Digital Character Illustrator for AI Training

About OpenTrain

OpenTrain is the #1 platform for finding and building careers in AI training and data labeling. It helps contributors discover projects, build a professional profile, and apply for opportunities that match their skills. Creating an OpenTrain account is free.

• Build a visible portfolio of AI training experience
• Discover creative work that matches your abilities
• Grow your career in a fast-moving technology field

About AI Training Work

AI training is the human side of building artificial intelligence. People contribute examples, creative assets, evaluations, and feedback that help modern AI systems learn how to understand and generate content. This role applies artistic judgment to visual material used in that process.

AI training work is often remote and flexible, making it possible to contribute around other commitments. Your creative decisions can help shape how cutting-edge AI systems represent characters, styles, and visual concepts.

• Work remotely with a computer and internet connection
• Contribute to the development of modern AI systems
• Apply professional creative skills to practical AI projects

The Role

OpenTrain is recruiting a Digital Character Illustrator to create artwork that supports AI training work. You will produce high-quality character illustrations and sketches from reference images, develop creative variations while preserving each character's identity, and adapt finished work across different visual themes.

The role combines artistic judgment with careful attention to consistency, composition, color, lighting, perspective, and proportion. You will also document creative decisions, style choices, and simple prompt metadata while delivering polished artwork within assigned timelines.

• Work type: Part-time contractor
• Schedule: 20+ hours per week
• Location: Worldwide and remote
• Primary language: English
• Experience level: Entry level
• Pay: $7.50 USD per hour

What You'll Do

You will create and refine digital character artwork based on supplied references. Success in this role requires maintaining recognizable character identity across variations while making thoughtful changes to style, atmosphere, and presentation.

• Create digital character illustrations and sketches from provided reference images
• Produce multiple creative variations while maintaining character identity and visual consistency
• Apply fundamentals of composition, color, lighting, perspective, and proportion
• Adapt artwork across stylized, surreal, cinematic, vintage, retro, steampunk, glitch, and other visual themes
• Record creative decisions, style choices, and simple prompt metadata
• Manage revisions independently
• Deliver polished artwork within assigned timelines

Requirements

Applicants should have practical experience in illustration, sketching, cartooning, concept art, or a related field, along with a portfolio that demonstrates creativity, versatility, and attention to detail. Artists at different career stages are welcome, including interns, freshers, emerging artists, and experienced professionals.

• Character illustration and sketching fundamentals
• Ability to preserve character identity and visual consistency while creating variations from references
• Practical skill in character design or stylized illustration
• Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, Affinity Suite, or similar creative tools
• Portfolio evidence of creativity, versatility, attention to detail, and revision skills
• Ability to work independently, respond to revisions, and meet project timelines

Helpful Creative Background

Experience with surreal, cinematic, vintage, retro, steampunk, or glitch art can support the visual range needed for this work. A strong portfolio is the clearest way to show how you approach character identity, variation, visual consistency, and finished presentation.

• Surreal or cinematic illustration
• Vintage or retro visual styles
• Steampunk or glitch art
• Versatile character design and concept art

How It Works

Create your free OpenTrain account, showcase your illustration portfolio, and apply for this opportunity. As you contribute to AI training and data-labeling projects, your OpenTrain profile can help you present credible experience and discover future roles aligned with your creative skills.

• Apply through OpenTrain
• Showcase relevant character illustration work
• Complete assigned artwork and revisions independently
• Build experience in the growing AI training industry