Eric Rektorski
Plainfield
Summary
Experienced Character Artist and Tech Artist with over ten years in Unreal Engine and Maya, specializing in real-time 3D character production pipelines. Expertise in crafting complex shaders and dynamic VFX to enhance storytelling through character interactions. Proven leadership abilities complemented by extensive experience in animation, material building, outsourcing, and quality assurance. Committed to driving creative excellence and fostering collaborative environments to achieve outstanding results.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Adjunct Animation and Rigging Professor
SNHU
05.2024 - Current
- Teaching students and teams new pipelines in animation and rigging for production and game engines
- instructing students on the newest features added to unreal engine including updated pbr and procedurally generated assets
- Editing and authoring file formatting and instructing proper workflow
- Working with maya 3ds max and unreal engine
- Developed and delivered engaging course materials aligned with academic standards.
Character Artist
3METAD
10.2024 - 02.2026
- Working with the creative team to help character creation timelines, working with Zbrush and unreal engine for animation integration, retopo gun for retopology then substance painter for texturing and baking. Reporting to the team leads managing expectations and timelines, assisting a team to help with character rigging and texturing, finishing animations in maya.
- Making sure that each hero character had their own specific material and shader set along with animation blueprints and functioning calls for attacks and animations.
3D Generalist Artist
RSTLSS
06.2024 - 12.2024
- Collaborated with design teams using ZBrush, Maya, and Substance Painter to produce clothing collections synchronized with game launch timelines.
- Managed product visualization needs by creating high to low poly bakes in Substance and Marmoset for various client projects.
- Coordinated development processes to meet strict deadlines for product delivery using Unreal Engine.
- Making sure that each asset was fully utilizing Niagara for vfc back plates and shown with dynamic camera angles to help showcase the 3d renders
Senior Character Artist
UMI Games
02.2023 - 12.2023
- Sculpted highly stylized creatures and characters in Zbrush
- Created Realtime ready characters that were stylized and realistic dependent on the clients needs.
- Created clothing for Game ready assets in Marvelous Designer and stylized with Zbrush.
- Rigging characters in Maya and Blender (quadruped and biped creatures and humans)
- Created PBR compliant texture maps in Substance Painter, Unreal Engine 5, and Photoshop.
- Thorough understanding of human anatomy, proportion, form and body mechanics.
- Worked with standard asset tracking software like Jira and server programs such as Perforce.
- Provided mentorship and guidance to junior members of the character and Dev Team.
Character Artist / Art Director
LIVE CGI
02.2019 - 01.2023
- Made Virtual studios and environments for various live events (NBA 2kLeague, The Esports Award show, Wounded Warrior fund, Ea Madden gameplay, Celebration of latin cinema, Ma Rainey mother of the blues Featuring Viola Davis and Chaddwick Boseman)
- Working with maya and 3ds max to produce beauty renders before integration into unreal engine, or unity depending on clients needs
Concept Artist/ Lead of Business Development
DARK CATT STUDIOS
07.2017 - 01.2018
- Created new concepts for existing IPs and new characters for new IPs.
- Painted Stylized textures in Substance Painter, Marmoset and Photoshop.
- Experience working with tight graphic constraints and deadlines for VR and mobile projects.
- Created Rigs and advanced character Material sets in UE4, along with managing a biz dev team.
Education
BFA - Animation and Character Design
The Art Institutes
ChicagoSkills
- Adobe 3D Suite
- AutoDesk 3ds Max
- Maya
- Marmoset Toolbag
- Zbrush
- Unreal Engine 5
- Marvelous Designer
- Clo 3D
- Blender
- Photoshop
- Vray
- Redshift
- Arnold
- Unity
Websites
Software Proficiencies
- Adobe 3D Suite
- AutoDesk 3ds Max
- Maya
- Marmoset Toolbag
- Zbrush
- Unreal Engine 5
- Marvelous Designer
- Clo 3D
- Blender
- Photoshop
- Vray
- Redshift
- Arnold
- Unity
Timeline
Character Artist
3METAD
10.2024 - 02.2026
3D Generalist Artist
RSTLSS
06.2024 - 12.2024
Adjunct Animation and Rigging Professor
SNHU
05.2024 - Current
Senior Character Artist
UMI Games
02.2023 - 12.2023
Character Artist / Art Director
LIVE CGI
02.2019 - 01.2023
Concept Artist/ Lead of Business Development
DARK CATT STUDIOS
07.2017 - 01.2018
BFA - Animation and Character Design
The Art Institutes