As an animation student, my interests and focuses have evolved significantly over the course of my studies. This year has been particularly transformative, as I’ve shifted my passion from 3D modelling to 2D animation and concept art- something I came to realise over last summer and during the first semester with pre-production in our major project. With graduation not being too far ahead, I’ve been working hard to create my professional profile and showcase my best work. Here are some of the steps I’ve taken to refine my portfolio, and how I’ve contributed to my final year show.
Redesigning My CV
The first major step in this journey was redesigning my CV. Initially, my CV was heavily centred around mentions of 3D modelling and the associated software, reflecting the skills and projects I had focused on earlier in my course. However, as my interests shifted towards 2D animation and concept art, I realized my ‘about me’ section needed rewritten to reflect this new direction, because it seemed like it was no longer a true statement about what area of the animation pipeline that I want to strive to be a part of in the industry.
Redesigning my CV was more than just updating a document; it was about rebranding myself as an artist. I emphasized my skills and passion for 2D animation, highlighted relevant coursework, and included experiences that showcased my strengths in concept art. This meant listing specific animation projects, and any freelance work that demonstrated my ability in these areas. After my 2D animation project at the end of second year, I felt a sense of pride that from a long and somewhat repetitive process could come a piece of work that you could be so proud of, especially when working on a solo project rather than a team one. By realigning my CV with my current interests, I think I made it a more accurate representation of the artist I have become.
The process towards my initial CV design can be found here:
https://blogs.ulster.ac.uk/ornamccreesh/2022/12/22/professional-practice-reflective-research-blog/
Raising Funds for the End of Year Show
Fundraising for our end-of-year show was another significant endeavour. Understanding the importance of this event, I was determined to support our efforts in any way possible. I got involved with the craft fair initiative, which was a great way to raise money while also engaging with other artists in my class, many of whom had already established their own Etsy shops selling things such as novelty homemade earrings- many of which I bought for myself.
Supporting stalls at the craft fair was a multifaceted effort. I not only bought products from various stalls to help boost their sales but also took a more active role by co-hosting a table with my best friend Aveen. Our table sold painted stones, which we felt would be unique and personal, but unfortunately for us it seemed that our target audience were more drawn in by hand-crafted jewellery and stickers- which was great for our fellow classmates, but not for us as we had to carry two bags of rocks into town that day. This experience taught me valuable lessons in teamwork, marketing, and the importance of supporting fellow artists. It was rewarding to see our collective efforts contribute to the success of the fundraising campaign- even if it was only through our table fee.
Re-editing My Showreel
One of the critical tasks I undertook was re-editing my showreel. Given that this showreel would be viewed by many people at our end-of-year show, it was crucial to ensure it was up to date and reflective of my best work. My previous showreel primarily featured 3D modelling projects, but my recent projects in 2D animation and 3D animation rendered in Unreal Engine 5 were some of my strongest works to date.
I included animations from last year’s coursework as well as key scenes from this year’s major project. This re-edited showreel not only showcased my growth as an animator but also highlighted my newfound interest for 2D animation, as well as demonstrated how I’ve become more comfortable using software such as Unreal Engine to create particle effects and high-quality renders of my 3D work. By carefully selecting and editing these pieces, I aimed to create a cohesive and impressive portfolio that will hopefully catch the eye of potential employers and collaborators.
I’ve included my LinkTree here where you can find my showreel and social media accounts:
https://linktr.ee/ornamccreesh.art
Creating an Art Book
In addition to updating my showreel, my team and I decided to create an art book that documented our process from concept to development. This was a collaborative effort, using slides from our pre-production and production progress presentations.
The art book served multiple purposes: it was a tangible representation of our hard work, a learning tool for future students, and a beautiful keepsake for ourselves, as well as allowing guests at the end of year show to follow our production process from beginning to end. We included sketches, storyboards, colour scripts, mood boards, character sculpting trial and errors and final renders, all accompanied by feedback we received throughout the year from our module co-ordinators at the end of our presentations from the last two semesters. We hope that this art book is seen as an accessible way to share our creative journey with others. It provided an in-depth look at our process and the evolution of our ideas, showcasing the depth and of our work.
(Our art book can be viewed in digital form at the link above)
Decorating the Display Area
To make our display area at the end-of-year show truly stand out, I took on the task of decorating it with photos of my concept art. This was an exciting opportunity to see my work in a physical space and to create an immersive environment for viewers.
Choosing the right pieces to display was crucial. I selected concept art that best represented the themes and visual style of our projects, as well as it being some of the 2D illustrated artwork I was most proud of. The goal was to create an engaging visual narrative that would draw viewers in and give them a deeper understanding of our creative process, as well as the decoration reflecting the overall aesthetics of our short film.
Rebranding My Online Presence
As I prepare to graduate, I am also in the process of changing my online username for my art account to make it more professional. This is a significant step in establishing myself as a professional in the industry.
Choosing the right username is more important than it might seem at first glance. It needs to be professional enough to be taken seriously by potential employers and collaborators.
Ever since 2019, I’ve been posting photos and videos of my illustrations and animations under the username ‘budding.doodler’ across various social media platforms. On TikTok, I currently have over 12,000 followers, and I was worried that a change in username might confuse some of my audience leading them to unfollow me, but this rebranding effort is part of a broader strategy to ensure all my online profiles, from my portfolio website to social media accounts, present a unified and professional image.
Some of my profiles are still displaying the name budding.doodler due to issues with account recovery and password resets, but these should be fixed within the coming weeks.
Final Thoughts
This year has been a journey of self-discovery and growth as I’ve considered what area of the animation industry I’d like to work towards. Transitioning from 3D modelling to 2D animation and concept art has allowed me to find my true passion and refine my artistic voice. Each step I’ve taken—from redesigning my CV and re-editing my showreel to fundraising and decorating our display area—has been a crucial part of this process.
As graduation nears, I am excited about the future. The skills I’ve developed, the projects I’ve completed, and the experiences I’ve gained have all prepared me for the next chapter of my career. I am grateful for the support of my peers and mentors and look forward to continuing my journey as a 2D animator and concept artist.