Tell us a little about yourself and your career.
My name is Aaron Spurgeon. I’m originally from Pasadena, but now live in Azusa. I started in art wanting to do portrait painting. I used to wash palettes for a small art studio in Sierra Madre in return for oil painting classes. When I turned 30, I got accepted into ArtCenter College of Design as an Illustration major. I graduated at 36 years old with a minor in Entertainment Arts.
What challenges have you faced in navigating a career in animation?
The biggest challenge I had at the beginning was starting so late in life. I already had a child when I started school. We often didn’t have enough money for the rent, so I had to work while I was in school full-time. There were nights where I would get one or two hours of sleep, just to get homework in. It took two years for me to find my first full-time job in animation. Once I got in the industry, I worked two hours away from home, and my wife and I only had one car.
Who are your inspirations in the field of animation?
Mary Blair, Eyvind Earle, Paul Julian, Maurice Noble. The pioneers who pushed the medium to a fine art, in my opinion.
What do you hope to accomplish as an artist in the animation industry?
I hope to be able to inspire other artists like myself. Minorities and people who started a little later in life. I want them to know that it’s never too late to start.
What does being in the Union mean to you?
Being in the animation Union means I’m not alone in this endeavor! I’m part of a team. I’m part of its history. It means I have a say in my career, and I have representation. It is very important to me!
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