Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Guerra.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sofia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I don’t really remember when it clicked in me that I wanted a career in art, but I do know that I’ve been drawing and playing tennis all my life. My routine for as long as I can remember was rather simple, there was school and then there was tennis. And thanks to the time and effort my family put into me in order to play tournaments, take lessons, and train, I was able to combine both my passion for art and tennis and study animation at SCAD Atlanta!
I first picked up a racquet at the age of two, and since then, my dad led the way for me to become competitive in a sport he’d describe as “chess with legs”. It has been a source of joy and pain throughout my life, teaching many lessons along the way. Lessons that I use almost every day, on and off-court. It has helped shape the kind of worker I am, and I believe I am as capable as I am today because I played this sport for so long (and by no means am I done with it either).
As for the art side, I don’t think I’ve ever turned in tests, quizzes or homework assignments that didn’t have some sort of doodles on them. It’s hard to pinpoint when it really hit me that I wanted to pursue animation, but of course, cartoons and movies had a big impact on me. The idea of bringing characters to life and telling a story that genuinely moves the viewer, whether its to laugh or cry, inspires me like crazy.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Goodness no! I was somewhat lucky to know that I’d be going to study wherever my tennis led me, it was a good starting point. But even then, there was a time I was willing to settle on studying something more “general” so that it would pay more. There’s no shame in worrying about money, its a very real struggle, but I have to admit that if I had gone and studied something I wasn’t passionate about, it would have driven me crazy. Also, it’s not easy for everyone to figure out what your passion is at a moments notice, sometimes it takes trial and error. Not only that, but whatever we may be passionate about, will surely have parts that aren’t quite as enjoyable as we’d like, but still necessary in order to improve. Keep an open mind, follow your passion and set your priorities straight. It’s not always easy, but the less enjoyable parts are usually what strengthen us and teach us the most!
Another bit of advice I still tend to overlook – give credit where credit is due. Most importantly, yourself. It’s easy to look at your work as not good enough, bad days happen, and sometimes those tend to stick with us, making us not realize the good that’s right in front of you. Your bad days, mistakes, outright “failures” do not define you, they don’t assign your value. They are as important as your success, since they are what teach us, but they do not make you bad at what you do. Are you working hard, are you learning new things? Those are important questions that remind me not to get so down on myself when I feel like I may not be doing enough.
Please tell us about your work.
I am most definitely an animator, character acting being my absolute favorite part! Being able to tell my story through animations/comics/drawings really keeps me going. Knowing that I have created a “somebody” that holds a personality, that has a “life”, and that when people look at it, they can feel what they feel. Going so far that the way a character behaves while idle, how they sit in a chair, how they react to anything and everything- it all varies depending on who they are!! I find that incredible, it’s honestly hard to put into words how much I love it and the process of figuring out how to deliver it!
Drawing expressions have always felt like a strong suit of mine. I love giving characters a purpose/mood, to convey what they feel, or just to make others laugh. I try to draw every day, whether its fan art of things that I enjoy, a silly comic to relate to, or whatever feeling I want to put on paper, it’s always for fun. Even the time put into doing studies, or animation tests that don’t fall into what I specialize in, it may not always be fun, but it allows me to improve on what I do find fun.
I’ve only just begun working in my field, so every day I feel like a kid in a candy store! So far, I’m proud of what I’ve been able to learn, and that it is consistently showing in my work. I admit it was difficult to balance learning animation and being an athlete at SCAD, the schedule and work that it demanded felt unforgiving at times. Not realizing art was a possible career option until the end of high school meant that I started taking art seriously rather late in life in comparison to my peers, I fell behind. But having been able to overcome that, it makes what I am able to do now feel worthwhile. I’m eager, and I want to contribute the best that I can. I also can’t help continue to credit having played tennis for so long, because it really molded me into the kind of worker I am, and I believe that allows me to push myself to higher goals consistently.
Who have you been inspired by?
First thing that comes to mind is all the women in my family. My mother, grandmothers, aunts, even my little sister inspires me. Each and every one of them are so very different and unique. What they may lack in one area, they shine in others. They’ve taught me compassion, respect, love, and so much more. They remind me that there’s more to life than work. To appreciate what’s around me, and even that which is not. Sadly, I do not have any of them near me since my studies led me far from them, but that doesn’t take away how much of an impact they have on me. They’ve all gone through their own struggles, and still fight ongoing battles, but through all that, they still show nothing but love and support in their own ways. Helps me to keep fighting, to keep trying and to stay open-minded. None of which are easy, but vital in order to progress, learn, and really appreciate the world around me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sofiguesg.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofiah_art/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Karen Chu
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