features and creative projects. 

• Create captivating mood paintings, color studies, and lighting keys to guide and inspire the entire team. 

• Design engaging characters and creatures that captivate players and assist character artists in bringing them to 3D life. 

• Partner with artists, designers, and engineers to tackle creatively challenging tasks and advance Hearthstone's art vision. 

• Solve creative problems alongside other artists, designers, and engineers to push the boundaries of Hearthstone's art. 

• Help take the iconic visuals of Hearthstone to the next level. 

Minimum Requirements 

Experience 

• 10 + years of experience as a 2D Artist, or similar role. 

• Experience illustrating colorful and stylized work at a high-quality bar. 

Knowledge & Skills 

• Ability to own the creation process from initial sketch to final in-game asset for new elements while working within a small strike team. 

• Exceptional understanding of visual principles including form, shape, composition, design, and how they relate to game development specifically. 

• Superior eye for lighting, value, color and details, and the ability to use them in creating beautiful textures, concept art and illustrations. 

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to give and receive creative feedback that elevates the team individually and creatively. 

• Ability to thrive in an iterative environment built on giving and receiving constructive & practical feedback. 

• Strong understanding of Blizzard’s visual style and the vision to take it in new and exciting direction. 

Bonus Points 

• Comfortable with the Unity engine. 

• Previous experience in 3D pipeline. 

• Strong foundation in the traditional arts including, but not limited to painting, sculpture, figure drawing, and illustration. 

Submission / Portfolio requirements 

• Resume required 

• Portfolio and / or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills required (Only online artwork submissions will be accepted (e.g. website, blog or online album).) 

• Must be willing to complete an art test if requested to do so 

Your Platform 

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. 

Our World 

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet. 
  

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.  We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered. 
  

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners. 

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide. Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply. 

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to [email protected]. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.