Website powered by
Erik Castellanos
Erik Castellanos
Environment Art Lead
Los Angeles, United States

Summary

A strong leader who is excited to work with key creatives. An artist and lead who has worked with visionaries and pioneers of the ICVFX industry, pushing the new developing technology farther. A real time artist fortunate enough to see real time art progress well beyond games.

Skills

Prop DesignWeapon DesignEnvironment Design3D ModelingTexturing

Software proficiency

3ds Max
3ds Max
Maya
Maya
Substance 3D Painter
Substance 3D Painter
Substance 3D Designer
Substance 3D Designer
Marmoset Toolbag
Marmoset Toolbag
Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine
ZBrush
ZBrush
Unity
Unity
World Machine
World Machine
xNormal
xNormal

Reel

Experience

  • Senior Environment Artist at Mold 3D
    March 2025 - Present

    • Created high-quality 3D models and textures for diverse environmental

    assets.

    • Collaborated with design teams to ensure artistic vision aligns with

    project goals.

    • Developed immersive environments to photo real

    • Led optimization efforts for assets, enhancing performance across all

    platforms.

  • Free Lance at Nant/ Impossible objects
    US
    April 2023 - February 2025


    • Lead Environment work for solo and team based projects

    • Worked hand in hand with stage teams; optimizing sets to fit their

    needs as well as creating documentations for future projects

    • Creation of documentation of work flow, new master materials and

    good habits for future projects

    • Able to plan for quick turn around for commercial work

  • Lead Environment at Happy Mushroom
    July 2019 - April 2022


    • Worked with a multitude of art studios providing hand offs to both

    previs and virtual stage engineers

    • Lead VAD art teams creating sets from block out to film ready

    • Created schedules and lead meetings provided client feedback

    • Lead meetings with Key Creatives, Directors and Cinematographers

  • Instructor at Gnomon
    March 2022 - July 2024

    • Up to date on Unreal Engine practices and tools that assist Virtual

    Production

    • Giving weekly critiques with a keen focus of shot composition and

    • Teaching new Artists and Directors best practice of Unreal

    • Teach Introduction to Virtual Art and Production

    lighting

  • Lead Environment at Halon Entertainment
    April 2022 - May 2023

    As a Lead Environment artist at Halon my tasks were managerial focused. I lead meetings, spoke to clients in meetings, Participated in talking heads meetings with fellow Senior and Leads to problem solve issues on other projects/ develop tools to resolve said issues. Used Shotgrid to track asset creation and progress as well as JIRA.