Image Alumni ’08 Education BFA in Animation Current Career Animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios Location Burbank, California What is your favorite thing about your job? That I get to work with a group of talented artists on original films and bring characters to life. Why did you choose animation and what were your major classes like? I've always wanted to be an animator, so the choice was natural. My animation classes were inspiring and diverse. Stop-motion class was my favorite because we got to build, sculpt, and be creative with the way we made things move. Favorite place on campus? Off campus? My favorite place on campus was the animation lab. My favorite place off campus was the Tapestry Folkdance Center where I went swing dancing. Did MCAD prepare you for life after graduation? In what way? MCAD taught me to view art with a wide lens. I am appreciative that I was able to work in many areas of media and art, and not be tied to one specific way of working. Best thing you ever got on the free shelf? A set of dishes I still use. What was your experience with MCAD's facilities? Did you have a personal studio? How was that? I primarily worked in the animation lab. I enjoyed working amongst other students and being inspired by their own personal projects. How do you find inspiration when you are feeling stuck? I live in Los Angeles, so I have access to a lot of inspirational places like museums, theaters, dance studios, and hiking trails. I also have a network of talented friends with diverse styles who I can gain inspiration from. Where did you intern? I interned at Puny Entertainment, working in Flash on web animation. Has your work evolved since leaving MCAD? How so? My animation has become much, much more polished. Working among talented people helps me challenge myself and see areas in my work where I feel I can improve. Name your one biggest takeaway from MCAD? My biggest takeaway from MCAD was to look outside of my artform for inspiration and to challenge the way I look at art and life. What advice do you have for art and design students? Challenge yourself and don't be afraid to take advice from others. As artists, our work is very personal to us and it can be difficult to take criticism, but it is the best way to improve. Your art can still be personal even if you allow it to be influenced through honest critique. Also, make sure to constantly be working on something. If you find yourself in a situation where you aren't feeling creatively challenged at work, make an effort to do personal work at home during your off hours. One more thing: art can be a fairly sedentary career, especially if you work at a desk, so make sure you take care of yourself! Get a good night's sleep, get annual checkups, drink plenty of water, eat well, and find time to exercise. It will improve your work as well as your health! Vimeo Tumblr Website