Zan Rice

Zancois Rice 

Principle 3D Artist/Animator

Escapespeedllc.com

zancoisrice@zanswork.com

 

Summary

A highly skilled and innovative 3D artist and animator with over 20 years of experience, specializing in game design, graphic design, and illustration. Proven ability to produce high-quality art assets across diverse styles and platforms, with expertise in slot design and gaming art. A team-oriented leader with exceptional communication, organizational, and technical skills, driven by a passion for creating engaging visual experiences.

 

Core Competencies

Game Art Expertise: High-quality 3D modeling, texturing, and animation for slot machines and games. Creative Design: Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite, Unreal Engine, Unity, ZBrush, and Substance Painter. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Experience collaborating with design, math, audio, and engineering teams. Leadership & Mentorship: Experienced in training teams in advanced art techniques and workflows. Cultural Adaptability: Successfully navigates cross-cultural projects and varying time zones. Strategic Problem Solving: Skilled in balancing creative vision with technical and budgetary constraints.  

Technical Skills

Adobe Creative Suite | Unreal Engine 5.4 | Unity | 3D Studio Max | Maya | ZBrush | Mudbox | Substance Painter | Marvelous Designer | After Effects | Perforce | Jira | Path Tracing | V-Ray | iClone | NVIDIA Omniverse | Spine Animation

 

Professional Experience

Everi Holdings | Reno, NV

Principal Artist II/Lead Artist IV
June 2021 – May 2024

Spearheaded creation of 3D models and animations for slot games, ensuring seamless integration of conceptual and final art. Introduced AI-based workflows to optimize production, accelerating asset creation and improving quality. Trained and mentored junior staff on advanced techniques, fostering a high-performance team culture. Provided accurate project time and cost estimates, contributing to effective resource management.

Synergy Blue | Las Vegas, NV

2D/3D Artist
June 2019 – September 2020

Designed and modeled unique 3D characters and assets, enhancing engagement in Unity-powered slot games. Digitally painted 2D animations, delivering cohesive visual narratives across game titles. Supported multi-departmental collaboration to ensure alignment with creative and technical goals.

Konami Gaming | Las Vegas, NV

Senior 3D Artist/Designer
June 2017 – January 2019

Delivered end-to-end art production, including concepts, UI, characters, and animations for slot machines. Guided art teams in mastering diverse styles, enhancing overall product quality. Contributed to successful releases of highly immersive slot titles.

VGT/Aristocrat | Reno, NV

3D Artist/Animator
August 2014 – March 2017

Led the development of visually compelling slot game assets, covering all stages from concept to final rendering. Consistently met deadlines and exceeded quality expectations across multiple simultaneous projects.

Autodesk University Master Class Instructor

3D Modeling Master Class
2012

Delivered a comprehensive master class on advanced 3D modeling techniques. Provided in-depth tutorials on industry-standard workflows for professional artists and animators. Recognized for expertise in training and skill development for attendees.

Freelance Experience

Total Respawn: Created VR game characters. Autodesk: Delivered a masterclass on 3D modeling. MovMobile: Designed AR assets for top-tier brands like NFL, MasterCard, and Coca-Cola. ScreenVision: Developed 3D assets for cinematic projects for clients such as Amazon and Lexus.  

Education

A.A.S in Media Arts and Animation
Art Institute of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA

 

Awards

Best Technical Achievement Award

Recognized for "Leaving the Game," a machinima piece showcasing groundbreaking storytelling and visual innovation.  

Portfolio

Available at www.zanswork.com

 

Key Attributes

Strong appreciation for game mechanics, player behavior, and emerging trends. Expertise in art critique, brainstorming, and concept ideation. Exceptional time management and autonomous work ethic. Proven ability to foster trust, respect, and collaboration across teams.