A month after I graduated from Full Sail University, I went back for an internship to assist the online students in the 3D Foundations course for the Computer Animation degree program. It was wonderful to see students with the same immense passion as I had, anxious to finally learn what they've always dreamed of learning -to bring their imagination to life.
To keep with professionalism, I updated my resume frequently and I got my business cards that I designed while in Full Sail printed by Primo Cards.
During the same time as my Full Sail internship, I also had the good fortune of interning with Legal Demonstrative Exhibits as a 3D Artist, where I was asked to model an anatomical human male skeleton to be used in medical illustrations and animations for legal cases. I became more aware of the true importance of understanding anatomy especially pertaining to the medical field. Renders can be seen on my website.
To keep with professionalism, I updated my resume frequently and I got my business cards that I designed while in Full Sail printed by Primo Cards.
During the same time as my Full Sail internship, I also had the good fortune of interning with Legal Demonstrative Exhibits as a 3D Artist, where I was asked to model an anatomical human male skeleton to be used in medical illustrations and animations for legal cases. I became more aware of the true importance of understanding anatomy especially pertaining to the medical field. Renders can be seen on my website.
After the internships ended, I made myself available to volunteer freelance work for a bit.
In September, I took a trip with my dad to the other side of the country, Los Angeles, California! There we attended the Gnomon Workshop Live Event. For two days, ten industry artists talked about their work and experiences. The demos and presentations ranged from technical to artistic with all of them being insightful. I had the pleasure of meeting and networking with talented artists, students, and experienced industry professionals (That's where those business cards come in handy).
It was expensive, but it was worth it. If not going would have meant at the expense of knowledge, inspiration, not to mention the revitalized energy, motivation, and focus I experienced... it was definitely worth going.
What's crazy about it all is that I grew up with the movies and games that these artists presenting helped in creating and realizing. It was such a surreal experience for me and yet everyone was so casual and professional, which was even more surprising. I grew up with the crazed fan conventions and it was nothing like that. Everyone treated each other like professional artists. It was nice.
Finally got to meet Neville Page, a brilliant creature and concept designer who has worked on Avatar, Cloverfield, Star Trek, Prometheus, and much more. He is a big inspiration and one of the reasons why I wanted to pursue a career in the industry. To see a design you create then to become full reality in a movie is a dream of mine and I didn't realize that until I saw Cloverfield. Another inspiration was Peter Konig, a concept artist for film and game, whose resume jumps back to Jurassic Park and Starship Troopers. Izzy Medrano worked on the concepts for Tony Hawk: American Wasteland, and God of War III! And the list goes on and on.. Of course, every single presenting artist has inspired me to this point. Seriously look their portfolios up and your mind will be blown!
While the artists presented their demos, I took a plethora of notes and managed to sketch each one of them (in the dimly lit room). Here are the sketches I did with a few color corrections in Photoshop.
All the presenters were very inspirational with their work and stories and made me want to work even harder on my art skills when I got back home.
To illustrate that, while I was on a camping trip, since it just happened to be the first of the month, it was perfect
timing, and for multiple reasons, I decided to take advantage and start a personal creature challenge exercise where I would make up a creature every day for 30 days in any medium and post on social sites. I didn't concern myself over if they were completely thought out or unique, but just to have the excuse to practice everyday, seeing where it would take me, how much I could expand on my creative ideas and imagination, and what I could get inspired with especially with being in the outdoors for half the month!
Redid my website, changing my title from Character Modeler to Character and Creature Artist. I love every step of the visual effects process and as of yet to find something I absolutely dislike doing, but my biggest passion for the longest has been the character and creature development aspect.
Towards the end of the year, I enrolled in the online Gnomon Master Classes where I networked, learned more on visual effects, and got inspired some more! I definitely recommend it if you have the funds. It's a terrific learning experience.
Last but not least to start the new year with a bang, I got added to the Avalanche Studios team in Manhattan, New York! The thought of moving and starting my first major gig in the game industry is a thrilling feeling, but I am ready as I'll ever be and I'm looking forward to starting my new career.
I hope that I can post more frequently this year, which is a new year's resolution of mine. Thank you for reading.
In September, I took a trip with my dad to the other side of the country, Los Angeles, California! There we attended the Gnomon Workshop Live Event. For two days, ten industry artists talked about their work and experiences. The demos and presentations ranged from technical to artistic with all of them being insightful. I had the pleasure of meeting and networking with talented artists, students, and experienced industry professionals (That's where those business cards come in handy).
It was expensive, but it was worth it. If not going would have meant at the expense of knowledge, inspiration, not to mention the revitalized energy, motivation, and focus I experienced... it was definitely worth going.
What's crazy about it all is that I grew up with the movies and games that these artists presenting helped in creating and realizing. It was such a surreal experience for me and yet everyone was so casual and professional, which was even more surprising. I grew up with the crazed fan conventions and it was nothing like that. Everyone treated each other like professional artists. It was nice.
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| Sketch collage of the 2013 Gnomon Workshop Live Event presenters: Because artists rarely get drawings done of them and I love drawing faces! |
While the artists presented their demos, I took a plethora of notes and managed to sketch each one of them (in the dimly lit room). Here are the sketches I did with a few color corrections in Photoshop.
All the presenters were very inspirational with their work and stories and made me want to work even harder on my art skills when I got back home.
To illustrate that, while I was on a camping trip, since it just happened to be the first of the month, it was perfect
timing, and for multiple reasons, I decided to take advantage and start a personal creature challenge exercise where I would make up a creature every day for 30 days in any medium and post on social sites. I didn't concern myself over if they were completely thought out or unique, but just to have the excuse to practice everyday, seeing where it would take me, how much I could expand on my creative ideas and imagination, and what I could get inspired with especially with being in the outdoors for half the month!Redid my website, changing my title from Character Modeler to Character and Creature Artist. I love every step of the visual effects process and as of yet to find something I absolutely dislike doing, but my biggest passion for the longest has been the character and creature development aspect.
Towards the end of the year, I enrolled in the online Gnomon Master Classes where I networked, learned more on visual effects, and got inspired some more! I definitely recommend it if you have the funds. It's a terrific learning experience.
Last but not least to start the new year with a bang, I got added to the Avalanche Studios team in Manhattan, New York! The thought of moving and starting my first major gig in the game industry is a thrilling feeling, but I am ready as I'll ever be and I'm looking forward to starting my new career.
I hope that I can post more frequently this year, which is a new year's resolution of mine. Thank you for reading.
Hello! Your article here was really inspiring and a fantastic read. I am a fellow graduate from Full Sail University as well so I know exactly how crazy that can be, it's always great to see other Full Sailors in the industry. I am always trying to push my art skills and learn new techniques, one can never stop learning. I look forward to future posts and hope we may be able to correspond, if you have the time I would love your critique on some of my work. http://ashtonmoraski.wix.com/moraskiart
ReplyDeleteI also have a facebook page if you care to look at it, your work is inspiring and I'm going to try and challenge myself as you did- a drawing a day of a new creature or concept :). https://www.facebook.com/artistimeless
Hi Ashton,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words. It is always a pleasure to meet a fellow Full Sailor and it means a lot that you found my post inspiring. That is one of the main reasons I write and to hopefully help encourage students and graduates who are also getting into the industry. Agreed, one can never stop learning. Once you graduate, the world is your classroom to grow however you desire.
I like your animation demo reel and vast collection of artwork on your page and website. Keep doing what your doing in nurturing your online art presence. Looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future :)
I would love to connect with you on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/natalie.asport