SONSERAE LEESE-CALVER
cell (626) 590-5566 ¥ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241693/ ¥ http://www.sonserae.com
CAREER SUMMARY
Texture painter/visual effects
artist for 15+ years. CG artist for over 25 years, creating a fundamental
contribution in the development of CG industry from itÕs infancy. Have
successfully completed production on films, television shows at most large studios
here in Los Angeles including studios such as Walt Disney Feature Animation,
Sony Imageworks, Rhythm & Hues, Nickelodeon as well as some smaller studios
here in the Los Angeles area.
Have years of experience and
skill painting highly-detailed characters, props, and environments in both
photo-realistic and stylized art direction. Have effectively worked in a lead capacity position supervising
texture painters, art direction,
writing and developing procedures, critiquing and reviewing overseas work, and
implementing pipeline measures to aid in higher productivity and efficiency. My
strong communication skills have presented me with the opportunity to consult
with executives and educate them on the process of CG, art direction, and the
look they want to achieve to meet their objectives.
SKILLS
Extensive Hardware and software knowledge on Silicon
Graphics Systems, UNIX, LINUX, Microsoft, Microsoft 64 bit XP , Macintosh and
PC platforms. Software used past
and present: Adobe
Photoshop, Painter, Autodesk Maya,
Maxon BodyPaint, Maya and Mental Ray Shader Network and Renderer, MTOR,
DisneyÕs Proprietary 3D-Paint and Lighting software, Pixar Renderman,
LINUX/UNIX scripting, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, Adobe Illustrator, Projection
Mapping, Digital Inking, some experience with MudBox, etcÉ Other Work Related Skills: Art Direction,
Consultation, Filemaker, Word, etc.
typing 65-70 WPM, thorough organizational and problem solving abilities,
excellent oral and/written communication skills, foreign languages - French,
German
EDUCATION
Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, Bachelor
Of Fine Arts Degree
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
(Background painting, perspective drawing), Fuller Seminary, Alias
Wavefront, Cal State Fullerton,
and other local education facilities. Studied Reinnaissance Art and
Painting in Orvieto, Italy in June, 2005.
EMPLOYMENT
Freelance/Consultant,
Glendale, CA, Sr. Texture Map
Painter/Consultant, Sept. 2010 - Present
Senior Texture Painter for various film, television,
internet, and mobile app projects.
Paint highly detailed textures for 3d props, characters, sets, backgrounds and
character visual effects, creating and assigning shaders, rendering, running
scripts, etc. Consult with executives in art direction for the success of
their products and media objectives.
Nickelodeon Animation
Studios, Burbank, CA, Sr.
Texture Map Painter, March 2007 – Sept. 2010
Senior Texture Painter for "Robot &
MonsterÓ, "Kung Fu PandaÓ, Lead
for "The Penguins of MadagascarÓ, ÒFanboy and Chum ChumÓ and ÒTak and the Power of
JuJuÓ. Painted highly detailed textures for HD
CG television shows involving 3d props, characters, sets, backgrounds and
character visual effects, creating and assigning shaders, rendering, running
scripts, etc. Involved in implementing and creating pipeline and texture
procedures for the CG dept for their numerous productions. Lead Texture
Painter for Penguins of Madagascar. Postively lead crew in reviewing
texture artistÕs work, making notes for revisions, giving art direction,
reviewing all overseas texture painting work on Penguins of Madagascar,
Contributed in 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 – March 2007
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). Painted stylized textures according to
filmÕs specific art direction of 3d props and characters, backgrounds, shader
assignment, shader expressions, fur and feather generation and maps,
lighting scenes, rendering, etc.
Sony Pictures Imageworks,
Culver City, CA, Sr.
Texture Map Painter, December 2002 - April 2004
Senior Texture map painter for ÒPolar
ExpressÓ and ÒSea
BiscuitÓ.
Responsible for painting highly-detailed, photo-realistic 3d props, costumes, environments. Helped
consult and lead the modeling team in correct UV layout of clothing due to my
years of experience as a seamstress. Responsible for implementing and writing
extensive documentation and procedures for painting clothes (i.e. stitches,
various displacement layers, etc.)
Cinesite, Rhythm & Hues, Los Angeles,
CA, Senior
Texture Map Painter, July 2002 - November 2002
(Shorter Projects) Texture map painter for ÒSolarisÓ, ÒXmen 2Ó and ÒThe
Last SamuraiÓ, ÒGigliÓ..
Sony Pictures Imageworks,
Culver City, CA, Senior
Texture Map Painter, November 2000 - June 2002
Texture map painter for ÒStuart Little 2Ó. Accomplished extensive task of
painting highly detailed, photo-realistic textures on most of the 3d props and costumes for the film. Also
completed 2d painting of digital elements for visual character development and
approval. Also did texture work on
ÒI SpyÓ and ÒChubb ChubbsÓ.
Walt Disney Feature
Animation, Burbank, CA, Look Dev. Artist/Texture
Painter, Sept. 1997 - October 2000
Texture map painter for 3d Show ÒMagic
LampÓ. The sole
texture map painter on the movie ÒAtlantisÓ.
Fulfilled
considerable task of painting very stylized textures for all CG modeled
vehicles and props on the film. Also participated as a core team member for the early
development of the filmÕs direction.
Morning Star Media
Design, Tustin Ranch, CA, Digital Artist/Texture Painter, April 1994 –
September 1997
Freelance artist specializing in design,
consultation, 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
Successfully educated students leading Multimedia
Workshops, Photoshop I, II, & III, Interactive Multimedia.
Graphix Zone, Irvine, CA, Digital
Media Artist, August 1994 - September 1996
Accomplished lead direction in the concept,
design/production of 2-D art, painting and creating of photorealistic/tileable
texture maps for 3d models/environments.
CUNA Mutual Insurance,
Madison, WI, Computer Graphic
Designer/Technical Specialist, 1988 - 1994
Supervised and lead the technical direction of the
department in setting up the companyÕs computer graphics division, provided
technical training to artists, maintained technical support, responsible
for producing projects and
presentations and artwork, Created and developed a highly effective file
conversion program in which the department successfully was able to transfer digital art files from an
obsolete turn-key system to the Apple Macintosh platform.
HONORS,
AWARDS, MEMBERSHIPS, CHARITIES
Member of the Academy of Arts, Television and
Science (Emmy Awards), Member of the Animation Guild Local 836 Under IATSE
Since 1997. Teach Mentoring Classes for W.E. L.I.F.T.-L.A.
(Aged-Out Children in the Foster Care System), Cook Meals Monthly for the
Homeless in Burbank, CA