Struggling to showcase your artistic vision and technical character creation skills in a way that captures the attention of game studios, animation houses, and creative directors? You’re not alone. Many talented character artists find it challenging to articulate their unique creative process – from concept development and 3D modelling to texturing and character performance – in a compelling narrative that demonstrates both their artistic capabilities and understanding of production pipelines. Whether you’re a recent digital arts graduate with a strong character portfolio looking to break into the games or film industry, or an experienced character artist ready to advance into lead creative roles or specialise in cutting-edge character technology, crafting a cover letter that showcases your ability to bring memorable characters to life while meeting technical specifications and production deadlines can feel overwhelming. This guide will help you present your character artist expertise to Australian employers across gaming, animation, visual effects, and advertising who need creative professionals to develop compelling characters that engage audiences and drive storytelling success.
Character Artist Cover Letter Example (Text Version)
[email protected]
0442 891 345
linkedin.com/in/jordan-riley-character-artist
portfolio.jordanriley.art
artstation.com/jordanriley
22 November 2025
Ms Lisa Chen
Art Director
Team Cherry Pty Ltd
Level 3, 45 William Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Dear Ms Chen,
Having designed and modelled 15+ distinctive characters for an indie horror game that achieved over 500,000 downloads and received recognition at PAX Australia 2024 for outstanding character design, I am excited to apply for the Character Artist position at Team Cherry. Your studio’s reputation for creating emotionally resonant characters with distinctive visual storytelling, as demonstrated in the beloved world of Hollow Knight, aligns perfectly with my passion for developing memorable characters that combine artistic excellence with technical precision and narrative depth.
In my current role as Character Artist at Halfbrick Studios, I create characters for mobile games across various genres, working closely with concept artists, animators, and technical artists to ensure characters function effectively within game engines while maintaining artistic vision. My key achievements include designing the protagonist for “Fruit Ninja Academy” that became the game’s most popular character with 2.3 million player customisations, developing an efficient character creation pipeline that reduced modelling time by 30% while improving polygon efficiency, and mentoring two junior artists in advanced character topology and texturing techniques using ZBrush and Substance Painter. My expertise spans character concept development, 3D sculpting, retopology, texturing, and rigging support, with proficiency in industry-standard software including ZBrush, Maya, Blender, Substance Painter, and Unreal Engine.
What particularly attracts me to Team Cherry is your commitment to handcrafted artistic excellence and your ability to create characters that resonate deeply with players through subtle animation and distinctive design philosophy. My Bachelor of Digital Arts (3D Animation) from Griffith University, combined with my recent completion of advanced character animation workshops and ongoing exploration of stylised rendering techniques, positions me well to contribute to your next groundbreaking project. Additionally, my experience working within tight production schedules and my understanding of both realistic and stylised character approaches enable me to adapt to your unique artistic vision while maintaining the technical requirements essential for interactive character performance.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my proven character creation expertise and genuine passion for bringing imaginative worlds to life can contribute to Team Cherry’s continued success in creating unforgettable gaming experiences. Thank you for considering my application.
Best regards,
Jordan Riley
How to Format a Character Artist Cover Letter
- Length: Max 1 page (3–5 paragraphs)
- Font: Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman (10–12pt)
- Spacing: Single or 1.15 line spacing
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- File format: PDF
What to Include in a Character Artist Cover Letter (Australia)
Your character artist cover letter should embody the same creative storytelling and attention to detail that you bring to character development and visual narrative. Each section should systematically demonstrate your artistic capabilities, technical proficiency, and understanding of character-driven storytelling.
- Contact Details: Professional email address, mobile number, LinkedIn profile showcasing artistic work, portfolio website URL, ArtStation or similar platform link, and current location
- Salutation: Research the creative team structure through LinkedIn, industry publications, or studio websites to identify the Art Director, Lead Character Artist, or appropriate creative manager
- Opening paragraph: Lead with compelling character creation achievements including player engagement, recognition, or technical innovation. State the specific position and connect your artistic vision to their studio’s creative philosophy or recent projects
- Middle paragraph(s): Showcase your character artist competencies including concept development, 3D modelling, texturing, pipeline optimization, and collaborative creation with specific examples and measurable creative outcomes
- Closing paragraph: Reinforce your artistic value proposition, demonstrate knowledge of their recent work or studio culture, and include an inspiring call to action
Right vs Wrong Example
Entry-Level Character Artist Cover Letter Tips
Breaking into character art requires demonstrating artistic potential, technical foundations, and understanding of production workflows through education, personal projects, and portfolio work that shows both creativity and professional readiness.
- Highlight standout character projects from digital arts studies, game development courses, or animation programs
- Showcase personal character creation projects that demonstrate passion and self-directed learning
- Mention relevant coursework in anatomy, character design, 3D modelling, or digital sculpting
- Include proficiency with industry-standard character creation tools like ZBrush, Maya, Substance Painter, or Blender
- Demonstrate understanding of character pipelines through collaborative projects, game jams, or student productions
- Show artistic versatility through examples spanning different styles, genres, or character types
Entry-Level Cover Letter Sample for Character Artist
Top Mistakes to Avoid in a Character Artist Cover Letter
- Focusing only on technical skills without artistic vision: Balance technical proficiency with creative storytelling and character development philosophy
- Missing the collaborative aspect: Character creation involves working with concept artists, animators, and technical teams – demonstrate teamwork abilities
- Generic artistic statements: Be specific about character styles, techniques mastered, or unique approaches you bring to character development
- Ignoring production constraints: Show understanding of polygon budgets, texture limitations, and performance requirements in character creation
- Overlooking portfolio integration: Always reference your portfolio and ensure it showcases characters relevant to their studio’s style and needs
- Missing industry awareness: Show knowledge of current character art trends, tools, and techniques used in their specific industry segment
How to Tailor Your Cover Letter to a Job Ad
Character artists must adapt their style and approach to different projects and studios – apply this same adaptability to customising your cover letter for various creative environments and character requirements.
- Studio style alignment: For realistic character studios, emphasise anatomy and photorealism; for stylised studios, highlight artistic interpretation and visual storytelling
- Industry-specific focus: For gaming roles, emphasise interactive character requirements; for animation, highlight character performance and expression
- Technical pipeline compatibility: Reference experience with their specific tools, engines, or workflows mentioned in job requirements
- Character type specialisation: If they focus on creatures, highlight creature design; for human characters, emphasise portrait and anatomy skills
- Production scale considerations: Adapt examples for indie studios (versatility) versus large studios (specialisation and pipeline efficiency)
How to Sign Off Your Character Artist Cover Letter
Your professional signature should reflect the same creative professionalism and attention to visual presentation that you bring to character design and portfolio presentation.
- Use creative but professional closings like “Best regards,” “Creative regards,” or “Kind regards”
- Include your full name matching your portfolio and professional profiles
- Provide direct mobile number for creative collaboration and project discussions
- Include professional email address that reflects your artistic personal brand
- Add portfolio website URL, ArtStation link, and LinkedIn profile showcasing your best character work
- Consider including your location for roles requiring studio collaboration or local industry networking
Cover Letter Signature Example
[email protected]
0435 678 901
portfolio.mayasingh.com
artstation.com/maya_character_art
linkedin.com/in/maya-singh-character-artist
Melbourne, VIC
How to Submit a Character Artist Cover Letter in Australia
- Creative presentation: Submit as PDF with clean, professional formatting that subtly reflects your design sensibility without overwhelming the content
- Artistic file naming: Use clear conventions like “MayaSingh_CoverLetter_CharacterArtist_StudioName.pdf”
- Portfolio integration: Always include portfolio links and ensure your character work is easily accessible and relevant to their projects
- Creative industry platforms: Many character art roles are advertised through game industry job boards, animation studio websites, or creative community networks
- Email applications: Create subject lines that demonstrate character expertise, such as “Character Artist Application – 3D Specialist with Game Industry Experience”
- Industry connections: Leverage game development meetups, animation industry events, or digital arts communities for referrals and insights
Final Tips for Writing a Great Character Artist Cover Letter
- Show your character development process: Briefly explain how you approach character creation from initial concept through to final implementation
- Balance artistry with technical execution: Demonstrate both creative vision and understanding of production pipelines and technical requirements
- Highlight unique artistic voice: What distinctive perspective or approach do you bring to character design and storytelling
- Demonstrate industry knowledge: Show awareness of current character art techniques, tools, and trends relevant to their specific market
- Emphasise collaborative creativity: Character art is highly collaborative – provide examples of successful teamwork and creative problem-solving
- Connect characters to audience: Show understanding that great character art serves storytelling and connects emotionally with audiences
More Resources for Job Seekers
Strengthen your character artist application with additional CareerFAQs resources. Review our character artist resume templates to ensure your CV effectively showcases your artistic portfolio and technical skills. Prepare for creative interviews and portfolio reviews with our interview questions guide, and explore our selection criteria response templates for roles requiring detailed creative capability demonstrations.