EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Fine Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL. 2013 - 2017
EXPERIENCE:
Lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Film, Video, New Media and Animation Department
Chicago, IL. September 2021 - present
Courses:
- Animation 1: Drawing for Animation (fall 2021, summer 2022)
- Senior Animation Projects (fall 2021, fall 2022)
- Visualization and Storyboarding (spring 2022, fall 2022, spring 2023, fall 2023)
- Game Spaces and Virtual Environments (summer 2022)
- 3D Character Animation (spring 2023, fall 2023, spring 2024)
- Atmospheric Animation (spring 2023)
- 3D Animation (summer 2023)
Freelance: 3D modeling and rendering for projects directed by Wafaa Bilal
Chicago, IL. December 2019, April 2020 - November 2020
- Created complex 3D models based on reference images and feedback provided by the director.
- Created realistic, high quality images of the 3D model using the Arnold rendering engine.
Freelance: 3D modeling, rigging, and animation for projects directed by Claudia Hart
Chicago, IL. June 2018 – March 2019
- Modeled and UV mapped multiple unique 3D characters.
- Optimized existing 3D character models for use in the Unity game engine.
- Retargeted motion capture data to new custom character rigs.
- Created an unconventional character rig for an abstract digital body, and animated the character with that rig.
Internship: 3D environment artist at Darkcatt Studios
Chicago, IL. December 2017 – June 2018
- Rapid Modeling, UV mapping, texturing, and optimization of 3D assets for various virtual reality experiences running in the Unreal Engine 4.
- Maintained consistent communication with art directors to ensure all assets were cohesive with the overall vision for the project
- Tested the quality of in-progress prototypes and provided feedback for further improvements to the product.
Freelance: 3D character modeler, rigger, and animator for Hyphen-Labs
Chicago, IL. August 2017 - December 2017
- Designed, modeled, rigged, and animated three unique 3D characters for a virtual reality experience running in the Unity game engine.
Teaching Assistant for Intro to 3D Animation at the Ox-Bow School of Art
Saugatuck, MI. July 2017
- Leading workshops that cover various tools and techniques in the 3D animation production pipeline
- Participating in group critiques of the student’s projects
- Assisting students with various technical difficulties during studio time
Teaching Assistant for First Year Core Studio Practice at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL. Fall Semester 2016
- Participating in group critiques of the student’s projects.
- Assisting students with various technical difficulties during studio time
- Taking attendance
Resident Advisor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL. Summer 2015, Summer 2016
- Leading floor meetings that give go over all residence hall rules, routines, resources, and important announcements
- Prepping rooms with necessary appliances before students move in
- Regularly being on call to respond to any issues in the building
- Regularly checking the all floors of building for any residential or structural issues
- Organizing and Leading student programs and off-campus trips
SCREENINGS / EXHIBITIONS:
2021 | Sundance Film Festival. Salt Lake City, Utah
2020 | FutureLab 2020 Exhibition. Shanghai, China
2020 | Psychedelic Film and Music Festival. New York, NY
2020 | VASTLAB Experimental Film Festival. Los Angeles, CA
2020 | San Francisco Another Hole in the Head Film Festival. San Francisco, CA
2020 | Panama Animation Festival. Panama, PA.
2020 | Tacoma Film Festival. Tacoma, WA
2020 | Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival. Baltimore, MD.
2020 | Supernova Digital Animation Festival. Denver CO
2020 | Sound and Vision International Film and Technology Festival. New York, NY
2020 | Mosaic World Film Festival. Rockford, IL
2020 | NewFilmmakers NY film festival. New York, NY
2018 | Return to Post Reality Exhibition. Spazio Ridotto. Venice Italy
2017 | Post Reality Showing at the 13th Athens Digital Arts Festival. Athens Greece.
2017 | SAIC Film Video New Media and Animation Festival. Gene Siskel Film Center. Chicago, IL
2017 | Simulythos, Atmospheric Experimental 3D Animation Screening. Chicago, IL
2016 | ExFEST 2016. School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL.
2016 | Supernova Outdoor Festival of Digital Animation and Art. Denver, CO
2016 | Pop Up Art Game Arcade. Digital Arts Demo Space. Chicago, IL
2016 | Oceanic_bin, Atmospheric Animation Screening. Mana Contemporary. Chicago, IL
2016 | Poly Play Arcade 2016. The Leroy Neiman Center (SAIC). Chicago, IL
2015 | The Romantic App, Art Institute of Chicago Museum. Chicago, IL
SKILLS/DIGITAL TOOLS:
Autodesk Maya
- 3D Modeling
- Lighting
- Rendering (in Arnold, Mental Ray, and Maya Software)
- UV Mapping
- Bipedal Character Rigging
- 3D Character Animation
- Cloth, Fluid, and volumetric Simulation
- Asset Optimization
Unity 3D Game Engine
- environment design
- material editing
- scene lighting
- VFX editing
Realflow
- Fluid Simulation
Adobe Premire
- Video Editing
- Sound Editing