Thumbnail Artist

Catface•Austin, TX

3d•Remote

About The Position

Catface is a YouTube entertainment company seeking a talented and creative YouTube Thumbnail Artist to join their team. The role involves creating eye-catching, high-performing thumbnails for Minecraft and Roblox YouTube content. Reporting to the Lead Artist, the Thumbnail Artist will collaborate with a team to develop engaging thumbnails that drive clicks, increase audience engagement, and support channel growth. The ideal candidate will have exceptional illustration skills, a strong understanding of YouTube culture and audience behavior, and a passion for creating cute, expressive Chibi-style artwork. The role involves the entire creative process, from concept development and sketching to final execution, including 2D illustration and paint-overs of 3D models.

Requirements

Strong portfolio demonstrating thumbnail design, digital illustration, or related artwork.
Excellent illustration skills with the ability to replicate and work within an established art style.
Strong understanding of composition, visual storytelling, lighting, and color correction.
Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop.
Experience creating YouTube thumbnails or digital marketing graphics.
Understanding of YouTube audience behavior and click-through rate optimization.
Knowledge of video games, particularly Minecraft, Roblox, or similar gaming content.
Awareness of YouTube and internet culture.
Strong communication skills and ability to implement feedback effectively.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced creative environment and adapt quickly to changing priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience painting over 3D renders and compositing artwork.
Familiarity with social media platforms including YouTube, Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Twitch, Discord, Snapchat, and emerging platforms.
Understanding of how thumbnails, titles, trends, and audience behavior impact video performance.
Basic understanding of YouTube analytics and performance metrics.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with Management, the Lead Artist, and fellow artists to create polished, high-converting YouTube thumbnails.
Design engaging thumbnail concepts that align with video titles, content, and channel branding.
Sketch thumbnail ideas based on creative briefs and prompts.
Create finished 2D illustrations in a cute, Chibi-inspired art style.
Paint over and composite existing 3D models to create dynamic thumbnail artwork.
Edit and manipulate images, graphics, lighting, and text to maximize click-through rates.
Produce multiple thumbnail variations for testing and optimization when needed.
Maintain consistent visual branding across YouTube channels.
Take and implement feedback from creative supervisors and stakeholders.
Ensure Photoshop files are organized, properly labeled, and backed up according to team standards.
Stay informed on YouTube trends, internet culture, gaming content trends, and competitor strategies.
Meet project deadlines in a fast-paced creative environment.