Dave McMahon

Dave McMahon

Creative, focused, and collaborative vibes. Forever learning

Senior 3D Generalist / Senior Modeler/Texture Artist / 16 yrs

Los Angeles CA

Hire Me

Modeling

Here (2024)

Vad Artist

Time Bandits (2024)

Asset Modeler

Spaceman (2024)

Vad Artist

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024)

Vad Artist

Masters of the Air (2024)

Asset Modeler

The Orville (2022)

Previs Environments & Assets Mpc

Prehistoric Planet (2022)

Asset Modeler Mpc

Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

Asset Modeler

The Adam Project (2022)

Asset Modeler

Cruella (2021)

Motion Capture

Ghost of Tsushima (2020)

Motion Capture

Ready Player One (2018)

Virtual Production

Black Panther (2018)

Asset Modeler

The Orville (2017)

Motion Capture

The Mummy (2017)

Motion Capture

Suicide Squad (2016)

Motion Capture

The Jungle Book (2016)

Motion Capture Artist

Quantum Break (2016)

Motion Capture

Deadpool (2016)

Mocap Artist

Rise of The Tomb Raider (2015)

Visual Effects Artist

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

Mocap Artist

Maleficent (2014)

Mocap Artist

inFamous: Second Son (2014)

Mocap Artist

Black Sails (2014)

Digital Compositor

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Digital Compositor

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

Compositor

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

Stereo Compositor

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

Stereo Compositor

The Avengers (2012)

Digital Compositor

Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012)

Digital Compositor

Titanic (2012)

Depth Artist

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

Stereo Artist Legend 3D

The Smurfs (2011)

Stereo Artist

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

Stereo Artist Legend 3D;stereo Depth Artist

Priest (2011)

CG Generalist

Veronica Mars (2004)

Stereo Compositor

Ghosts of the Abyss (2003)

Compositor (3D Version 2013)

Jurassic Park (1993)
Skills
Skills Clear
Clear Apply Apply
Software
Software Clear
Clear Apply Apply
Often the more creative freedom I'm given the more fun I'll have on a project. However it does help me to have sort of a "line on the canvas" to get my creative energy dialed in and focused in the right direction.

I love sci-fi and fantasy jobs the most because of the really cool feeling I get when I see my work on screen. Its deeply satisfying to me when my art helps others escape their reality.

I know that I am blessed to work as an artist in such a competitive field and I try hard to grow and push the boundaries of my skillset so that someday I might actually be totally satisfied in my creations. There are so many great artists to learn from!
Work History

  • Artist & 3d Generalist

    Freelance Artist

    June 2008 - Present
    Greater Los Angeles Area

    My diverse professional experience ranges from pre-production to stereo compositing. I have experience with 3d projection mapping for large high profile events, exposure to immersive VR/AR experiences starting from 2013, and I am no stranger to being on a movie set.

    My career has taken me to lengthy stays on sets directed by Steven Spielberg for "Ready Player One", and Jon Favreau for Disneys "The Jungle Book".

    I spent months on and off set working on AAA video game titles including Suckerpunches "Ghost of Tsushima", "Rise of the Tomb Raider" by Cyrstal Dynamics, "Infamous: Second Son" by Sucker Punch Productions, and "Quantum Break" by Remedy Games.

    I spent countless hours polishing James Camerons 3d conversion of "Titanic" doing stereo compositing, and the same for Joss Whedons film "The Avengers".

    Under the city of Los Angeles and Idea Giants I helped to design and animate content for the cities inaugural New years eve event. (For more detail on this scroll down the "Accomplishments" section below)

    I've done Look Dev/Modeling/Texturing/Lighting for TV on "The Orville", "True Detective" and "Veronica Mars". As well as VR projects for Sundance Studios "Archangel" , Googles VR Training, and an undisclosed Microsoft project.

    I have a passion for creating artwork outside of the digital world and have been contracted to hand paint exciting murals for the FX Networks tv series SNOWFALL, and for the over the top record release party for Chris Browns album "Heart Break on a Full Moon".

  • Senior 3d Generalist

    Sony Interactive Entertainment

    June 2025 - July 2025

  • Senior 3d Generalist

    Sony Interactive Entertainment

    March 2025 - April 2025

  • Senior 3d Generalist

    Sony Interactive Entertainment

    October 2024 - December 2024

  • Maya Generalist

    Shomen Productions

    July 2023 - July 2023
    San Francisco Bay Area · Remote

    Asset Creation, Textures, Layout

  • VAD Artist

    Double Negative

    March 2023 - June 2023
    Los Angeles, CA

  • VAD Artist

    Double Negative

    July 2021 - March 2023

  • V.A.D. Artist

    Double Negative

    July 2021 - November 2021
    Los Angeles, California, United States

  • Asset Builder

    MPC

    July 2021 - July 2021

  • 3D Generalist

    FuseFX

    May 2021 - June 2021
    Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

  • Modeling / Texturing

    The Famous Group

    March 2021 - April 2021
    Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

  • Modeler / Texture Artist /Lookdev

    Shomen Productions

    March 2021 - March 2021

  • Models / Textures

    MPC

    October 2020 - November 2020

  • Asset Builder

    MPC

    October 2020 - November 2020

  • Environment Artist / Modeller

    Shomen Productions

    September 2020 - October 2020

  • Assets

    MPC

    August 2020 - September 2020
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Asset Builder

    MPC

    August 2020 - September 2020
    Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

    Maya, Zbrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop.

  • Environment Artist

    Myth VFX

    April 2020 - June 2020
    Los Angeles, California, United States

    Responsible for the building and layout of city buildings, trees, mountains and terrain.

  • Environment Artist

    MPC

    August 2019 - March 2020
    Los Angeles, CA

    Modeling, Texturing, Layout, Lighting, and optimization of LIDAR scans & textures for use in realtime

  • Asset Builder

    MPC

    August 2019 - March 2020
    Greater Los Angeles Area

    Maya, Zbrush, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Photoshop.

  • Motion Capture Supervisor

    Nickelodeon

    October 2019 - October 2019
    Burbank, CA

  • 3D Modeler

    Halon Entertainment

    June 2019 - July 2019
    Los Angeles, CA

    Materials and Textures.
    Uprez/Optimize 3d Models.

  • mocap artist

    Digital Domain

    May 2019 - June 2019
    Los Angeles, CA

    face and body tracking

  • Maya Generalist

    FuseFX

    December 2018 - February 2019
    Van Nuys, California

    Software Used: Maya, Substance Painter, VRay

    The Orville- Maya Modeling Look Dev/Vray Lighting
    True Detective- Maya/Vray Lighting
    Veronica Mars- Maya Generalist

  • Motion Capture Supervisor

    Nickelodeon

    October 2018 - October 2018
    Burbank Studios

    On set for Nickelodeons live action show "Henry Danger" using motion capture to push the limit of the episodic story. We integrated CG characters onto live action plates.

  • virtual production artist

    Digital Domain

    December 2012 - August 2018
    Greater Los Angeles Area

  • Artist

    Universal Studios Hollywood

    June 2017 - June 2017
    Los Angeles, CA

    Hand painted a giant background mural at Universal Studios "NYC set" for Chris Browns official invitational record release party on Halloween. My main role on this was to help the team finish this mural in time for the party.
    I was also allowed to add my personal design choices to the murals.

  • Artist

    FX Networks

    June 2017 - June 2017
    Greater Los Angeles Area

    Beautify Earth asked me to join them in creating artistic content for a promotional
    event for the television series SNOWFALL on FX Network.
    This originally was for sneaker art but blossomed into a full blown hand painted mural.

  • Designer /Compositor / Animator

    Idea Giants, LLC

    December 2013 - January 2014
    City of Los Angeles

    N.Y.E.L.A Grand Park
    3D Projection

    Software Used: Maya, Photoshop, Nuke

    This was Los Angeles inaugural new years eve event held in grand park now known as "N.Y.E.L.A." (New Years Eve Los Angeles). We were tasked to design and animate the look delivering a massive projected light show to over 25,000 people gathered in Los Angeles' Grand Park using the city hall as our projection screen. This was so much fun!

  • visual effects designer

    Idea Giants

    December 2013 - December 2013
    Los Angeles, CA

    This was Los Angeles inaugural new years eve event held in grand park now known as "N.Y.E.L.A." (New Years Eve Los Angeles). We were tasked to design and animate the look delivering a massive projected light show to over 25,000 people gathered in Los Angeles' Grand Park using the city hall as our projection screen.

  • 3D Character Artist

    Hollywood digital Magic LIVE

    March 2013 - March 2013
    Greater Los Angeles Area

    modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering my models for them.

  • paint artist

    Logan

    February 2013 - February 2013
    Los Angeles

  • digital paint artist

    Stereo D

    August 2011 - November 2012
    Greater Los Angeles Area

  • stereoscopic depth artist

    Legend 3D VR VFX

    February 2011 - June 2011
    Greater San Diego Area

  • prop artist

    Flying Cloud Animation

    June 2010 - September 2010
    Boston, MA

  • visualization artist

    Ben Schenkelberg Architecture

    February 2009 - June 2009
    Springfield, MA

  • cg generalist

    Johns Hopkins Hospital

    December 2008 - January 2009
    Washington, D. C., DC

  • VAD Artist

    Double Negative

    March 2000 - June 2000
    Los Angeles, California, United States
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Education

  • Certificate

    CGMA (CG Master Academy)

    July 2019 - August 2019

  • plants and vegetation

    CG Masters School of 3D Animation & VFX

    2019 - 2019

  • Computer Graphics & 3d animation in Computer Graphics & 3d animation

    Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts

    2008 - 2009

  • United States Air Force

    ? - ?