[PAID] 3D Environment Artist - Unity URP / Indie City Builder / Stylized Realism Island Scene
Project: Prospera - a Renaissance-era island logistics city builder (think non combat Anno in pre-industrial Mediterranean)
Developer: Velarion Games (solo indie)
Engine: Unity URP
Type: Freelance / Contract
Timeline: ~4–6 weeks after a paid test task (flexible, quality first)
Budget: $3,000–$6,000 USD for the full scene, depending on experience. Paid test task compensated separately.
What I Need
I'm looking for a 3D environment artist to design and build a single, gorgeous island scene in Unity URP - a small Mediterranean settlement that becomes the visual baseline for the entire game and a publisher pitch screenshot.
This is a creative collaboration, not a paint-by-numbers asset job. I'll give you the world, the constraints, and the building types. You compose the scene.
Why This Could Be Worth Your Time
This is a complete stylized environment scene with creative freedom - the kind of work that makes a strong portfolio piece. The setting is unusual and visually rich. If the collaboration works well, there's potential for ongoing art work as the game develops.
The Vibe
- Stylized realism - not cartoony, not photorealistic. Beautiful and readable at gameplay zoom.
- Mediterranean color palette - warm stone, terracotta, olive greens, deep blue water, sun-bleached wood
- Reference touchstones: Anno 1800 (readability, harbors, composition), Manor Lords (painterly feel at distance)
- A world powered by wind, water, and muscle - watermills, sailing ships, terraced hillsides, craft workshops
What the Scene Includes
- A complete small island with coastline, elevation, and a river
- Buildings from multiple architectural tiers - from humble thatched cottages to refined workshops and civic buildings
- A harbor with a Renaissance trade vessel (I'll provide a ship asset I have. Use it or not, up to you!).
- Agricultural land, natural energy buildings (watermill/windmill), roads, and wild terrain
- Lighting and materials that are real-time URP - honest in-engine visuals, not offline renders
How It Works
- Paid test task first - one building + surroundings in a small terrain patch.
- Milestone-based - blockout > first art pass > final polished scene. We can stop at any gate if it's not working.
- Budget matters - this is a self-funded indie project. I need great work within a realistic scope.
- AI tools are welcome as aids (reference, concept exploration, texture assists) - but all deliverables must be hand-crafted with clean geometry, proper UVs, and real materials. AI-generated final art will not be accepted or paid for.
- Paid asset packs are encouraged where they fit - we already have some (to be shared later), and I'm open to buying additional packs if they save time and look right. Don't build from scratch what already exists and works.
You're a Good Fit If
- You can deliver a polished, portfolio-quality scene - not just individual assets. Scene composition, lighting, and atmosphere.
- You're fast and confident with your tools - this timeline doesn't leave room for learning new software or pipelines on the job.
- You've shipped work in Unity URP (or strong real-time engine experience).
- You're comfortable with stylized realism and can create beautiful, believable architecture.
- You're a clear communicator who can work async, give honest updates, and push back when you know better.
- You treat freelance like a professional engagement - responsive, organized, and reliable.
To Apply
Send me:
- Your portfolio - environment art closest to this style
- A rough estimate - hours and cost for the full scope
- Your questions - what's unclear?
- A quick composition thought - how would you approach this scene? Even a few sentences.
A detailed brief with full building catalog, constraints, and art direction will be shared with shortlisted candidates.
Contact me at daniel@velariongames.com