| Level of studies: | master’s degree |
| Recommended high school specialisation: | Artistic |
| Employability: | Fair |
| Starting salary: | € 2,666 |
| Salary after experience: | € 5,000 |
| Mobility: | Good |
| ROME code: | E1104 |
| FAP code : | U0Z80 |
The responsibilities of a texture artist
Within an artistic team (level artist, character designer, 3D artist, etc.), a texture artist will work on different responsibilities:
- The creation of game textures while respecting specifications
- Material production
- Make surfaces reflect light
- Adapt to the needs of other artists on the team
- Ensure the quality of textures once integrated and correct if necessary
The qualities of a texture artist
Working as a texture artist requires having essential skills and qualities to progress in this position that has a technical and artistic side. It is, therefore, necessary to demonstrate:
- Autonomy
- Force of proposal
- Creativity
- A sense of teamwork
- Good interpersonal skills
The skills of a texture artist
Occupying this position as a freelancer or as an employee of a studio requires mastering a certain number of technical skills, in particular, software, namely:
- Painter, Substance designer, Photoshop, Body Paint 3D, Maya, ZBrush, etc.
But also, they know:
- Scripting
- Automation tools
- Light-material interactions
- English
- Video game culture
Advantages and disadvantages
Although it is a dynamic profession, a texture artist must deal with its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
- Freelance work possible
- Good international mobility
- Rare position, but sought after
- Attractive salary
- Creativity
Disadvantages
- Creativity is sometimes limited to the constraints imposed
- Competition
- A high level of technical expertise that requires regular updating of skills
- Keeping a permanent eye on new developments
What level of study is needed to become a texture artist?
Like most artistic careers in video games which require a high level of technical skills and creative sensitivity, having a master’s degree level is often a prerequisite when applying for a job offer.
To get this degree, you’ll need to, at the end of high school, after a technical high school diploma in the science of arts or a more general pathway, do a higher education course in a school specialising in video game careers. Choose a course whose teaching allows students to see all the specificities of graphic creation and then improve in textures and materials.
In Lyon, in the heart of the 7th arrondissement, you can find our school G. Art. It offers future professionals education to become texture artists. First, they can opt for the 2D / 3D computer graphics bachelor’s degree specialising in game art (a diploma recognised by the rating agency EEA Eduniversal). It is a course over three years and whose program focuses on learning video-game culture, technical (texture, surfacing, rendering…) and artistic skills (lighting, compositing, character design…). Management, project management, communication, and English will also be covered.
These bases then give access to the Game artist MBA (RNCP title, level 7). This takes place over two years, and at the end of the course, allows you to master lighting tools, materials and textures, 2D and 3D software, and many other elements essential to creating a video game. You will also learn interpersonal, communication and management skills throughout the course.
Our training courses focus on project-based pedagogy, which allows students to carry out concrete cases each week.
Company internship
Throughout the course, the G. Art school strives to ensure that each student can evolve professionally through the speakers coming to give courses and through internships. We offer one at the end of each year, the duration of which varies—two months in the first two years, three months in the last year of the bachelor’s degree. Then in the MBA, there are six months of internship and a final year via a work-study placement.
Texture artist salary
On average, a texture artist can earn nearly 2,600 euros per month after leaving their studies and, through experience, easily reach 5,000 euros per month. It all depends on the company for which they work, whether they are hired permanently or just on a project by project basis and the number of years of experience.
Across the Atlantic, a stronghold of video game production, a texture artist will earn on average between $ 70,000 and $ 80,000 per year in Montreal. It’s more or less the same in Los Angeles.
Where can you work?
We find texture artists working on behalf of large video game studios (Ubisoft, Sony, Rockstar Games…) and large animation studios. Smaller or independent studios will call on a character designer, for example, or an environment artist who will have texturing skills. Or they may work directly with a game artist who knows how to do everything.
Career evolution
With a strong technicality and an artistic appetite, a texture artist has sufficient background to move to another position such as special effects, such as a VFX artist. They can take on responsibilities and supervise a team of texture artists, or they will be able to switch positions to careers such as character designer, 3D modeller, lighting artist… careers much like their own.
Freelance texture artist
Like most careers specialising in the artistic creation of a video game, a texture artist can opt for independent status. It will be necessary to be able to find your first clients to ensure you are always working. The best is perhaps to have a first experience as an employee to rely on their network. Skills, work ethic and autonomy are even more critical when working as a freelancer.
In summary
How can you become a texture artist?
It isn’t straightforward to become a texture artist without specialised training. The use of software such as Substance designer, Photoshop, Body Paint, Maya, ZBrush, etc. will be a prerequisite to work. In addition, forging an excellent video-game culture and having a sense of creativity will also be decisive elements. So after high school, a future professional can apply to a Game Art MBA offered by our G. Art school.