Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Paxton.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ariel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
From a young age, I’ve always carried a sketchbook and a pencil to both draw what I have seen and things I have imagined. I would get inspiration from cartoons and animated movies that I watched; wished that I could animate my drawings too. Not long after, I taught myself to make comics while I was in high school, thinking that it was the closest thing I had to animation. I attended a magnet arts high school and was in the visual arts program where I learned the basics of art and the artist that created their work. Even though I loved learning about different forms of art, I still wanted to learn more about 2D animation. Since my family has always supported my wanting to become an animator, when I asked them about enrolling me into a summer program where I could learn more about animation, they agreed to it. While at this program, I learned more about the process of animation, and the programs/ platforms I could use. After this experience I dived deeper into my work making illustrations and animations for my college entry portfolio. I went to Art Institute of Atlanta and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Animation. In order to extend my knowledge of animation, I went to the Savannah School of Arts and Design in Atlanta and obtained my Master of Fine Arts in Animation. I worked as a mentor and substitute teacher to other children who’ve had the same interest in art. Recently, I’ve collaborated with artists and worked with some studios to make fun shorts, commercials, and films.
Has it been a smooth road?
Becoming a 2D animator hasn’t been a smooth road but it been very rewarding. It takes a lot of time and patience’s to animate. For me, time became a struggle because I always feeI like I’m running out of it. Nine seconds of animation could take 3 hours so imagine how long it would take to make a 2 min film. It’s never easy to do animation but it’s always fun.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a 2D animator and storyboard artist that specializes in 2D animation. I’m most proud of the quality of work and stories I produce. What sets me apart from other artist is the stories I create. I try to make personal and relatable stories people can enjoy when they watch my animations.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
I like the people of Atlanta. Every time you talk to anyone in Atlanta, they have some form of talent that their passionate about and I love that. I dislike traffic. I love driving but it’s usually a hassle getting into the city.
Pricing:
- As a freelancer, I usually charge 25$ – 30$ an hour for animations.
- And I charge 25$ an hour to do children’s book illustrations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.arielpaxton.com/
- Email: arielgpaxton@gmail.com
- Instagram: @arielsarting
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-paxton-247b5999/
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