Zerply

Jason Zielinski

Art guy is who i be

Lead Artist / 20 yrs

Chicago, IL

Jason (commonly referred to as "JZ" throughout the game industry) has worked in the game business for 17 years, starting his career with Midway games where he worked on such titles as Mortal Kombat, Stranglehold, and the Ballers series. Starting as a cinematic character artist, JZ also worked as an environmental and conceptual artist at Day1Studios, and currently the Lead Artist at a mobile game company.

Work History

Art Outsource Management, Direction and Production

Self-employed

October 2019 - Present

International
Art Director and Outsource Management

Booming Games

October 2016 - April 2019

Malta

Daily art direction, feedback and production work including illustration, 3d and animation. Vetted, acquired and directed all outsourcing efforts, including "internal" staff
Primary Artist and Animator

Jersey Jack Pinball

November 2016 - February 2019

Bensenville, IL

Concept, Model, Rig, Animate characters and other digital assets for "Dialed In" pinball
Lead Artist for all print art (playfield, cabinets, plastics etc.) for "Pirates of the Carribean" pinball
Created digital assets for "Willy Wonka" pinball
Lead Artist

Toy Studio

November 2008 - October 2011

Chicago, IL

If it involves art for Toy Studio...I do it!
Lead Artist

Toy Studio

2009 - October 2011

If it involves art for Toy Studio...I do it!
Environmental Artist

Day 1 Studios

2007 - December 2008

*Entered Day1 during final year of development on next gen shooter, "Fracture", to aid in overall conversion of all environmental game assets. Hired specifically as texture artist, also rose to the challenges of modeling, concepting, and UI redesign within the final 6 months to ship*

**Most recent projects included conceptual work and modeling/texturing of game assets for prototype pitches to Disney Interactive, THQ, and Bethesda**
Environmental Artist

Day 1 Studios

2007 - December 2008

*Entered Day1 during final year of development on next gen shooter, "Fracture", to aid in overall conversion of all environmental game assets. Hired specifically as texture artist, also rose to the challenges of modeling, concepting, and UI redesign within the final 6 months to ship*

**Most recent projects included conceptual work and modeling/texturing of game assets for prototype pitches to Disney Interactive, THQ, and Bethesda**
Character Artist

Midway Games

2005 - 2007

*Hired immediately following graduation in 2005 as contractor on Ballers Phenom. Following Ballers, offered the first Character Artist position on the newly created Character Core Team as modeler/texture artist.

Aided in: Developing production pipelines,
Design/production documents and implementation,
Create-a-player wardrobe initiative,
Art direction for outsourced materials,
Cinematics (models/textures, animatics)

+Credited Titles Shipped+

*Ballers Phenom
*Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
*Stranglehold

*Also created characters for the upcoming game The Wheelman, as well as contributing to This Is Vegas*
Character Artist

Midway Games

2005 - 2007

*Hired immediately following graduation in 2005 as contractor on Ballers Phenom. Following Ballers, offered the first Character Artist position on the newly created Character Core Team as modeler/texture artist.

Aided in: Developing production pipelines,
Design/production documents and implementation,
Create-a-player wardrobe initiative,
Art direction for outsourced materials,
Cinematics (models/textures, animatics)

+Credited Titles Shipped+

*Ballers Phenom
*Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
*S
Illustrator

Don Johnston Incorporated

June 2005 - January 2006

*Illustrated multiple geographical maps for high school textbooks*

**Illustrated pictures and diagrams for high school textbooks**