2D Side-Scroller Game Environment Artist Needed – MapleStory-Inspired Fantasy MMO Asset Kit

I am building a 2.5D side-scrolling MMORPG and I need an experienced 2D game environment artist to help create the first proper environment asset kit for the game. The player character and companion are already in-game, but the world/environment art needs a major upgrade. I am looking for an artist who can create polished, colourful, hand-painted 2D side-scroller environments similar in quality and readability to classic anime MMORPGs such as MapleStory / WonderKing, but using completely original fantasy IP. I will provide a reference image showing the exact quality, layout and style direction I want. We want to create an original game-ready environment and reusable assets that can recreate that type of scene inside our level editor. The game world theme is shattered sky-world of floating islands, restored ruins, glowing cyan memory crystals, warm timber structures, cottages, portals, grassy platforms, bridges, lanterns, and magical environments. What I need: I need an artist who can create a complete modular environment kit for the first beginner zone, including: Full level mockup One polished side-scroller scene mockup, Bright fantasy environment. Lush grassy platforms. Floating islands. House cottage / starter building. Merchant stall. Portal gate. Memory crystals. Wooden signs, lanterns, crates, barrels, fences, flowers and other props. Clear left-to-right side-scroller layout, not top-down or isometric. Separated reusable game assets Terrain tiles / platform pieces. Grass top tiles. Rock underside / cliff pieces. Floating island platform pieces. Semi-solid platform pieces. Wooden bridge pieces. Portal frame and portal VFX. Market stall. Lanterns. Signposts. Crates and barrels. Memory crystal clusters. Trees, bushes, flowers, vines, grass clumps. Ruin pieces / stone arches. Decorative props. Layered parallax backgrounds Sky layer. Cloud layer. Distant floating islands. Distant ruins. Midground islands. Waterfall/background atmosphere layers. Game-ready files Transparent PNGs wherever possible. Clean isolated assets. Consistent scale. Consistent lighting direction. Consistent outline/shading style. Optional layered PSD/Clip Studio/Procreate files if available. Sprite sheets or frame sequences for animated VFX such as portal swirl, crystal glow, lantern flicker, waterfall mist, etc. Art style target: The style should be: Upgraded MapleStory-style 2D game art. Hand-painted anime cel-shading. Clean dark-brown outlines. Soft 2–3 step shading. Vibrant saturated storybook colours. Warm soft afternoon sunlight. Painterly but crisp. Cute fantasy MMORPG environment style. Highly readable for gameplay. Original fantasy IP only. The assets must feel like they belong in the same world. I do not want random AI-looking assets, mismatched props, muddy textures, or flat generic fantasy backgrounds. I need an artist who understands how to build a modular 2D side-scroller environment kit that can be used repeatedly in a level editor. Very important: I do not only want one flat illustration. I need reusable assets that can be placed in-engine to build many levels. The final deliverables should allow us to recreate the reference-style scene inside our game editor using separate terrain, props, backgrounds, VFX and structures. Ideal experience: Please apply if you have experience with: 2D side-scroller game environments. Platformer / MMORPG map art. MapleStory-style or anime fantasy environment art. Modular game asset creation. Tile sets / platform kits. Parallax background layers. Game-ready PNG asset exports. Sprite sheets / VFX animation. Deliverables for first milestone: For the first milestone, I would like: Review the provided reference image. Create an art breakdown / asset list. Produce one polished first-screen environment mockup. Create a small starter asset kit: grass platform tiles rock underside/cliff pieces one portal one cottage or mushroom house one merchant stall memory crystal cluster signpost lantern crates/barrels foliage/flowers background/parallax layers If this first milestone goes well, this will become ongoing work across many biomes and areas. Please include in your application: Examples of 2D game environment art. Examples of side-scroller/platformer assets if available. Whether you can provide layered source files. Whether you can create modular assets, not just illustrations. Your estimated timeline. Any questions you have about the game world or level editor. Reference: I will attach a reference image showing the type of environment quality and layout I want. I want to see if you can match the style and quality in moduels so I can recreate it exactly. AI ARTWORK IS NOT DISCOURAGED , FEEL FREE TO USE IF TO SPEEDS PROCESS UP.