Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Aler.
Erin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I think my story begins with Saturday morning cartoons. Specifically watching the animated series Avatar: the Last Airbender with my siblings. The show is escapist in nature, taking place in a make-believe world where children can control the ocean currents and bison fly through the sky. However, what isn’t immediately apparent is how complicated the characterization is for a children’s show. I connected with the themes of the show of running away from responsibility and hurting the ones you love in the process.
And with the benefit of growing up with the internet, I had a direct connection to a group of fans all talking about the show as art made by people. I along with millions of young people around the globe suddenly had a language to discuss themes of loss, war, feminism, and so on.
This is what I long to do as an artist.
From my school work at Columbus State University to my personal portfolio, I’ve been honing my craft as an animator and storyteller. So, my stories can be a tool to furthering peoples’ imagination.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a self-taught animator, I’m constantly overcoming the limitations of my education to this point. Animation as a degree at any university from CalArts to SCAD is becoming increasingly less acceptable for children of working-class families. Tuition keeps rising and it’s hard for anyone trying to break into the animation industry to justify such astronomical debt. Through the recently created animation program at my university, I have become more knowledgeable of animation software like Maya and Mudbox.
Even at CSU a public university, I’ve had to join ROTC to pay for my tuition. And on top of that, I’ve had to balance all that comes with being in the military with my art.
When teaching myself these programs, I go in with the mindset of composition in preproduction and using my footage to manipulate the audience through the lens, edits, use of music, and story. I have just begun diving into the art of story, seeing as I am still learning the concepts of the programs and composition.
I do not think that there is a way to say that you do not have the resources. I have always struggled in finding ways to do what I want, but have never been afraid to teach myself to achieve my end goal of a project. Especially with resources like the internet and public libraries. Honestly, you can do whatever you set your mind to, don’t hold back.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My work focuses on expressing my personal experiences through human interaction in film. I first realized this, when I created my film Eighteen, outside of class. Unlike most of my peers, I refused to wait until my upper classes to start creating my own content. Eighteen’s visuals and poetry both center around my own experiences with love. The sweet and almost stereotypical teen romance depicted on screen is a stark contrast to the words of the poem. The reading reveals the inner fears and motives behind this kind of love. In its ugliest form, this kind of love is about using one another for fulfillment and not really seeing each other as people but an object.
My self-expression isn’t always so serious, as anyone who knows me can tell you, I am a real goofball at times. I will express my thoughts through humor such as my mockumentary, It’s About Friends. I use editing and personal testimonials to deliver a heartfelt message to a friend.
Each project I have done outside my schoolwork is also an attempt to learn a particular objective. Each of my live shorts action was an attempt to successfully learn a variety of genres, such as art house film, Music video, Documentary, Commercial, and Trailer. With these works, I proceeded to teach my self all different types of programs using YouTube or struggle for a while till the light bulb turns on. I’ve used and tackled several different programs in my animations such as Aftereffects, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Animate, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and Camera works.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
The women in my family have definitely been my main source of inspiration. They molded me into who I am today. My mother is one of the most creative people I know to this day. From quilting to scrapbooking, to photography, card making, weaving, she dabbles in it all. She has a magical ability to bring together a community with arts and crafts. She’s underpaid but goes above and beyond to improve the community around her. She always pushes me to do better and be my most moral self.
My sisters Mallory and Sierra taught me how to draw, expand my imagination, see things with a critical eye, and choose my own path.
Pricing:
- Small Prints 5X7 are $15, Medium Prints 10X10 $25, and Large Prints $35
- Commissions are accepted, and a price will be discussed
Contact Info:
- Address: Studio: 941 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901
- Website: https://erinaler.wixsite.com/mysite
- Email: erin.aler@gmail.com
- Instagram: @errand_erin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.aler
Image Credit:
Gabrielle Feder
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