Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
I am a Los Angeles-based Character Designer and Illustrator. I graduated from ArtCenter College of Design where I studied illustration and entertainment arts. I started my career in animation as a Visual Development Trainee at the Walt Disney Animation Studios where I learned from amazing, talented artists who I still look up to.
I then began pursuing character design when I accepted a job at Sony Animation. From there, I’ve been at Paramount, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks TV, Disney TV, and Titmouse. I also do children’s book illustration and have illustrated for a few publishing companies including Chronicle Books, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Disney Publishing. I am currently working on my fourth Little Golden Book.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
Some challenges I have come across include managing my time between my day job, freelance work, and working in some time for myself, whether it’s cooking, exercising, or just de-stressing. I know my limits, and sometimes I choose to go over it and it can become very overwhelming. I have learned to pick and choose projects that would be worth my limited time and energy and say “no” to projects that I cannot take on at the moment. Sometimes a great opportunity comes up that I just can’t pass up, and squeezing it into my already busy schedule can be a challenge, but I find ways to also give myself the rest I need.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
I’ve been lucky to have a few mentors in animation who have helped provide invaluable knowledge to me. I have to thank Lorelay Bové, Helen Mingjue Chen, Kathy Altieri, and Chris Ayers for being mentors during different stages of my growth as an artist. They are all immensely skilled at what they do and inspire me to work harder.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I hope to inspire others as others have inspired me, whether it’s with my work, my journey, or my background.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
It means support for fair wages, access to health insurance, workshops on how to navigate home and work life, and having a community that wants to see artists in healthy thriving work environments.
See more of Elsa’s work on her website and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
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