Hello!
I’m a passionate 3d modeling and texturing artist with over 20 years of Visual Effects industry experience, working on feature films, television episodics, commercials and real-time projects.
Born and raised in Chicago, I started drawing at the age of four, and knew from then I wanted to be a professional artist. I had an amazing art teacher in high school who pushed me along and helped my work get recognized, winning a mural design competition, several awards at local art competitions, and three college scholarships during my high school career. I attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and Columbia College Chicago earning a BA in Illustration. An ardent music lover, my computer skills came to fruition when I worked on an alternative music magazine after college, and even spent some nights DJing. I leveraged both my formal art education and not so formal (at this point) computer skills into a variety of jobs from there including graphic design for album covers and textbooks, web design, and even going back to teach high school art classes at my own alma mater.
I decided to move to Los Angeles to work at a dot.com doing web design, and luckily, got laid off a year later. This spurred my decision to pursue a long-held interest of mine in 3d computer graphics, which up until this point, I had no idea of how to get involved in. I started taking classes at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects in Hollywood, which proved to be the perfect hybrid of the traditional art skills I had acquired, and my interest in computers and technology. I found my tribe.
I have been working solidly in the Visual Effects industry ever since, finding myself creating 3D art at some of the best VFX studios in the world: Digital Domain, Rhythm and Hues, The Mill, Framestore, Method Studios, and Image Movers Digital. In recent years, I have been entrusted to take on the role of 3D Modeling and Texturing Department Supervisor and 3D Modeling and Texturing Lead at several different studios. My contributions as both a lead artist and supervisor at Digital Domain and Reliance Mediaworks on the Starz TV series “Black Sails” helped our team achieve two Emmy Award wins, one Emmy Award nomination, and two VES Award nominations. Outside of traditional studio work, I was recently tasked with managing the creative efforts of seven artists including myself on a keynote speech for Apple under a tight deadline and after only three weeks of contract employment. My love of art, ambition, ability to communicate ideas and knack for mentoring others is what I strive to bring to any position I hold, alongside my never-ending enthusiasm for learning new things.
In my downtime, I find it very hard to not be constantly creating something, whether that be drawing, painting, knitting, crafting, cooking, writing, playing an instrument, or planning an adventure. And, yes! I’m still known to DJ from time to time.
Thank you for your interest in my website!
~Kathryn