Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Rodriguez.
Emily, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
You could say I’ve always been a creative soul; I had a knack for drawing at a young age, played the piano for seven years, danced competitively throughout high school, and of course, had a genuine love for animated films. But after living in Atlanta for the past four years and attending SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), I’ve seen my artistic abilities blossom and flourish more than I could’ve ever dreamed of! Seriously, I wish I could go back and tell 17-year-old Emily just how much she was going to accomplish and how valid a career in the arts is. It’s been a crazy ride, and it’s only just beginning.
I’m about four months out from graduating with a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in Animation from SCAD, which is a huge deal for me. Pursuing a higher education has always been very important to me, as I know no one can take away the knowledge I gain! I’ve put in so much time and effort to learn all I can about this amazing art form as a student, and I’m looking forward to learning even more and expanding my knowledge and skillsets as I enter the professional field of animation.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The first bump I can think of was making the big move to ATL with my mom after spending my entire life thus far in my hometown of Miami Lakes, FL. Yes, I’m a Miami girl at heart! All I’d ever known was in that little town; the public park where I spent my childhood, my dance studio a block away from my home, the main street shops and restaurants where many birthdays were celebrated.
The next chapter of my life was about to start in a completely new environment, new state, etc. I wasn’t a very big fan of change, so leaving all my friends, family, and childhood home behind was not the easiest. I come from a loving, supportive, and very Hispanic Cuban-American family, so attending college out-of-state and missing the familiarity of having my people around me was hard to adjust to at first. But family is family no matter where you are, so it became easier with time.
I have the most unbelievable support system that makes the hard times easier, especially in my mother, who is the ultimate provider and my biggest supporter. She ensured that I was giving my all in everything I pursued. I would not be where I am today in my education and career path if it were not for the sacrifices she made and the foundations she laid out for me to walk on. I get my work ethic and my passionate pursuits from her.
Even with that unconditional support, there were many times where I felt inadequate, to put it simply. When I first began studying animation, I was absolutely scared out of my mind! The environment that art schools create can be very intimidating for young artists; suddenly, you’re not the only artistically-inclined person in the room. You’re thrown into a classroom with 19 other people who were also the artistic ones back home, only they seem to have insurmountable talent that surpasses your own.
If that weren’t intimidating enough, now the art pieces you create are attached to a grade, which means you have to be GOOD and actually apply things you’re just now learning, like types of charcoal and graphite sticks and good compositions and color theory and a million other terms you didn’t know going into your freshman year. That’s right, you haven’t even finished your first SEMESTER yet!
Luckily, my drive to succeed far surpassed my initial fears. With every semester, I pushed myself to improve and to be vulnerable by sharing my work, which in turn gave me confidence and vast skillsets with every class I aced. I learned with each assignment to be happy with what I created, no matter the outcome, because I learned something valuable with each mistake made.
My advice for any young women like me out there looking to pursue something they are passionate about… don’t be afraid to make mistakes! This can be incredibly scary to even think about doing, as it may seem that reaching perfection leaves little to no room for error. I’ve had to learn over the years that, at least at this time in my life as a student, it’s okay to not be perfect at something, to have questions and to not know things. How can you grow if you don’t allow yourself to fail? If you do everything perfectly, what are you gaining or learning from it? Be fearless, ladies!
We’d love to hear more about your art.
While I’m currently on the tail end of pursuing my undergrad in animation, I’m very proud to say that I already gained some experience within the animation industry! During the summer of 2019, I worked as an Animation Intern at the Atlanta branch of Bento Box Entertainment. They’ve created animated content for clients like Adult Swim, Disney, Netflix, Fox, Syfy, and many more!
I was able to work on a televised animation production for Netflix during my internship, and it was the most enriching experience to get a taste of what this crazy amazing world of animation is like. It’s from that experience that my passion for this art form really grew double in size, and I knew for certain that this is the path I wanted to take. I was the youngest at the studio at the time, but I never felt overlooked because of it. I am so grateful for the folks over at Bento for taking me in and teaching me the ropes. They are such wonderfully talented artists!
I’ve also taken up different leadership roles within my major in my university by becoming a Peer Tutor for animation and leading different workshops for ToonBoom Harmony 2D rigs. I was also terrified to do both of these things since my personality is not one I would’ve previously considered to be the leadership-type. However, by squashing those fears and insecurities under my feet and pursuing these kinds of roles anyway, I’ve learned that I have a real passion and joy for sharing knowledge with others! I hope to continue to grow this passion in the years following my undergrad degree.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
I love listening to the Bancroft Brothers podcast in my free time; two Disney-animation legends that talk the latest in televised and feature film animation!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emilyrodriguezart.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: @emilyrod.art
Image Credit:
Emily Rodriguez
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