Game Art Grad hired at En Masse Entertainment
July 20th, 2010
VanArts Game Art graduate Josh Fulmore has done well since receiving his diploma in 2008. He is constantly doing freelance concept artwork and illustration for various clients, including development for the "Wheel of Time" series by Robert Jordan at Red Eagle Games.
Most recently, Josh has been hired as a Junior Artist at En Masse Entertainment in Seattle, WA.
To check out Josh's work, visit his online portfolio at JoshFulmore.com!
Game Art Grad works for Disney Interactive
July 20th, 2010
Tim Schuhler graduated from both our 2D Animation and Game Art programs at VanArts, having received a 2-year Commercial Animation diploma in 2008.
After graduation, Tim found work at Papaya Studios in Irvine, CA and at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies, creating 3D environments for a military training simulator. This experience eventually landed him a position as an Environment Artist at Avalanche Software, part of Disney Interactive Studios in Salt Lake City. Most recently, Tim has been working on the game Epic Mickey, which is generating a lot of buzz in the animation/gaming world. He has also done some freelance illustration for two other studios.
Tim says of his training at VanArts: "I always speak higly of VanArts. The instructors did a good job of focusing on the most important aspects of art creation, and led me to put together a solid demo reel. The same demo I made at school is still getting me opportunities."
Check out Tim's online portfolio at Evenbetterstuff.com!
Animation Graduate working in Saskatoon
July 19th, 2010
Augusto Kapronczai graduated from the VanArts 2D Animation Program in 2001, and since then has had a successful career in the animation industry. He started working in Vancouver and re-located to Saskatoon in 2005, where he currently works as Senior Animator/Concept Designer at DIG Animation. Augusto has worked with studios such as Bardel, Studio B, Atomic Cartoons, Monkey Paw Media, & others, on shows such as Mucha Lucha, The Buzz on Maggie, Being Ian, Viva Pinata, Chaotic, Wow Wow Wubbzy, and the feature film Sinbad.
Check out Augusto's amazing artwork at his BLOG!
Digital Photography Student work Exhibited in Local Show
July 15th, 2010
VanArts' Digital Photography students are being seen and getting noticed!
Current student Kieran Harris will be exhibiting work in the multi-media show "Picture This: A Celebration of Queer Artistry" in celebration of Pride 2010. You can see Kieran's work along with many others at J Lounge on Thursday, July 29th, 6:00pm until late. Tickets are $5 in advance or before 10:00pm.
Congratulations Kieran...we're looking forward to seeing your work on display!
VFX Grads find Career Success and Wedded Bliss
July 15th, 2010
Milan Schere and Seema Jogoo graduated in 2007 from the VanArts Visual Effects program. A romance had blossomed during their studies, and afterwards they moved to London, UK to start their careers...and get married!
Seema is a lighter and texture artist who has assisted art directors and matte painters at studios such as Prime Focus and Lionhead Studios in the UK, and many short film projects. Milan has focused on digital matte painting for studios such as Prime Focus, Alchemist Pictures, Escape Studios, and most recently at Mr. X studio in Toronto on TRON: Legacy.
Milan and Seema's work can be enjoyed at their website, ProconPictures.com. VanArts is glad they have found each other and launched successful careers in the industry!
Animation Graduate finds Job Success in Games
July 15th, 2010
Animation Graduate Cody Schroder first came to VanArts as a pre-teenager with exceptional artistic talent in our summer intensive. As he grew up, he returned to take more courses and finally enrolled into our full-time diploma program, taking both years in 2D and 3D Animation, and graduating in 2005.
Cody started his post-graduate career at a Vancouver studio called Koolhaus Games, where he worked for over 2 years doing storyboarding, character design, concept art, and texturing. After his time there, he spent some time freelancing in comics until he landed his current position as Lead Character/Background Artist at another local studio, Kaboom Social Games.
Says Cody of his experience, "Had I never gone to VanArts, I would have been a lost cause. I'm the happiest I've been so far, as this is the closest I've come to doing what I love: 2D and 3D characters, environments, lots of painting in Adobe and even the odd bit of animation. My current job is great, the company is great and I couldn't ask for more."
Disney's Bill Matthews returns for Annual Visit
July 12th, 2010
VanArts is proud to welcome Mr. Bill Matthews again for his annual visit to provide inspiration, guidance, advice and wisdom to students in our full-time and summer intensive Character Animation programs.
Bill Matthews has been a guest instructor and visiting industry professional at VanArts since 1996. He is one of the founding instructors and directors of the Sheridan College Animation Program and is recently retired as Manager of Artist Development and ongoing consultant for Walt Disney Feature Animation. Bill worked on effects animation for Disney's Sleeping Beauty and for NASA, and has been writing traditional animation curricula for public schools and colleges for over thirty years.
Graduate Success for Wedding Photography
July 9th, 2010Congratulations to Lindsay Duban, who has hit the ground running with her wedding photography business. She has 2 weddings booked in the Fall and has recently completed a multi-generational family portrait. Lindsay is sure to have great success with her photographic talent and keen business sense. This ad she designed will be running as a full page in an advertising folder to be handed out to 4000 bridal couples!
Keep up the great work Lindsay!
VanArts Credits on Weekend Blockbusters
July 6th, 2010
VanArts graduate credits crawled upon movie screens over the holiday weekend in the top 2 grossing films, including Visual Effects grad Shannon Caldwell on Eclipse and 3D Animation grad Reika Nishio on both Eclipse and The Last Airbender!
Reika Nishio says of her experience: "VanArts taught me not only software and techniques, but also how to be an independent artist as well as a team member. It was the school's studio-like atmosphere where I learned how to receive critiques and address them. Soon after I graduated from VanArts, I landed a job at CIS Vancouver and that experience led me to work on various feature films. After that I have worked at Image Engine, Prime Focus, and Anthem FX on numerous other projects for films and TV series, such as The Last Airbender, The Losers, Invictus, Angels & Demons, the Twilight series, and TRON: Legacy."
Reika is also currently working on the upcoming release of TRON: Legacy along with our Visual Effects grads Lionel Heath, Milan Schere and Entertainment Art sculpture instructor Gideon Hay.
Steve Kirby visits Digital Photography Dept.
June 22nd, 2010Steve Kirby is reputed to be the best re-touching artist in town, and VanArts' Digital Photography students were fortunate enough to have him visit. Steve demonstrated some of his techniques that have earned him a jaw-dropping client list, including Italian & US Vogue, Calvin Klein, Mac Cosmetics, Avon and the worldwide Ad Agency DDB. His delicate touch produces beautiful, seamless results that had our students gasping at his before-and-after case studies. This glimpse at what can be achieved with the right creative eye, skilled hand and patient mind is sure to have the DP students working hard to live up to Steve's high standard, and their portfolios are sure to reflect that!
From all of us in the Digital Photography department, thank you Steve!
Steve Kirby's company is The Image lab, currently based in Vancouver BC.
Steve Kirby can be found tethered to his trusted iMac.
