GAME DESIGNER | CREATIVE DIRECTOR | 2D & 3D ARTIST FREELANCE ARTIST

Hi, I'm Tara! I'm a 2D and 3D artist from Melbourne, and a 2025 graduate of the Bachelor of Design (Games) at RMIT. I've been working in 2D and 3D art freelance for 6+ years and is proficient in both 2D and 3D work, bringing out stylized creations into the world of games, prints, and animations. I have been doing game development for three years and excel in stylized 3D work and 2D illustration. Currently, I am a creative director of my own indie game studio, Studio Synespace.

[email protected]
[email protected]

MY PROJECTS

I am a Game Designer who specialises in creating 2D and 3D assets, primarily making 2D characters come to life in the world of 3D. These games showcase my ability to storytell, code, develop games, assets, and utilise existing tools to create media independently and with a team. I have a strong focus in Environmental Storytelling with my 3D assets and colouring. For my 2025 capstone game, Freighter 50-8, I had the opportunity to showcase our game to Australia's largest digital media museum, ACMI.

FREIGHTER 50-8

Freighter 50-8 is a first person, narrative driven, atmospheric game with elements of uneasiness and dark humour.The player is a mechanic on an old freighter spaceship which has been repurposed by a mega corporation, Colstar Dynamics, using a brand new AI model (Digital Navigation Systems/DNS) which takes control over the major functions of the ship (Movement, Security, Habitation, etc). However, its imperfection leads to failures on systems which breaks the ship apart.I was the lead 3D modeler and artist of this collaborative project.

EYES FROM VOYAGER 2

Eyes From Voyager 2 is a short informative game detailing Voyager 2's trajectory and findings of the Jovian planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. It was an extra deliverable of my research project, "The Gamification of Science in Sandbox Games and its Role in Education", which I made an additional website detailing my research and thoughts.

THE LAST TRAIN OF LAFKA

Escaping from a soon war torn town, explore and find scrap to repair what's said to be the last train of Lafka and drive far away to safety. However, the missing train pieces aren't the only pieces of scrap lying around, but a story, too.This was an individual project made on Unity with a focus on environmental storytelling; I designed the story, gameplay, and 3D modelled every asset, as well as wrote and edited C# code.

ROYAL PARK ACACIA ENVIRONMENT

Another environment game based off of the Acacia trees in Royal Park and the growth of its Gall disease during the colder seasons. I worked on this game with a friend who did the programming, shaders, and trees, while I focused on the art, colouring, and environment setup on Unity. All sound has been recorded on site on Royal Park.

LAYERING REALITIES VIGNETTE

A simple environment vignette inspired by my time in Royal Park, Melbourne. It's focused on the shredded Sydney Blue Eucalyptus tree in the center, followed by audio that was recorded during my time in the park.

SPACE CAPTAIN LEE

A game about a lonely space captain who is trying his best. This game was to have no dialogue, talking or text, but it does have two endings.This was an individual project created with Gamemaker. I designed the story and gameplay, created every asset, cutscene, and music. I have also coded this game using GML.

DREAM ODD HOUSE

You find yourself in an almost surreal and weird dream-esque room. Find your way out and wake up from this 'dream', whatever it is you found yourself in...
An assignment, most models and code/mechanics were provided by RMIT. Our challenge was to extend the game and add our own polish. Here's my version!

TOUCH METRO

A short and simple game about daily travel in Melbourne. This was my first game and introduction to GML code.I drew every asset, wrote, and edited GML code for this game. Some sound were taken from real life recordings I took in Melbourne.

THE ENDLESS LEGEND

After completing a task for your team amidst this lonely and broken world, you're assigned with a new job to find the 'Legend' who is rumoured to have lived in your world for over 100 years. You climb the mountains to find this 'Legend', but end up making a new friend instead.
This game was also a Narrative Design assignment, made using Twine.

ABOUT ME

Hi! I'm Tara, but I also go by the internet name 'Puppiii'. I am a recent 2025 graduate from the Bachelor of Design (Games) at RMIT, Australia. I specialise in multiple artstyles and mediums, ranging from cartoon, anime, stylized 2D and 3D. I am also capable of doing 1:1 replications of existing characters into 3D models, and am passionate on bringing 2D characters into the world of 3D environments. Further, I am proficient in working with stylized 3D character models using Blender, and Autodesk Maya for 3D animation, with 2D illustration following as a strong plus.
I have been freelancing in the art and entertainment community for over 6 years, working closely alongside clients, streamers/influencers, and directors to follow briefs and provide custom 2D and 3D assets in the highest quality for games, content creation, and merchandise. I am currently well known for my vibrant and explosive use of colours in my work.Studying as a game design student has also extended my skills and knowledge in Unity 2D + 3D, GameMaker, Substance Painter, Maya, and Blender, as I have programmed, produced, and utilised assets to create games in Unity, Gamemaker, Twine and Bipsi. As a student, I have also had to opportunity to showcase my 2025 Capstone game Freighter 50-8 at Australia's largest digital media museum ACMI.Art and design has always been my passion, with over 9 years of experience. I began digital illustration in 2015, 3D modelling in 2021, and 3D animation in 2023. My 6 years and ongoing experience working on a webcomic has also given me growth, resilience, and enhanced design skills in storytelling and worldbuilding, further expanding my illustration and narrative creativity for story-based projects.I love interacting with my clients and I thrive in collaborative spaces. If you are interested in working with me, let's keep in touch!

[email protected]
[email protected]

GENERAL SKILLS

2D / 3D Animation: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ - 90%
3D Modelling: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ ⯀ - 90%
3D Rigging: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ - - 80%
Illustration: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ 100%
C# + GML Code: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀- - - - - 50%
HTML: ⯀⯀⯀ ⯀ - - - - - - 40%
English: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ 100%

PROGRAM SKILLS

Blender: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ - 90%
Maya: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ - - - 70%
Substance Painter: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ - - - - 60%
Adobe Photoshop: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ - - 80%
Unity: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ ⯀ - 90%
Gamemaker: ⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀⯀ - - - 70%
Unreal Engine: ⯀⯀⯀ - - - - - - - 30%

CHARACTER MODELLING

These character models were commissioned by clients on a trusted website called VGen. These models showcased have been fully rigged with IK and FK movement, provided with shapekeys and optimised for games to be used for streaming purposes and VRChat/Unity import. When clicking on some images, it will bring you to its Sketchfab page!I sketched them a simple reference that I will model based off of. Some clients ordered these models to be modelled in my artstyle, while others wanted both of our artstyles combined, or for their style to be modelled entirely. After getting confirmation to proceed, I import it into Blender and ensure each shape is modelled as the reference. For texturing, I create my own toon texture to provide the closest and most accurate colouring results. Linework has been done using shader nodes, vertex groups and weight painting.

SKETCHFAB EMBED

(PC view recommended)

INDEPENDENT

These character models were for personal and community uses. Each have also been rigged with FK and IK movement, provided with shapekeys and optimised for video games. These contain characters from series like Camp Camp, Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking novel trilogy, and some are my original characters.My process revolves around creating a simple digital reference first, showing the front and side views. If I'm modelling a character outside of my artstyle, I find references online. I then import it into blender and model closely to the references, ensuring the shapes match up. For texturing, I create my own toon shader to provide the most accurate colour results and final look.

GAME ASSETS

(PC view recommended)

Many of these assets have been 3D modelled using Blender, with my Violin model being done on Autodesk Maya. I have also used Substance Painter and Blender's inbuilt texturing system to add colour to my creations.

GAME SCREENSHOTS

Screenshots of my games showcase my ability to utilize my assets in 3D environment spaces such as games and vignettes, as well as my knowledge in working with the Unity 3D engine.

FREIGHTER 50-8

I was the lead 3D modeler and artist of this collaborative project. The aim was to go for a low-poly retro-futuristic style look of the freighter ship where the game takes place on. I created the models for the retro hallway, doors, barrels, pipes, dormitory, and the electrical room. The feeling of loneliness was a strong style point.This game had the opportunity to be showcased at ACMI, Australia's largest digital media museum.

THE LAST TRAIN OF LAFKA

For The Last Train of Lafka, I intended to focus entirely on environmental storytelling, using the abandoned and war-torn look to indicate the time this story takes place, as well as collectable notes alongside collectable items to understand the character, Kafu's situation on a more personal level.

EYES FROM VOYAGER 2

With Eyes From Voyager 2, I wanted to go for a visually appealing look of Space, similar to the game Space Engine. I also wanted go for a digital camera effect, referencing the photos Voyager 2 took of the Jovian planets. Initially, I wanted a more "sci-fi" look with the UI, but decided to take inspiration from the old informative space books I used to read as a kid, resulting in the simplistic black and gold textboxes.

ROYAL PARK VIGNETTE

This was a collaborative project regarding the development of Gall on Acacias in Royal Park, Australia. Taking heavy inspiration and reference from a portion of land in Royal Park, we have created a 3D environment of our chosen area. I was involved in the texturing, modelling of gall, and Unity environment setup of this project. The gall has been animated in a 30 second timeframe, following the pathway of the sun's direction during the winter season.This project had the opportunity to be showcased in the 2025 Games Week talk regarding Intimacy in games.

3D ANIMATION

These animations have been done using Maya 2023. The models have been provided by RMIT and the Agora community. The animations after the Allosaurus have been done on Blender. In February 2024, I was contacted on Artstation to produce models and animations for the mobile game 'Hungry Panda', which you can view below.

HUNGRY PANDA

In February 2024, I was contacted by a small Indie Game studio from Artstation to 3D model and animate assets for their mobile game 'Hungry Panda'. The deadline was March 8th, which I have completed everything on March 4th.

INDEPENDENT ANIMATIONS

ILLUSTRATIONS

My best works! Some artworks here are commissions, too. I specialise in vibrant character poster-like art, as well as large scale artworks in 1920 x 1080 format.

VEIN (GAME)

I am currently directing my studio called Studio Synespace in the development of our third-person psychological horror adventure game, VEIN. Below are artworks, concepts, and designs I have made for the game so far. 3D models of the main cast can be seen in my 3D modelling page.

SPRITE AND GAME ART

PERSONAL

FANWORK + STYLE STUDY

COMMISSIONS