Freelance 3D Character Artist — Short-Term Hourly Contract

Remote · Freelance, hourly · Immediate start · Wraps early October
We're hiring an experienced 3D character artist on a short hourly freelance contract: one stylised paleontologist character and a small set of dinosaur assets for a group of interactive installations opening to the public in early October. It's a fast-turnaround job for someone who can own the work from concept sign-off through to Unity-ready delivery.
What you'll make
1. A stylised paleontologist character — due 25 September
Modelled, textured and rigged, real-time ready for Unity (roughly 30–50k tris)
Full facial blendshape set compatible with lip-sync (ARKit 52 or equivalent) — the character will drive a conversational avatar on screen
2. A set of 3–5 dinosaur species — due 2 October
Real-time ready, rigged, with simple animation loops
Used in two interactives: a body-tracking piece where visitors see themselves as a dinosaur, and a projected marine environment. Species mix to be agreed at concept stage.
3. Handover
Source files (Blender or Maya), FBX exports, textures, and a one-page handover note
Who we're looking for
A portfolio of stylised, real-time characters — game or interactive work especially
Solid facial rigging and blendshape experience; you've built ARKit-style sets before
Comfortable with creature modelling, rigging and simple animation loops — including rigs that will be driven by visitor body tracking
Good discipline around poly budgets, clean topology, texture optimisation and Unity FBX export
Available to start immediately, with enough weekly capacity to hit the dates above — they're tied to a public opening and can't move
Nice to have: conversational or lip-synced avatar work, exhibition/installation projects, body-tracking or AR experience.
Terms
Paid at an hourly rate, invoiced monthly against tracked hours.
We estimate roughly 80 hours for the full scope, with an agreed not-to-exceed cap; anything beyond it is discussed and approved before the work is done.
Three review points along the way: concept sign-off, character delivery, dinosaur set delivery

Work arrangement
No