MASON TO ANIMATION

Hi everybody and welcome to Courtney Mason Illustration!

Illustration

My goal is to translate written and verbal ideas into visual imagery that is colorful, compelling, and clearly communicate the objectives of the client. I pride myself on my versatility and am confident in my abilities to tackle any challenge both effectively and efficiently. I am open to creative opportunities in a variety of markets such as but not limited to Graphic Design, Advertising, Editorial, Book Publishing, and especially Post Production for Entertainment.

Animation

My "dream job" is to someday have a career within the animation industry. The holy trio or trifecta of skills will be in character design, storyboarding, and character animation. I have experience in experimental animation, stop motion, claymation, 2D and 3D animation using Autodesk Maya, Photoshop, and Final Cut Pro. In 2011, I received a grant from the Women's Education and Leadership Fund to conduct a study of animation through research and practical application. I learned the fundamentals and foundations of 3D animation through the Ianimate Advanced Character Animation Program and I am continuing my education through Animation Mentor School for Character Animation online starting this upcoming fall 2012.

Innovation

I am very much a team player, but also a self starter and driven towards success. Since I was a child, I was an entrepreneur, a quality I believe I enherited from my father. This sense of leadership and drive has always helped me optimize every opportunity and has given me confidence in the value of my ideas. While I am very dedicated to clients needs before my own needs, I always feel like I have something to learn and something to give.



Wednesday, June 27, 2012

working world as an artist

I have only been working for 2 weeks full time and have already learned a ton!  My first few days were a bit rocky because not only was I learning how to use illustrator for a completely different function, I also was learning Corel painter, which I have never used in my life.  I felt like a Columbus, thinking I knew where I was in the program, when truthfully I was really somewhere else.  The buttons are all different, but I happily discovered that Corel painter might be more user friendly than illustrator.  I am trying to commit to memory all the hot keys and short cuts so I can be as fast as my boss Ryan.  He says he is not a creative artists so much as a production artists, so basically...he knows A LOT about a lot of things.  I can ask for his help sometimes, but he is busy running the business and I hate to pester him with questions I could answer for myself.  


As fancy as my title sounds, so far I have done little design work of my own.  I found that 80% of the art work needed for print is on file, either created by the staff artist of another company we print for are Ryan.  I have only done a few design assignments of my own and have spent a majority of the time getting a feel for editing, creating proofs for customers, setting up artwork for films, and printing them on my old foe and arch-nemesis...the EPSON 4800!  






DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING IS A DRAMATIZATION OF TRUE EVENTS


Yes, for the past 3 years I have been fighting a losing battle with this printer. Back at UHA, the printer lived in the Illustration studio and was named "jezebel." Time and time again I would fight with the archaic mac desktop and Jezebel to achieve the proper color, size, and paper settings.  And time and time again, I would triumph and fail, wasting time, paper, ink, and ultimately, money! Finally, with my ally and academic advisor Tom Bradley, Jezebel was finally defeated and replaced with a new and improved monster...Epson's much more efficient version of the same high tech demon!     


When I entered on my first day to the workplace, I was half nostalgic to see Jezebel's twin sister (who I have yet to give a name.)  But than came the flash backs, and that was when I experienced my first post traumatic stress episode.   


But other than that, and learning new programs, I manage my deadlines fairly well and communicate well with my clients and my employers.  I'm starting to get to know them all, and we share the same organized chaotic behaviors and sense of humor, which is awesome!  


FUN FACT: I found out we printed for Cartoon Network and Nickolodean!  Don't you love connections? Who knows,  maybe this will lead to my something more.  I am trying to save my pay checks for the CTN Expo Animation Conference in Burbank which happens in November. 



Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Fun facts about being 23

My birthday was yesturday, and so far these are fun facts I have learned about the magical age that is 23. 

-It is remarkably like 22.  But less cute-sounding.
-People expect you to have matured by now and yet I still snort when I laugh sometimes (oops!)
-Acceptance of social practices such as getting up, going to work, and working out is key.  Apparently if you do anything less, you are NOT a blue blooded American.
-A new appreciation for mundane things that always enthuse adults...such as discount laundry detergent. And vice gripped clothes hangers.  Simple joys of life.
-Memory has started to go.  Thus post its are my new savior!
- Money is now more important than before.
-Hyper awareness my friends getting hitched and making babies

more to come. as it comes. so far it has only been one day!

I realize...this has nothing to do with art.

but you must realize, it has everything to do with me.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

first professional exhibition!

EXCITING NEWS!

 I got an email from this organization called RAW Natural Born Artists, a non for profit that seek to promote up and coming artists. They urged me to register for their community and within the next day asked to meet with me to discuss being featured in an exhibition. So, I am now showing my illustration work in Hartford among many art school alumni and locals from around CT.

 However, I must sell 20 tickets in order to cover gallery expenses. So please, if you live in the Hartford area and want to get out of the house for some artsy indulgence, check out my profile and purchase tickets through pay pal. They are only $10 and you would really be doing me a solid.

 Here are the details:

WHEN: JULY 18th 8 PM - 12 AM
WHERE: THE RUSSIAN LADY, HARTFORD, CT
WHY: TO PROMOTE UPCOMING ARTISTS IN HARTFORD
HOW MUCH: $10 online ticket price :)

http://www.rawartists.org/masonillustration

  you can purchase tickets online here^^^^^^^^^^^^. If you can't make it, donations would be greatly appreciated as well. Hope to see you all there!

Friday, June 8, 2012

my first real job!

Yes, to my surprise I got a real job sooner than I thought I would. granted, I have made it a habit of applying for jobs that I lose track of just how many things I have shown interest in. Finally one was just right. It happened very quickly. I tried the "bombardment of emails" method to get their attention. They called me four days later to set up an interview, the interview was the next day. I was given 24 hours to show create a design for them. I did two designs in 12 hours and submitted it. I got a call the next day that I got the job. So now I am a layout artist. It's not pixar, but it's a start. It will be a good experience for me because it is a production job, set up much like an animation pipeline, or an assembly line, it is subject to change, collaboration, and deadline oriented. Good practice. It is also local. I know I said I wanted to leave jersey the first second I got. This is a true statement, but not a practical one. I need to save another $10,000 before I move anywhere else. Once I get the hang of my this job, I will look for freelance work to keep my head in the illustration/art game. Maybe try and find an agent. Until then...I am excited to put my art skills to use. YAY!

check out my glorious cubicle and my first day of work outfit! (equally glorious...hehe!)