SONSERAE LEESE-CALVER

 

2263 Loma Vista Street. ¥Pasadena, CA 91104 ¥ (626) 791-8373 ¥ cell (626) 590-5566 ¥http://www.sonserae.com

 

OBJECTIVE

 

Creative position involving photo-realistic or stylistic texture map painting and creation, visual effects and other related areas which result in film, digital video, television, or other medium.

 

EMPLOYMENT

 

Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Burbank, CA

      Lead/Texture Map Painter, March 2007 -Present Texture map painter for "The Penguins of Madagascar", ÒFanboyÓ and ÒTak and the Power of JuJuÓ. Responsible for painting textures for HD GG television shows involving 3d props, characters, backgrounds and character visual effects, creating and assigning shaders, rendering, running scripts, etc. Software used: Autodesk Maya 8.0, 8.5, 2008, Maxon Bodypaint, Microsoft 64 bit XP, Adobe Photoshop, Painter, etc...Also, Lead Texture Painter for Penguins of Madagascar. Responsible for reviewing texture artistÕs work, making notes for revisions, giving art direction, reviewing all overseas texture painting work on Penguins of Madagascar, attending animatic/storyboard reviews and meetings, estimating time deadlines for painting assets, making decisions concerning the showÕs objectives for the texture department.

 

Walt Disney Feature Animation, Burbank, CA

        Texture Map Painter, July 2004 - Present Texture map painter for "Bolt " (An American Dog) (Pre-Production Crew) (11/05-03/07), "Joe Jump" (Test-9.05-11/05), ÒMeet the RobinsonsÓ (7/04-9/05).Responsible for painting textures for visual effects involving 3d props and characters, backgrounds and character visual effects, assigning shaders, shader expressions, fur and feather generation,  lighting scenes, rendering, etc. Software used: Alias Maya, Disney's Proprietary 3d Paint, Linux, UNIX scripting, Pixar Renderman, MTOR,  Adobe Photoshop, Painter, etc...

 

Sony Pictures Imageworks, Culver City, CA

Senior Texture Map Painter, December 2002 - April 2004 Texture map painter for ÒPolarExpressÓ and ÒSeaBiscuitÓ. Responsible for painting 3d props, costumes, environments. Wrote extensive documentation and procedures for painting clothes (i.e. stitches, various displacement layers, etc.)

 

Cinesite, Hollywood, CA

Senior Texture Map Painter, August 2002 - November 2002 Texture map painter for ÒSolarisÓ, ÒXmen 2Ó and ÒThe Last SamuraiÓ.

 

Rhythm & Hues, Los Angeles, CA

Senior Texture Map Painter, July2002 - August 2002 Short assignment. Painted textures for inside of tunnel in ÒGigliÓ.

 

Sony Pictures Imageworks, Culver City, CA

Senior Texture Map Painter, November 2000 - June 2002 Texture map painter for ÒStuart Little 2Ó. Responsible for painting most textures on all 3d props and costumes. Other responsibilities include 2d painting of digital elements for visual character development and approval. Also did texture work on

ÒI SpyÓ and ÒChubb ChubbsÓ.

 

Walt Disney Studios Feature Animation, Burbank, CA

Texture Map Painter, September1997 - October 2000 Texture map painter for 3d Show ÒMagic LampÓ. The sole texture map painter on the movie ÒAtlantisÓ. Also worked extensively in Maya using MTOR, Material Groups, Shaders, Projection Mapping Techniques and extensive implementation of custom scripting. Also, gained experience lighting in Maya, and digital inking.

 

Morning Star Media Design, Tustin Ranch, CA

Digital Media Artist/Texture Map Painter, April 1994 - September 1997 Freelance artist specializing in design and creation of digital imagery, 3D modeling, CD-ROMs, virtual 3D environments, texture mapping animation, presentation graphics, multimedia, website graphics and content, photo compositing, retouching and print.

 

Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA

Instructor, May 1996 - September 1997 Taught Multimedia Workshops, Photoshop I, II, & III, Interactive Multimedia.

 

Graphix Zone, Irvine, CA

Digital Media Artist, August 1994 - Sept. 1996 Responsible for concept, design/production of 2-D art, creating of photorealistic/tileable texture maps for 3d models/environments.

 

CUNA Mutual Insurance, Madison, WI

Computer Graphic Designer/Technical Specialist, 1988 -1994 Responsible for setting up computer graphics division, provided technical training to artists, maintained technical support responsible for producing projects and presentations, developed program transferring of files from obsolete turn-key system to Macintosh.

 

EDUCATION

 

Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

Master's of Theology and the Arts Candidate, January2006-2007

The Master of Arts in Theology - Theology and The Arts Format is designed to prepare students with a strong background and/or interested in the arts to navigate the intersection between theology and the arts. By pursuing work as practicing artists, teachers, workers in related fields, the study will gain the historical, theological, biblical and cultural preparation necessary to be both interpreters of culture and theologically grounded artists.

 

Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA

Bachelor of Arts Degrees, April 1984 Mixed Media Fine Art and Photography. Other training in various

software and art related courses taken at Academy of the Arts, Mission: Renaissance, Local 839, Cal State Fullerton, and other local colleges.

 

EXPERIENCE

 

Extensive Hardware and software knowledge on Silicon Graphics Systems, UNIX, LINUX, Microsoft, Macintosh and PC platforms. Software used past and present: Autodesk Maya, BodyPaint, Maya Shader Network and Renderer, MTOR ,DisneyÕs Proprietary Paint and Lighting software, Pixar Renderman, LINUX/UNIX scripting, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, Adobe Illustrator, etcÉDetailed list available on request. Other Work Related Skills: Filemaker, typing 65-70 WPM, thorough organizational and problem solving abilities, excellent oral and/written communication skills, foreign languages - French, German

 

HONORS, AWARDS AND REFERENCES Available Upon Request

 

MEMBER OF THE ANIMATION GUILD LOCAL836 UNDER IATSE SINCE 1997