NIKITA POLUKAROV
NIKITA POLUKAROV
3D Creature/Character Artist (Available)
Tampa, United States

About

Open to new opportunities
email: zenrov.rb@gmail.com

Full-time/Freelance artist specialising in creatures & characters.
I've been working in the game and film industries for over 4 years and have experience developing creature and character concepts, as well as bringing them to a production-ready state for use in real-time and cinematic pipelines.

Some of the projects I've contributed:

Half-Life 2 RTX
Backrooms Rec.
Bambaa Studio (NDA)
Litio Games (NDA)
Vicious Red

Resume PDF

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Skills

Creature DesignRenderingCreature Modeling3D ModelingDigital SculptingRiggingConcept DesignPhotographyCharacter AnimationRetopologyTexture Baking

Software proficiency

3ds Max
3ds Max
Keyshot
Keyshot
Maya
Maya
Photoshop
Photoshop
Substance 3D Painter
Substance 3D Painter
Marmoset Toolbag
Marmoset Toolbag
Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine
ZBrush
ZBrush
Unity
Unity
Marvelous Designer
Marvelous Designer
R3DS ZWRAP
R3DS ZWRAP
FiberShop
FiberShop

Experience

  • Senior 3D Creature Artist at Litio Games
    Remote, TR
    June 2025 - August 2025

  • Senior 3D Creature Artist at Bambaa Studio
    Remote, PL
    October 2024 - April 2025

    Built detailed creatures and humanoids for an unreleased realistic game, respecting strict performance targets and artistic direction.

    Developed PBR textures and baking workflows under tight sprints, aligning with animation-ready topology.

    Implemented optimized export workflows tailored for Unreal Engine pipeline integration.

    Concepted characters and creatures from initial silhouettes and thumbnails through to final sculpts, aligning with the art director’s vision

  • Half Life 2 RTX at Orbifold Studios
    Los Angeles, US
    February 2023 - October 2025

    Reimagined classic Half-Life characters using modern PBR workflows while preserving their original identity.

    Integrated assets using RTX Remix tools with custom shader enhancements for enhanced realism.

    Developed original concept enhancements for gear, facial features, and character silhouettes where source references were limited.

    Created the project’s most-viewed character on ArtStation, receiving over 200,000+ views and positive feedback from the gaming community.

  • Vicious Red at Horns & Hooves
    Remote
    August 2022 - March 2025

    Creation of highly detailed characters and creatures from scratch using ZBrush, Maya, Substance Painter, and Marmoset Toolbag.

    Designed over 10 creatures, including for promote materials, from sculpt to engine-ready models with optimized topology and clean UVs.

    Built creatures from scratch, starting with original 2D sketches and moodboards through to optimized game-ready models.

    Reduced average character asset size by 25% through polycount and texture compression without compromising visual fidelity.

    Assurance that all assets met established quality standards through meticulous review and refinement.

    Assets were featured in the official game trailer and showcased in Steam promotional materials

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