To Review Portfolio Please Go to: • https://www.sonserae.com/digital-work-filmtelevision.html
To Review IMDB Page Please Go to: • http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241693/
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Multidisciplinary visual artist, computer graphics pioneer, AI creative consultant, fine artist, educator, and visual effects professional with 25+ years of experience in feature film, television, traditional and digital art, creative technology, and education.
Early contributor to groundbreaking 3D environment and virtual reality-based visual effects production for Virtuosity (Paramount Pictures, 1995), working alongside digital media pioneer Georg Gerber during the formative years of immersive CG cinematic environments. Specialized in digital painting, texture development, and visual environment creation as digitally constructed 3D environments were emerging as an important component of feature-film visual effects.
Extensive Adobe Photoshop experience dating to the early 1990s, including feature-film production, digital painting, texture creation, photo editing and retouching, collage, compositing, graphic design, advertising, and social media content. Teaches traditional drawing and painting fundamentals alongside Photoshop, Illustrator, digital painting, and other graphics software.
Designed and managed the Computer Graphics Division at CUNA Mutual Insurance and assisted in developing CG Texture Department workflows and pipeline systems at Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Experienced supervising artists and overseas teams, developing production standards, and designing efficient creative workflows under demanding deadlines.
Developed a successful structured Learn to Draw system based on Line, Shape, Form, Space, Value, Color, and Texture. Currently teaches traditional and digital art while collaborating with AI programmers on generative-AI applications, visual storytelling, and consistent character-generation systems.
Experienced voiceover artist, audiobook narrator, and producer, narrating books for authors through ACX/Audible and performing character voices, recording, editing, sweetening, and mastering professional audio.
CORE EXPERTISE
- Early 3D Environment & Virtual Reality Visual Development
- Feature Film & Television Visual Effects
- Digital Painting, Texture Painting & Look Development
- Adobe Photoshop — 30+ Years Professional Experience
- Photoshop, Illustrator & Digital Art Instruction
- Traditional Drawing, Painting & Fine Art
- Learn to Draw Curriculum Development
- Graphic Design, Photo Editing, Collage & Social Media Advertising
- AI-Assisted Visual Development & Consistent Character Creation
- Creative Workflow & Production Pipeline Development
- Team Leadership & Overseas Production Supervision
- Voiceover, Audiobook Narration & ACX/Audible Production
- Video & Audio Editing / Multimedia Production
- Public Speaking, Workshops & Creative Mentorship
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CEO & FOUNDER | SONSERAE DESIGNS
Orange, California | 2010–Present
Founder and creative director of a multidisciplinary fine art, design, education, and creative technology company.
- Operate a professional art studio in Old Towne Orange providing traditional and digital art instruction, workshops, presentations, private mentoring, and commissioned artwork.
- Teach drawing, painting, Photoshop, Illustrator, digital painting, photo editing, retouching, collage, graphic design, and social media advertising.
- Combine traditional art fundamentals—including line, form, value, color, composition, perspective, and proportion—with professional digital workflows.
- Produce fine art, digital illustration, photography, book covers, branding, marketing materials, and social media content.
- Develop AI-assisted workflows for visual storytelling and consistent character creation.
- Collaborate with AI programmers and developers on emerging online and mobile applications.
- Provide creative consulting in art direction, workflow development, branding, digital media, and emerging technology.
California | 2019–Present
- Developed a successful structured Learn to Draw system progressing through Line → Shape → Form → Space → Value → Color → Texture.
- Designed the system to help motivated students make substantial advances in drawing ability within approximately 4–6 months.
- Teach traditional drawing and painting, watercolor, color theory, character design, Photoshop, digital painting, mixed media, and ceramics.
- Provide private instruction, portfolio development, and preparation for specialized arts programs.
- In collaboration with Bollywood Dance Central, teach visual arts programs serving thousands of at-risk students in California school districts.
- Teach children, teens, adults, private students, and large classroom groups.
California | 2016–Present
Founder of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization using arts and creative expression to support individuals experiencing trauma, grief, and PTSD.
- Develop arts-based programs, workshops, outreach initiatives, podcasts, and multimedia content.
- Write, narrate, record, edit, and produce audio/video programming using Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve.
FILM & TELEVISION / VISUAL EFFECTS
NICKELODEON ANIMATION STUDIOS | Senior Texture Painter / Lead Texture Artist
Burbank, California | 2007–2012
The Penguins of Madagascar • Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness • Fanboy & Chum Chum • Tak and the Power of Juju • Robot & Monster
- Assisted in developing CG Texture Department workflows, standards, and production pipeline systems.
- Created textures and surfacing for characters, environments, props, and effects.
- Supervised and reviewed internal and overseas production work.
Burbank, California | 1997–2007
Atlantis: The Lost Empire • Bolt • Meet the Robinsons • Magic Lamp at Tokyo DisneySea
- Served as the sole texture painter on Atlantis for stylized CG vehicles and major environmental assets.
- Created stylized and photorealistic textures, look development, shader systems, and surface treatments.
- Applied traditional painting, color, value, and material knowledge to sophisticated digital production workflows.
Senior Texture Painter / Visual Effects Artist | 2000–2004
The Polar Express • Stuart Little 2 • Seabiscuit • I Spy • The ChubbChubbs! • Solaris • X2: X-Men United • The Last Samurai • Gigli
- Produced high-resolution textures, surfacing, digital painting, and visual effects assets for major feature films.
- Collaborated with modeling, lighting, rendering, and compositing teams under demanding production schedules.
EARLY 3D & COMPUTER GRAPHICS
DIGITAL MEDIA ARTIST | GRAPHIX ZONE
Irvine, California | 1994–1996
- Created digital artwork and photorealistic tileable textures for emerging 3D models and environments.
- Specialized in digital painting, texture development, visual realism, and environmental surface design.
- Worked on digital media and title projects associated with Bob Dylan, Prince, The Eagles, and Herbie Hancock.
Paramount Pictures | 1995
- Contributed to early 3D environment and virtual reality-based visual effects production for Virtuosity, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.
- Worked alongside Georg Gerber on computer-generated environment development during the formative years of immersive cinematic 3D technology.
- Specialized in digital painting, texture development, and visual environment creation.
Madison, Wisconsin | 1988–1994
- Designed, established, and managed the company's Computer Graphics Division.
- Supervised staff and managed graphics systems, networking, workflow, software, and hardware implementation.
- Developed a file-conversion system enabling digital artwork to transition from a legacy turnkey graphics system to the Apple Macintosh platform.
- Trained artists and staff in emerging digital graphics technologies.
VOICEOVER / AUDIOBOOK PRODUCTION
- Voiceover and performance experience beginning in high school.
- Professional audiobook narrator and producer for authors publishing through ACX/Audible.
- Experienced in long-form narration, dialogue, character voices, and performance continuity.
- Record narration using TwistedWave.
- Edit, sweeten, master, and quality-check professional audio using Adobe Audition.
- Prepare completed audiobook files to ACX/Audible technical specifications.
- Podcast narration and production.
- Video editing and post-production using DaVinci Resolve.
SOFTWARE & TECHNOLOGY
Adobe Photoshop • Photoshop Generative AI • Illustrator • InDesign • Lightroom • Procreate • Maya • Cinema 4D • BodyPaint • Mudbox • RenderMan • Mental Ray • DaVinci Resolve • Adobe Audition • TwistedWave • ACX/Audible • CapCut • iMovie • Midjourney • Firefly • OpenArt • NeoLemon • Microsoft Office • Apple/Mac & PC Systems • UNIX/LINUX
SELECT FILM & TELEVISION CREDITS
Virtuosity • Atlantis: The Lost Empire • Bolt • Meet the Robinsons • The Polar Express • Stuart Little 2 • I Spy • Solaris • X2: X-Men United • Seabiscuit • The Last Samurai • The Penguins of Madagascar • Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness • Fanboy & Chum Chum • Robot & Monster • Pearl Harbor • The ChubbChubbs!
Additional credits available on IMDb.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Pepperdine University — Bachelor of Fine Arts and Photography
Fuller Seminary — Master of Theology and the Arts Candidate
Renaissance Painting & Spirituality Studies — Orvieto, Italy
- Member, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
- Member, Animation Guild / IATSE
- Contributor to Academy Award-winning project The ChubbChubbs!
- Founder & CEO, Sophie’s Dream, Inc.