Experience
Stealth Startup Feb 2022–Present
Hooyah.io May 2024–Present
CVO
Executive leadership advising and supporting the CEO and team
Providing high-level and hands-on art and creative direction and feedback on pre-production, production, and marketing assets and materials, including but not limited to characters, environments, icons, VFX, website, videos, etc
Sharing input on art pipelines, best practices, and general organization
Assisting in scheduling, tasking, and prioritizing art needs
Advising on aspects of web3 and crypto market and trends
Stealth Startup Feb 2024–Present
CCO/Head of Art
As part of the executive team, providing leadership and support to the studio with creative strategy/vision, connections, and networking opportunities
Overseeing multiple projects at different stages, providing high-level and hands-on art and creative direction, in addition to input on pipelines and resourcing
Building and working directly with internal and external teams
Coordinating with the production team on roadmaps/schedules, tasking, and advising on budgets
Mentoring and onboarding artists
Collaborating and supporting all departments across the studio, including but not limited to product and marketing
PerBlue May 2022–Mar 2024
CCO/Head of Art/Creative Director
Executive leadership advising and supporting the CEO on studio matters
Oversaw multiple projects at different stages, providing high-level creative direction, input on pipelines, and resourcing
Managed relationships with external partners and publishers
Worked with the Art Manager/Art Leads to approve and update titles, rubrics, and salaries for all artists, working closely with the COO and Operations team
Coordinated with the production team on roadmaps/schedules, tasking, and advising on budgets
Mentored and advised artists
Collaborated and supported all departments across the studio, including but not limited to, product, marketing, live ops, QA, and business intelligence
Additional responsibilities included art direction and pitching new projects
RECUR Oct 2021–Apr 2022
VP of Art/Art Director
Built and grew the art department- a team of 18+, which included multiple CreativeDirectors, Art Directors, motion designers, concept artists, and 3D modelers
Assisted in defining the titles, rubrics, and salaries for all artists, working closely with the VP of People
Part of executive leadership, advising and reporting directly to the senior executive staff
Working closely with the VP of Production and the producers on art scheduling, tasking, and assisting in producing art budgets
Mentoring and advising artists, including contractors, external teams, and vendors across the globe
Oversaw multiple NFT projects in different stages of development: Star Trek, Nickelodeon, Hello Kitty, CareBears
Collaborated and supported all departments across the studio, including but not limited to marketing, live ops, and QA
Additional responsibilities when art directing included creating mood boards, preliminary sketches/ideation, providing feedback, and creating concept art (including characters, environments, UI, icons, etc.)
PerBlue Dec 2020–Oct 2021
Studio Art Director/Leadership
Managed the art department- a team of 10+, which included multiple art leads and seniors with their direct reports
Assisted in defining the titles, rubric, and salaries for all artists, working closely with the COO and Operations manager
Part of studio leadership, advising and reporting directly to the C-level
Coordinated with producers on art scheduling, tasking, and assisting in producing art budgets
Mentored and advised artists, including contractors, external teams, and vendors across the globe
Oversaw multiple projects in different stages of development
Collaborated and supported all departments across the studio, including but not limited to marketing, live ops, QA, business intelligence, and production
Additional responsibilities included creating mood boards, preliminary sketches/ideation, providing feedback, and creating concept art (including characters, environments, UI, icons, VFX, etc)
Devoted Studios June 2019–Dec 2020
Executive Art Director/Principal Concept Artist
Oversaw and art-directed multiple projects simultaneously, including but not limited to pre-production, look development, and production
Managed client relationships per project, typically as the main point of contact for art
Coordinated with producers on art scheduling, and tasking, and assisted in producing art budgets
Mentored and advised artists, including contractors, external teams, and vendors across the globe
Built and managed multiple art departments while collaborating with other departments and leadership
Additional responsibilities included the creation of mood boards, preliminary sketches/ideation, providing feedback, and creating concept art (including characters, environments, UI, icons, VFX, etc)
FoxNext Games June 2017–June 2019
Marvel Strike Force, Art Director/Project Lead
Oversaw all art, including marketing, the visual art style, and 2d/3d pipelines
Managed the licensing relationship with Marvel to obtain various approvals and maintain brand quality
Oversaw the entire art scheduling, including coordinating with producers, and managing the budget for the same
Mentored and advised artists to further their skills and career development
Helped build the Art Department, including hiring internal and external staff and managing outsourcing
Kabam Los Angeles/Tapzen June 2013–June 2017
This Means War, Associate Art Director
Helped coordinate 2d art in day-to-day tasks
Worked closely with the Senior Art Director, Senior Producer, and Creative Director
Zynga Los Angeles Jan. 2009–June 2013
Empires & Allies and CoasterVille, Franchise Art Director
Created and designed the visual art style and 2d pipeline, in addition, coordinated 2d and 3d artists
Worked closely with the Studio Art Director, Senior Producer, and Design Department
Electronic Arts Los Angeles Oct. 2003–June 2009
Senior Concept Artist/Art Lead
Camacho, Senior Concept Artist
Created several key characters and two “inspirational” background paintings
Command and Conquer – Red Alert 3 and Uprising expansion, Senior Artist
Built characters, props, and buildings, and fully integrated them into the game
Boom Blox (Spielberg Wii puzzle block game), Senior Production/Concept Artist
Helped prototype original sets and was responsible for characters from modeling, texturing, and rigging
Worked closely with the Art Director to polish initial designs and with outsourcing during initial production
Medal of Honor: Airborne (XBOX 360), Vehicle Lead and Epoxy Associate Art Director
Led the creation and design of all high-end vehicles for the game and painted nose-art/pinup works
Epoxy, an internal management team for outsourcing. Wrote art documents, reviewed art for various projects, and trained internal and external artists
Medal of Honor: Vanguard (PS2), Artist
Assisted in finalizing the game
Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault (PC) and Medal of Honor: European Assault (PS2), Artist
Created 2d and 3d assets for environment backgrounds for in-game levels
Taldren, Inc. June 2002–Sept. 2003
Black 9, 3d Modeler/Texture Artist
Created 3d characters, vehicles, and environments in Autodesk 3ds Max, and painted textures in Photoshop
SKILLS
Studio/Creative Executive leadership, Art direction, department management; art fundamentals (2d, 3d, Photoshop); pre-production; production; outsourcing and budgeting
EDUCATION
The Art Institute of California-Orange County, B.S. in Media Arts and Animation
OTHER
WeeArts June 2009–Present
Creative Executive Advisor/Art Director Consultant/Concept Artist
Advising early-stage startups and established studios with creative leadership guidance
Art direction consultation for pre-production and production, providing both management and hands-on support
Freelance concept artist/illustrator