Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Peterson.
Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a quiet shy kid, I loved to create things. I was inspired looking at comics that my grandmother would cut from newspapers like, Dennis the Menace and Scooby-Doo. I also loved Archie Comics. My parents were storytellers and very creative. When I was in Junior High, one of my teachers gave us a project on researching a job we would like to do when we grew up.
This teacher introduced me to Graphic Design. I ended up becoming a Graphic Artist for many years working at various ad agencies creating educational materials, logos, banners, web design, animation, and illustration. And on occasion, I freelanced for many businesses including Six Flags which at the time was called Fiesta Texas.
I found Figure Skating helpful for my constant flow of energy and ideas and became a USFSA coach for 18 years. I enjoyed creating stories on the ice with my students through choreography. While coaching and raising twins, I illustrated a few children’s books. The most recent children’s book I illustrated is “A Pony Named Twister,” by Steven Carroll, published in February 2020.
I also did gallery shows, painting in oils, acrylics, and watercolors. About seven years ago, I decided to make a
shift with my art. I learned digital painting and studied visual development for animation creating characters, props, and backgrounds through The Oatley Academy of Visual Storytelling. https://oatleyacademy.com When Covid hit, through virtual meetings, I became involved in an organization called the Creators Society located in Burbank, CA. https://www.creatorssociety.net/ They are an animation networking community. Last year, I served as Chief and Councilor of their Development Branch. I got to know some amazing talents in the industry through the Creators Society.
The virtual world opened another door for me being selected through Women In Animation, for a mentorship with Environment Supervisor at Sony ImageWorks, Alyssa Zarate (Credits: SpiderVerse, The Mitchels vs The Machines, Narnia, and many more).
I learned so much through that experience about how to work with other artists as well as to be a leader. Currently, I am looking for work in visual development and or background painting for animation. In addition, I am producing/directing an animated short with the help of some amazing talents for Ukrainian refugee relief.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
First, I have to say that I have had so many people that have helped me and given me advice along the way.
It has been a rough road. I believe for most artists we don’t choose the art path, it chooses us. It is something we feel like we are supposed to do. In the beginning, I was not proud to be an artist. At one company I worked for, there were many different types of professional people. I believe at the time artists were not thought of as being that smart.
Our out-of-the-box thinking often defined us as different and sometimes unusual. I believe we are treated with much more respect and admiration these days. But there is still a lack of women in specific roles, especially in leadership. Ageism is really a thing as well. Although for me, I feel very accepted by my fellow art friends and most are a lot younger than me.
What most artists struggle with is imposter syndrome. Myself included. I have received a lot of harsh critiques and some that don’t make sense. These kinds of critiques are not good for anyone. For someone to tell you the truth is great but to keep encouraging you is so important. The pressure to be at a very high level in the animation industry is intense. For the most part, social media inspires me.
You have to post on social media for people to see you. You are constantly looking at beautiful artwork. So it is
important to be yourself, and believe in yourself with perseverance. Applying to jobs is so much about who you know along with being a great person and artist.
Each artist is different, each art director, recruiter, or hiring person has a personal preference along with trying to get the right people for the look of the project.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on? Currently, I am working toward a career in the animation industry.
I am a visual development artist and background painter. I enjoy creating characters, backgrounds, and props. Painting is my strength. I’m most proud of the leadership skills that I seem to have acquired in the last few years. What I am specifically best at is choosing color.
There is a job in animation that is called, Color Stylist. Color Stylists choose the colors for film or television productions. This is a position that professionals have said I might be good at.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
When Covid hit, the ice rink where I coached shut down for a few months.
I loved coaching but with the pandemic, I decided to take the time to put my full efforts into my art. There are a lot of jobs out there but the animation industry is so skill specific.
It has been important for me to find a studio that tells good stories for families and especially kids. I feel like it is my calling to support kids, especially with positive messages.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melipeterson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissapeterson9924/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistMelissaPeterson
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeliPeterson
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8nv5Qq81PaMIHDP-J2MkcQ
- Other: https://www.artstation.com/melip
