Shawn P.L.

Bruner
206.399.0634 [email protected]
12113 NE 172nd Pl Bothell WA 98011

www.trippinginthedark.com

Motivated Artist with 10 years of experience in the operations, development and technical production arenas.
Capable of motivating fellow employees to deliver outstanding performances. Able to evaluate operational needs
and implement strategies that increase productivity, enhance quality and improve efficiency.

Skills and experience

Training/Leadership

Mentored contract and in-house artists in the creation of Zbrush assets for 3D printing
Developed the pipeline for transition from high-poly digital sculpts to low-poly game models
Managed relationship with outside vendors up to and including: timeline development/management, price
determination/approval and transportation
Ensured artistic standards and continuity of high-poly sculpts prior contractor payment
Lectured, while a student, the advanced rigging class in the use of constrained functions in a skeletal
system to increase accurate mesh deformation
While I was a student I taught the level design class, managing all aspects including homework, group
development while running one of the three class groups
Managed departmental resources, staff and budgeting for upkeep of all fly system equipment
Lead teams of up to 45 in the installation and removal of theatre equipment including automation, sets and
rigging equipment
Credited for my design work on the Experience Music Project while acting as a Lead Installation Rigger for
the Automated rigging team, managing large teams and advising in construction timelines
Taught the theatre production class for Auburn High School at the Auburn Performing Arts center and
managed students during events at the theatre
Trained the staff of the Auburn Performing Arts Center in advanced rigging techniques and dynamic load
calculation

Technical Skills/Abilities

Troubleshooting, researching and resolving advanced technical issues

Ability to self-educate and learn new programs and the advanced features of current programs
Skilled at Identifying chokepoints and workflow inefficacies and developing solutions that allow for
optimal production
Finds technical solutions and implements them allowing the art of a project to organically take shape within
the confines of an engine or system
Excels at collecting pieces of seemingly extraneous information and assembling them in such a way that
gives me insight to determining answers to complex problems or a deep understanding of a programs
fundamental operations
Develops creative and intuitive fixed function artistic pipelines
Consistently seeks to stay at the forefront of new technologies and programs, as well as maintains a solid
understanding of engine and pipeline requirements

Artistic

Advanced Character Art, Environment Art, Prop Art

Ability to match project art style and production quality
Mastery of high-poly asset generation and existing asset review for 3D print
Keen eye for texel density and texture scale
Experienced in the development of PBR textures as well as classic engine textures
Skilled at asset development that pushes the Technical boundaries of an engine including the use of maps
such as: parallax or tessellation mapping, or vector displacement maps
Experienced in rigging techniques from simple character skeleton creation to advanced facial rig
incorporating normal map blending and set-driven controllers
working knowledge of current 3D modeling software to game engine workflows (IE: Zbrush-MayaBlender-Unreal or 3DS Max- UVLayout-ZBrush-Blender-Quixel suite-Crytech)

Work History
Privateer Press
Contract Character Artist (current)
Working closely with the Artistic Team at Privateer Press I generated and posed character ZBrush models
adhering to provided concept art. All models met the artistic, technical and time constraints of the project.
All of this was done through my LLC, Stormfront Digital Productions.
Harebrained Schemes
Lead ZBrush Artist: Golem Arcana
Worked with the Character Art Lead to ensure that all sculpts met technical and artistic standards, and
approved contractor models/sculpts prior to payment
Troubleshot and solved the technical problems related to the generation of ZBrush character assets
Mentored other artists on the creation of ZBrush assets and correct workflow for the conversion of highpoly sculpts to 3D game assets, including all map generation
Collaborated with CEO on timelines for 3D printed material while coordinating with outside vendors to
maintain the timelines
Prepped and reviewed all ZBrush models for 3D printing
ZBrush Character Sculptor: Golem Arcana
Generated and posed hi-poly models based upon provided concept art to be used in in the production of
game assets
Character Artist: Shadowrun Returns
Generated textures for in-game non player characters, and created gear and customization options for
player characters
Created concepts and modeled creatures and characters
Took weapons from concept and development through game-ready 3D models. This included updating
traditional melee and ranged weapons to conform to the Shadowrun aesthetic
Gear Retargeting: This is the process of taking an outfit for an in-game character and adapting its texture
and 3D model for use on all ten of the race/gender combinations. Many of these did not have common UV
layouts which meant I had to stretch warp and repaint the texture to make it fit the various characters
Icons: Painted the icons based upon a design that was provided by our art director
IATSE Local 15 (International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees):
Seattle Repertory Theatre
Head Flyman/Master Rigger
Seattle Opera Ring of the Nibelung
Pyrotechnics Assistant 2001 and 2005 cycles
Experience Music Project Construction (Artists Journey)
Installation Lead
Education and Professional Accomplishments
BFA in Game Art and Design from the Art Institute of Seattle (graduated with honors 3.8}
Part of a team that delivered a half million dollar Kickstarter (golem Arcana)
Credit in the Fugitive TV Series
Design Credit: Automated Rigging, The Experience Music Project
Certifications and Awards
Programs: ZBrush, Maya, 3DS Max, Mudbox, Photoshop, , Unreal Engine 2-4, Crytek Engine, Unity,
After Effects, Adobe Premiere, UVLayout, XNormals, Marmoset Toolbag, Blender, Topogun, 3DCoat, Quixel
Suite, Blender, Poser, Houdini, Lightwave
Certifications and awards: The Surreal ZBrush Workshop, Winner of the AMD Speed Modeling Competition at
SIGGRAPH, Dominance War V: 64th in the world
Areas of Expertise: Character Modeling, Pipeline Management, High-poly/Low-poly modeling, Rigging,
Texturing, Anatomy, Hard Surface Modeling, Solutions.

Recommendations/Referrals
Mike Mccain
Art Director Harebrained Schemes
[email protected]
Shawn initially joined our Shadowrun Returns art team as an intern, with the tedious task of retargeting existing character
assets to fit on a variety of different character rigs. He knocked that work out of the park - on-time, exceeding the quality
bar and with enthusiasm - and it was quickly clear that he could contribute far more to the project. As a member of the
character team, he modeled and textured characters for the game alongside our other 3D artists, and played an important
role in keeping our assets organized and our pipeline clean. We were on a very tight production schedule and Shawn
stepped right in to make the extra character work we needed happen. His character work was fast, tightly-optimized for
our texture and geometry constraints, and most importantly, visually sharp and on-target for the Shadowrun setting.
Subsequently, he became one of our primary ZBrush sculptors on Golem Arcana (a miniatures game). While I didn't
work with him directly on that project, the results I saw clearly demonstrate his skill at detailed 3D sculpting.
Shawn's a very talented character artist who's proven he can quickly integrate with a project and make a formidable
contribution. His strong visual sense, impressive skill with detail, and technical mastery of Maya and ZBrush make
Shawn a great candidate for any character art position.

Christopher Rogers
Creative Director, Golem Arcana at Harebrained Schemes
[email protected]
Shawn is an extremely talented ZBrush sculptor with a command of the both the aesthetic and technical aspects of the
program.
At Harebrained Schemes I worked with Shawn closely to create a number miniature figures for our "Golem Arcana"
product. Shawn worked directly from key art, without turnarounds, in order to create these sculpts. In each case Shawn
not only delivered excellent sculpts, he did so quickly (well within deadlines) and did a great job working out the obverse
details of the figures from the information available. Shawn's figures displayed a real talent for describing materials even
at the small scale of the printed sculpt. Finally, Shawn delivered his figures in dramatic and exciting poses that instantly
communicated to the player the both the "cool factor" of the figure and the attendant game play associated with the
figure.
Shawn would make an excellent addition to any studio looking for a ZBrush artist with a deep understanding of both the
technical and aesthetic challenges associated with delivering an exciting entertainment product

Fiona Turner
Character Artist at Harebrained Schemes
[email protected]
Shawn joined us at Harebrained as an intern working on Shadowrun Returns. The following project, Golem Arcana, is
where Shawn really was able to shine. Not only is he incredibly talented and fast working in Zbrush, his enthusiasm,
leadership, and knowledge of the program made him an invaluable asset to this project. He raised the standard for the
quality of our figures and developed a pipeline to bring them from concept to print. The skills he brought to Harebrained
were integral in launching Golem Arcana on Kickstarter. Shawn is now a Lead ZBrush Artist with us and continues to be
a pleasure to work with.

Tristin Ishmael
Environment Artist at Harebrained Schemes
Shawn is a skilled and experienced Zbrush artist. His attention to detail and careful study brings strength to his 3d work,
setting him apart from other character artists.
While working with Shawn at Harebrained Schemes, he tirelessly developed a streamlined workflow for bringing assets
from 2d concept, through 3d sculpt, and all the way to finished miniature. Shawn is creative and inventive while always
bearing in mind the needs of the technology. He has been instrumental in the success of our current project, Golem
Arcana. He is adept at finding or even developing new methods to work more efficiently. He is a joy to work with and
would be a fantastic addition to any team needing a skilled Zbrush artist. Fantastic individual!