Marietta Semerdjian - B & A

The Academy is a program for professional training, and we're open to teens that can show a portfolio of their work and exhibit a desire to learn what it is that we have to teach.

Here's a good example of how a talented teen can improve once they begin with us. This is the work of Marietta Semerdjian. The first sample is what she was doing just prior to enrolling this past summer.

And here's what she's doing after one semester, approximately two months later.

Marietta still shows some anime influence in her art, but it's developed into a more sophisticated approach. Her attention to form is much better and her drawing is more solid. She's distinguishing herself with a unique style instead of mimicking one. All in all, she's done a fine job of taking her first significant steps towards professionalism.

Imagine what she'll be capable of in a couple more years when she's graduated from high school.

Celebrating Anthony Price

In the early years of the Academy, we had a standout student by the name of Anthony Price. He made his mark with us, then life happened and he went his way. Recently, Anthony has returned to the Academy and we're glad he did. He is now an assistant instructor in Character Design II and his presence is helping to make our students even stronger.

Here's something Anthony created recently. He rendered his design on toned paper, which gives him a middle value to work his lights and darks off of.

Anthony is an artist of exceptional ability, able to design in a variety of styles.

His excellence as an instructor has also positioned him as my assistant for the course I teach at Cal State University Northridge. Anthony is a professional in every sense of the word. You can see more of his work by visiting his blog.

http://antprice.blogspot.com/

Einav Deri - Before and After

I gauge a student's progress based upon the artwork they create when they start with us, and then compare it with what they're doing a short while later. Here's a good example of how an individual can grow as a result of their participation in our program.

Einav Deri came all the way from Israel to take classes at the Academy. She was particularly interested in Character Design. On the left is a drawing she did the very first day of her class in September, 2009. On the right is what she's doing today.


Another example of Einav's creative growth. On the left, a character she drew prior to attending classes. On the right, something recent.


Here's a study of a head design she came up with for Visual Development, rendered tonally in grays and in color.


Currently Einav is attending animation school in her country and is a standout student thanks to her dedication, determination and the time she spent getting her fundamental skills down at The Animation Academy in Burbank. Her peers flock to her to pick her brain as to what she knows about design and drawing. The Academy helped put her on a solid path to professionalism. She's a rising star and there's little doubt as to the success she'll be experiencing in her career.

To see more of what Einav is up to creatively, visit her blog at http://theartofanimationgirl.blogspot.com

Joel Valdez turns it on

It's always a thrill for me to introduce new talent to the animation community. This past semester we welcomed Joel Valdez into our program. Joel came to the Academy from Tucson, Arizona and is wrapping up his work in Character Design I. Here's a class assignment he just completed. Click on the image and you'll get a better view.

At the Academy, we emphasize the important of a good character designer being able to handle a basic five pose rotation for the characters they create. It's a necessary skill, especially in a production situation. I'm happy to showcase one of Joel's attempts at completing something that even professional character designers are challenged by. Joel is among the many exceptional students we have at the Academy at any given time, and a big reason why our legacy looms large in the industry.

Looking forward to more great things from Joel Valdez.

Izzy does it again

One of our most talented teen students, this is her latest from Visual Development. An innovative and delightful composition rendered in markers and color pencils. The Academy's legacy continues to grow with students like Izzy who create magic at every session.

Clicking on the image will give you a better view.