Jonathon Ruland

About Jonathon Ruland

As a Senior Environment Artist with over 15 years of experience in game development, I specialize in world building, storytelling through environments, and crafting high-quality assets that support gameplay and narrative. I’ve contributed to over 10 shipped titles across genres and platforms, including The Last of Us Part II, Diablo IV, and Shadow of the Colossus (Remake).In addition to my craft, I actively invest in building strong, collaborative teams. I lead by listening, sharing openly, and fostering an environment where people feel safe to contribute, take risks, and support one another. I believe the best work happens when there\'s trust, shared ownership, and clear purpose. Whether mentoring artists, guiding visual quality, or helping unblock cross-discipline workflows, I aim to elevate both the project and the people behind it.Core Strengths:World building and modular constructionHard surface and organic modelingHigh/low poly workflowsTrim sheet authoring and vertex blendingPBR texture creation and hand-painted workflowsLighting, composition, and visual storytellingTools & Software:Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrushSubstance Painter & DesignerSpeedTree, PhotoshopProprietary engines (Unreal, Axe, Unity, HeroBlade, and others)I thrive in collaborative environments where artists, designers, and engineers bring immersive worlds to life. I\'m always looking to grow creatively and contribute to teams that value craftsmanship, empathy, and meaningful connection.

Experience

1. Senior Environment Artist

   Santa Monica Studio

   Jan 2026 — Present · Santa Monica, CA, US

Education

• Full Sail University

  Bachelor of Science, Computer Animation

  2009 — 2010

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

  Bachelor of Science, Art

  2005 — 2008

Skills

• Game Design
• Photoshop
• Mudbox
• Zbrush
• 3d Rendering
• Game Mechanics
• Game Development
• Texturing
• 3d Modeling
• Hero Engine
• Texture Painting
• 3d Studio Max
• Maya