Brandon Kennedy
Brandon Kennedy
Environment Artist
Chicago, United States

Summary

As a 3D artist, building things has always been a pastime of mine since childhood. Whether it be building lego sets, assembling models, or putting together furniture, I always gravitated towards the physical creation process. Seeing the capabilities of 3D modeling was pretty much a ‘love at first sight’ moment for me. I quickly learned that it is able to provide me with an outlet to do my building digitally. Utilizing game development allows me to take my creations and place them in a digital world where not only myself, but others can enter and interact.

Building environments is my focus in the 3D realm. I have never been one to create characters with dialogue and backstories. Throughout high school, when I wanted to be a comic book artist, I would always draw superhero characters instead of creating my own, as I never had an interest for storytelling in that sense. But storytelling through asset placement, lighting, and color for me is what makes being an environmental artist so enjoyable. Being able to portray what happened, or what will happen, right when a person steps into a room or environment is the main challenge that I attempt to achieve when I create.

Witnessing the beautiful scenic landscapes of the forests in Horizon Zero Dawn, left me in absolute awe. The amount of hyperrealism mixed with grunge, along with imperfectly placed assets gave the impression of a real forest and made me feel like I was actually walking through the world myself. After that experience, I realized I wanted to impart that feeling to others. The feeling I get when a piece of mine is displayed in a gallery is a parallel, if not a greater feeling, of having a viewer walk through my environment in a game. Instead of my piece being in the gallery, my piece is the gallery.

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Skills

3D ModelingLightingLow-poly ModelingTexturingGame DevelopmentTexture Baking

Software proficiency

Maya
Maya
ZBrush
ZBrush
Substance 3D Painter
Substance 3D Painter
Substance 3D Designer
Substance 3D Designer
Photoshop
Photoshop
After Effects
After Effects
Illustrator
Illustrator
Arnold
Arnold
Marvelous Designer
Marvelous Designer
Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine
Unity
Unity

Reel

Experience

  • 3D Artist at Arrow International
    Chicago, US
    April 2024 - Present

  • 3D Technical Artist at levAR
    Chicago, US
    October 2020 - March 2024

  • 3D Artist Intern at Babaroga Games
    Chicago, US
    May 2019 - May 2020

  • Martial Arts Instructor at HealthKick Kung Fu
    Chicago, US
    January 2014 - January 2022