For the last couple of years, I have had the pleasure of creating concept art, 2D illustrations, and animations, as well as conducting research on a variety of games and sims with Field Day. They not only design educational games to connect research with the public, but they use those games to study how learning takes place. Plus, these games are fun to play, and their final look is incredible.
Wake: Tales from the Aqualab
Concept Art, 2D Art & Site, Species, and Phenomena Research
This game was my first official freelance position in game art. I was brought on as a “Lifeforms concept artist,” but due to my passion for ocean creatures and ecosystems, was asked to conduct in-depth research to support the game and create scientific illustration entries for the in-game journal. Players encounter challenges across multiple oceanic ecosystems, but through observation, experimentation, modeling, and argumentation, determine the issues and possible solutions. I feel extremely lucky to have worked on a project that covered everything from dead zones, invasive Lionfish and urchin barrens to oil rig reefs and whale falls (as seen here).
Oil Rig Reef (Concept Art)
From Wake: Tales from the Aqualab
Anglerfish Sketches
Anglerfish (Concept Art)
From Wake: Tales from the Aqualab
Arctic Whale Fall (Concept Art)
From Wake: Tales from the Aqualab
Wake Journal Pages: Scientific Bull Kelp Illustration (Left) | Narrative Illustrations by Reyna Groff (Right)
Wake Journal Pages: Scientific Sea Otter Illustration (Right) | Narrative Illustrations by Reyna Groff (Left)
Legend of the Lost Emerald
Concept Art, Illustration, and Content Research
Legend of the Lost Emerald is a game where mysteries unfold through marine archeology. Through research I created concept art regarding species a diver might encounter at each shipwreck site. I started by researching native, invasive, and non-native species and those collections ended up as posters in the home screen of the game.
Species Guides Turned In-Game Posters
Legend of the Lost Emerald Home Screen Featuring Fish Posters
Invasive Mussels at Shipwreck (Concept Art)
From Legend of the Lost Emerald: Mussel-covered Shipwreck
Headlines and High Water
Illustration, Concept Art, Prototype Art, Animation, and Content Research
My work in Headlines and High Water supported the art style of the lead artist Ben Nadler. From creating the prototype art, to animating Nadler's background art in a cinemagraph style (seen below), as well as mimicking his style and aesthetic in pop-up sketches and illustrated photographs for the gazette in the game (also seen here). I also created concept art and researched different species found in a simliar Wisconsin wetland.
Flooded Hospital with Ducks (Photo Snippet for in-game Gazette)
Flooded Hospital with Ducks (Photo Snippet for in-game Gazette)
Animated House Background (Art by Ben Nadler)
Animated Nora's Arc (Art by Ben Nadler)
Waddle: A Penguin's Tale
Concept Art and Movement Studies
Waddle is a VR game where the players embody an Adélie penguin ( while also introducing them to polar research at Cape Royds, Antarctica). Since the players embody the penguin - it was key to understand how they move. Adélie penguin are a feisty bird and their movement can be pretty fast. I watched and slowed down video to break down the basic part of both their courtship movements and their wing range of motion for the game designers and developers.
Adélie Penguin Movement Studies: Courtship
Adélie Penguin Movement Studies: Range of Motion
Field Day + BrainPop Science Sim Collaboration: Plate Tectonics, Force Fields, Ocean Currents, Food Web, Carbon Cycles, Rock Cycles, Water Cycle Flow, Cells, & Cell Wall
Concept Art and Illustrations / Art Assets
Food Web Assets (Selection)
Food Web Sim
Force Fields Sim Featuring Earth and Rock Art Assets
Plate Tectonic Sim Featuring Convergent: Ocean/Continent Illustration
Rock Cycle Assets (Selection)
Rock Cycle Sim