Summary
I have over 10 years of experience working for independent game studios.
My primary focus is on Environment Art and Design, but I am passionate about everything that goes into making videogames a compelling aesthetic experience.
- Lead Artist/Art Director for 'Vex Mage', an indie title that I developed with Nervous Systems. I was the sole artist on the core three man team for this project which received funding from Meta and which we shipped on time and on budget! (2023-2026)
- Art Team Lead at Strange Loop Games on 'Eco', managing a team of artists and contributing to many sides of Eco's development including environment art, content and game design, production, art implementation, promotional materials, and more. (2015-2022)
- Studied Fine Art at The Evergreen State College (graduated 2010) and since then have shown in several galleries in the Seattle area and continued practices in painting, photography, and videography. Most of my work centers around the landscape and architecture.
To see some of my landscape photography you can visit: https://keeganorourke.mypixieset.com/
To see more of my paintings and explore my personal artist website you can visit:
https://keeganorourke.com/painting.html
Skills
Software proficiency
Reel
Productions
- Video GameVex Mage
- Year2025
- RoleLead Artist
- CompanyNervous Systems
- Video GameEco
- Year2018
- RoleArt Team Lead
- CompanyStrange Loop Games
Experience
- Lead Artist at Nervous SystemsSeattle, USFebruary 2023 - Present
Main Responsibilities: All visual design/concepting, environment art, character art/design (main character, enemies, npcs), UI, key art, promo materials (store assets and trailer) and some VFX and animation. I also did level design for many of Vex Mage’s levels and implemented my work in-engine (Unity), setting up shaders and scenes and prefabs as needed.
I collaborated closely with the two programmers/designers on the project to manage and execute just about everything visual for this title, and we successfully shipped on our targeted release date!Art Direction: We hired two contractors, one who did some animation, and another who did the bulk of the VFX on the project. I took the lead on hiring and directing their work to match and compliment my vision for the project.
- Art Team Lead at Strange Loop GamesSeattle, USSeptember 2015 - March 2022
Art Responsibilities: 3D Modeling, Unity Integration and Technical Art, Texturing, Animation, Promotional Materials & Store Page Assets.
In charge of in-game player building materials in ‘Eco’ including design, modular assets, and technical implementation among many other things.
Very collaborative environment working with a veteran art director (Milenko Tunjic) and closely with engineers implementing and designing features. My role evolved and expanded over my time at Strange Loop Games and I gained first-hand experience with many sides of game development.Production and Design: Team Coordination and Planning, Task Management in JIRA, ClickUp, and custom spreadsheets, Game Design + Research for game content on ‘Eco’ (biome design, extractive industries design, building materials, etc).