Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Ginsberg-Latimer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carla. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I always knew I wanted to be an illustrator since I was very young. I used to read kids books and become entranced by the illustrators work, and their bio in the back of the book. I was obsessed with drawing and painting people, and this seemed like the best way to be able to incorporate that into a fun career. One year, I got a book making kit, and I would write and illustrate my own stories and knew this is what I wanted to do when I grew up. I even started a yearly self portrait project when I was nine years old, which I still do today. I sit in front of the mirror and draw or paint myself every December, as a time of self reflection into who I am.
I first learned about Visual Storytelling (which ended up being what I wanted to do because it incorporated both illustration and storytelling) while I was living in New York City. During which, I interned for fashion companies, and studied fashion and general illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It was there I realized how good I was at making up the fun and kooky stories, and how much I loved crafting tales.
In 2009, I relocated to San Francisco and worked as a Production Assistant for the California Academy of Sciences from 2011-2012. I helped produce planetarium shows like the Animal Attractions exhibit, and Science in Action videos. It was there that I loved creating and telling stories that helped break down concepts to explain ideas and complex subjects. This type of storytelling fulfillment, helped me to fuel the start of my animation studios, Ci Studios. (originally Cranial Island Studios, now shortened to Ci Studios)
While doing that, I started freelancing in many capacities including creating graphic novels, and kids books, storyboards, private commission portraiture, and teaching workshops and classes for kids and the general public alike. I’ve also had some of my work displayed at the Fashion Institute of Technology in the 2007 and 2009 student shows, as well as around San Francisco in 2010-2011. I’m currently teaching animation concepts at a private school in Stone Mountain as part of a STEM after school program, and I am especially proud of that. I love teaching people they have the power to be creative.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We had a lot of challenges along the way where we almost didn’t make it in the beginning. When I moved to San Francisco in 2009, it was to go to grad school, and I quickly realized that it might not have been a good idea. I noticed that those who become successful in my desired field mostly got there due to putting themselves out there and meeting the right person at the right time. There are a lot of great artists out there that don’t understand that piece of the puzzle, and never end up truly being successful making art. When I dropped out of the predatory ‘for profit’ school I was in, it was the first time I didn’t have a plan in place and it was really scary! I started reaching out to everyone that I knew, and eventually that’s how I got my contracting gig at California Academy of Sciences. When that contract ended, I started going to networking events. Because it was the recession, I started getting freelance work. Then, my then boyfriend (now husband), was graduating at the time with a master’s in 3D animation. He is extremely introverted, so I started networking for both of us. That was how we realized animation could play well, and it eventually led us to start our business in 2013.
During that whole time, we never knew if things would fall apart and when since we were trying to start our careers in the most expensive city, during the countries biggest recession, as a couple of artists. Anytime I got frustrated and decided to give up painting or doing fine art, I would get asked to be in an art show days later. Also, anytime we couldn’t find projects or jobs to find money and were about ready to throw in the towel, a job or gig came in at the last possible second, keeping us going. It was insanely stressful, but I now really appreciate everything I get to do while feeling stability.
Please tell us about your work.
I freelance doing many types of projects. I draw storyboards for filming shoots, sell paintings, create custom portraiture, illustrate icons and avatars for social media, teach painting and drawing, and my favorite- I work with authors to turn their work into a kids book or graphic novel. Every time I do this, I feel myself fulfilling my childhood dream. I’m currently teaching animation concepts at a private school in Stone Mountain as part of a STEM after school program, and I am especially proud of that. I love teaching people they have the power to be creative.
Ci Studios is a full service animation studio dedicated to bringing your vision to life. We provide high-quality Explainer Videos, Promotional Videos, Motion Graphics, Animated Logos, Social Media GIFs, 2D Animation, and Whiteboard Animation, and more. We work with a team of artists with his expertise and excellence in visual communication and animated characters. This way we can get to design customized hand drawn unique content for our clients. From educating consumers about innovative products to pitching your message the way you want, to developing unique and appealing designs for an even broader audience, Ci Studios will work with you every step of the way to make your ideas a reality.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are a few people who deserve credit, as they’ve helped encourage me along my creative journey. The first one is my parents. They always liked that I knew what I wanted to do, as I was so passionate and obsessed with drawing. They were supportive of my art. And my Dad in particular always used to tell me ‘Do what you love and the money will follow’, and the older I get, the more I appreciate being taught to believe that since I was young.
My friend Katelyn is another person. When I was starting college, she opened me up to a whole new world of art, fashion, and music, which in turn introduced me to myself for the first time. She would do art with me, walking around and pictures of garbage in the East Village in New York City, while describing to me with such passion how cool it was splayed out on the side walk, really helped me look at life in a new and deeper way.
My husband, Lindsey deserves a ton of credit. He’s a talented technical artist. He would help me through school, and now on my professional projects, patiently showing me over and over again how to make small details technically correct. He’s helped me develop my work and grow as an artist that no one else has ever been able to do (including any teacher I’ve ever had). He’s amazing.
Contact Info:
- Address: 151 Ted Turner Dr. NW #37
Atlanta, GA 30303 - Website: www.visitcistudios.com and www.carlaginsberg.com
- Phone: 404-919-3464
- Email: carladginsberg@gmail.com for Illustration and painting inquiries, and info@cranialislandstudios.com for animated content creation inquiries
- Instagram: @_cistudios_ ,@carla_paints and @carla_ginsberg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CiStudiosContentCreators/ and https://www.facebook.com/CarlaGinsberg.Illustration.Design/
Image Credit:
Sarah Vitel Photography, and Aileen Michelle
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
