I am a Visual Artist and 2D/3D Concept Artist specializing in character design, illustration, and 3D asset creation. I work across both traditional and digital mediums, with a strong foundation in painting and drawing. I specialize in 3D modeling, sculpting, texturing, and look development, and bring a unique perspective to concept art and character creation for various visual storytelling formats. My creative journey began in makeup artistry and body painting, contributing to fashion editorials and campaigns for brands such as Vodafone and publications like Vogue Arabia. Since then, I've developed visual concepts for immersive events and produced commissioned artwork and installations for private collectors and cultural institutions, with features on platforms including Reuters and AJ+. I'm eager to contribute my skills to creative teams in film, games, or advertising, where I can help bring characters and environments to life. I value mentorship, creative freedom, and continuous growth, and I'm excited to evolve alongside inspiring collaborators and bold visual projects.

Chanel Ilham Arif

I am a Visual Artist and 2D/3D Concept Artist specializing in character design, illustration, and 3D asset creation. I work across both traditional and digital mediums, with a strong foundation in painting and drawing. I specialize in 3D modeling, sculpting, texturing, and look development, and bring a unique perspective to concept art and character creation for various visual storytelling formats. My creative journey began in makeup artistry and body painting, contributing to fashion editorials and campaigns for brands such as Vodafone and publications like Vogue Arabia. Since then, I've developed visual concepts for immersive events and produced commissioned artwork and installations for private collectors and cultural institutions, with features on platforms including Reuters and AJ+. I'm eager to contribute my skills to creative teams in film, games, or advertising, where I can help bring characters and environments to life. I value mentorship, creative freedom, and continuous growth, and I'm excited to evolve alongside inspiring collaborators and bold visual projects.

Available to hire

I am a Visual Artist and 2D/3D Concept Artist specializing in character design, illustration, and 3D asset creation. I work across both traditional and digital mediums, with a strong foundation in painting and drawing. I specialize in 3D modeling, sculpting, texturing, and look development, and bring a unique perspective to concept art and character creation for various visual storytelling formats. My creative journey began in makeup artistry and body painting, contributing to fashion editorials and campaigns for brands such as Vodafone and publications like Vogue Arabia.

Since then, I’ve developed visual concepts for immersive events and produced commissioned artwork and installations for private collectors and cultural institutions, with features on platforms including Reuters and AJ+. I’m eager to contribute my skills to creative teams in film, games, or advertising, where I can help bring characters and environments to life. I value mentorship, creative freedom, and continuous growth, and I’m excited to evolve alongside inspiring collaborators and bold visual projects.

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Language

English
Fluent
Persian
Beginner
Arabic
Beginner

Work Experience

Freelance Concept Artist & Visual Designer at Global / Remote
January 1, 2015 - June 24, 2024
Commissioned concept and character artwork for visual media and private collectors; featured in outlets such as Reuters, AJ+, Sky News Arabia, and The Atlantic; created visual content for exhibitions, installations, and commercial briefs.
Freelance Art Director at Sakant Studio & Record Store
October 1, 2018 - December 31, 2020
Developed and implemented visual themes using painting, installation, and sculpture for bi-monthly events; managed full production execution and visual concept oversight.
Freelance Art Director at No Name Sans Nom Party
October 1, 2017 - December 31, 2020
Conceptualized and executed experiential visual designs using mixed media; curated and monitored design installation and event production.
Art Director & Presentation Designer at byGanz Events Extraordinaire
April 1, 2015 - February 29, 2016
Directed concept design for major themed events, including costumes, set design, and mood boards; created tailored presentations for luxury and corporate clients.
Art Director & Presentation Designer at byGanz Events Extraordinaire
November 1, 2017 - May 31, 2018
Directed concept design for major themed events, including costumes, set design, and mood boards; created tailored presentations for luxury and corporate clients.
Freelance Makeup Artist at Self-employed
September 1, 2016 - December 31, 2020
Designed and executed makeup for fashion editorials, commercial videos, and social campaigns.
Hostess at Grape & Vine Restaurant at The Jade Hotel
January 1, 2014 - May 31, 2014
Managed guest reservations, seating plans, and service coordination for high-end clientele.
Researcher & Publication Designer at Alwan-wa-Awtar NGO
March 1, 2013 - June 30, 2013
Created community impact publication through interviews, analysis, and layout design.
Editor-in-Chief & Layout Designer at Paris/Atlantic Journal – American University of Paris
September 1, 2010 - May 31, 2012
Led editorial curation and publication layout for interdisciplinary arts journal.
Freelance Concept Artist & Visual Designer at Global / Remote
January 1, 2015 - Present
Designed 2D/3D characters, props, and environments for clients across film, advertising, and cultural sectors. Produced high-fidelity concept art, keyframes, and orthographic sheets for narrative-driven projects. Developed pitch decks and art bibles for entertainment clients to visualize characters, environments, and emotional arcs. Collaborated with directors, writers, and producers to translate scripts and creative briefs into visually coherent assets. Created stylized and realistic character designs focusing on storytelling, silhouette, and emotional readability. Optimized 3D assets for animation pipelines, ensuring compatibility with rigging and rendering requirements. Delivered rapid ideation and iteration for tight production deadlines. Featured in international media including Reuters, AJ+, Sky News Arabia, and The Atlantics.
Freelance Art Director at Sakant Studio & Record Store
December 31, 2020 - August 25, 2025
Directed creative development of themed environments blending music, storytelling, and visual art. Integrated lighting, materials, and spatial design to create immersive brand-aligned visual experiences. Collaborated with motion designers and VJs to create visuals enhancing live performances, with skills transferable to game cut scene design and interactive media. Led visual production from concept through execution for 10+ events with audiences of 200–500.
Freelance Art Director at No Name Sans Nom Party
December 31, 2020 - August 25, 2025
Created mixed media installations offering narrative progression and environmental storytelling. Applied modular design thinking to develop reusable assets across events, creating a scalable, repeatable process for execution. Directed art teams and delegated production tasks in alignment with creative direction. Developed brand identities and thematic visual languages adaptable across print, digital, and spatial formats.
Art Director & Presentation Designer at byGanz Events Extraordinaire
February 29, 2016 - August 25, 2025
Directed concept development for major client activations, incorporating character design, spatial composition, and visual symbolism. Delivered cinematic moodboards and visual treatments to communicate storylines and emotional tone. Produced creative pitch decks for luxury brands, similar to advertising storyboarding workflows. Partnered with costume designers, set builders, and stylists, building cross-functional collaboration skills transferable to VFX and game development teams.
Freelance Makeup Artist at Freelance
December 31, 2020 - August 25, 2025
Designed transformative character looks for film sets, fashion campaigns, and performance art. Created makeup looks enhancing narrative and character development, particularly in emotionally driven editorial campaigns. Collaborated with directors and stylists to ensure visual continuity across scenes and locations. Developed human-body canvases as storytelling mediums, an analog precursor to character texturing and visual R&D in games and CG film.
Hostess at Grape & Vine Restaurant at The Jade Hotel
May 31, 2014 - August 25, 2025
Managed guest reservations, seating plans, and service coordination for high-end clientele.
Researcher & Publication Designer at Alwan-wa-Awtar NGO
June 30, 2013 - August 25, 2025
Conducted qualitative research and translated findings into visual storytelling formats. Designed infographics and visual narratives emphasizing clarity, emotion, and cultural nuance. Produced visual materials aimed at broad public engagement, reflecting principles used in advertising storytelling and UX design.
Editor-in-Chief & Layout Designer at Paris / Atlantic Journal – American University of Paris
May 1, 2012 - August 25, 2025
Directed content strategy and curation for an interdisciplinary visual arts and literature journal. Created publication layouts with cinematic pacing and narrative flow. Published visual essays and illustration spreads exploring themes of identity, mythology, and storytelling relevant to game world-building and concept art.

Education

Bachelor of Arts at The American University of Paris
September 1, 2011 - June 30, 2015
Art Foundation Course at Parsons Paris School of Art & Design
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at The American University of Paris
September 1, 2010 - May 1, 2012
Art Foundation Course at Parsons Paris School of Art & Design
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Editorial Makeup Artist Certificate at Cinema Makeup School, Los Angeles
January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016
3D Modeling & Concept Art for Film/TV at Think Tank Training Centre
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Qualifications

Professional Makeup Artist Diploma
January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016
Usui Reiki Level II Practitioner
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Editorial Makeup Artist Certificate
January 1, 2016 - August 25, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Non-Profit Organization, Travel & Hospitality, Consumer Goods, Education
    uniE608 Under the Summer Moon
    This is my demoreel of my 3D artwork titled Under the Summer Moon, which i created while attending Think Tank Training Centre. This piece was made with zbrush, maya, substance painter, vray, photoshop, and after effects Music : Ambient Atmospheric Nostalgia Universfield Nostalgia 3D 3Dartist conceptart characterdesign animator videoeditor video