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Coates Illustration
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Brandon Coates  Concept Design, Visual Development, Color Scripting, Art Direction, and More Represented by Ellen Ann Mersereau, Esq. | Mersereau@earthlink.net | 323-461-3316  CoatesIllustration@gmail.com | www.CoatesIllustration.com  Experience  Freelance Concept Artist and Art Director | Coates Illustration | 2017-Present I design immersive worlds with cinematic color, light, and story-first visual development. I bring stories to life through thoughtful collaboration, creative problem-solving, and expertise in defining and refining a project's visual identity. Clients span AAA games, animated films, advertising, and more. ● Visual Development: Rapidly iterate and refine ideas through color keys, compositional sketches, and concept designs, ensuring a clear and compelling artistic vision that guides production from beginning to final delivery. ● Innovative Design: Develop striking environments, characters, and lighting solutions that enhance storytelling and guide production. ● Illustration: Deliver final key art for marketing, pitching, and securing greenlights. ● Team Leadership: Led teams of up to 25 artists as art director, providing clear direction, detailed paintovers, recorded video critiques, and style guides to maintain visual cohesion. Passionate about lifting others up, learning together, and building something greater as a team, fostering an environment where creativity thrives. ● Global Collaboration: Work with teams to align creative goals across disciplines and time zones. Notable clients: Disney+, Nexus Studios, Wimbledon, Ascendant Studios, and more. Concept Artist | Facebook | 2018-2019 AR/VR Experiences Team ● Developed designs, color keys, and ideas for Oculus. ● Strengthened team pipelines and cross-disciplinary collaboration. ● Explored vibrant stylizations optimized for limited hardware. Associate Concept Artist | Sledgehammer Games | 2016-2017 ● Created concepts and designs for Call of Duty: WWII across key story moments, environments, mood and lighting, characters, vehicles, FX, and more. ● Collaborated across departments to solve visual and gameplay challenges. ● Produced promotional illustrations and social content. Internships | Pixar and Tonko House | 2015-2016 ● Pixar (2016) - Contributed designs for Coco and Cars 3, supporting clear hando  to production. ● Tonko House (2015-2016) - Illustrated color-rich story moments for The Dam Keeper graphic novel and animated promotional content.  Key Skills  ● Advanced Artistic Design Skills ● Character Design ● Creating Fictional Worlds ● Digital and Traditional Illustration ● Environment Design ● Excellent Communication Skills  ● Excellent Draftsmanship ● Highly Organized ● Matte Painting Experience ● Specialize in Painting Color and Light for Storytelling ● Storyboarding Experience ● Strong Interpersonal Skills  ● Strong Understanding of Perspective, Anatomy, Form, and Shape Language ● Teaching and Mentoring ● 2D Animation Experience ● 3D Modeling Experience  Education Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation/Illustration Illustration Emphasis San Jose State University Graduated Magna Cum Laude  Programs Adobe Photoshop (Expert) Adobe Premiere Pro, After E  ects, Flash, Illustrator  DaVinci Resolve Autodesk Maya, Blender, Zbrush, Quill VR
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Represented by Ellen Ann Mersereau, Esq.
Mersereau@earthlink.net
323-461-3316

All work © Brandon Coates
or their respective company