Today, we’d like to introduce you to Grace Wisdom.
Hi Grace, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve known for a really long time that I wanted to be an artist professionally. In middle school, I was a huge book reader (and I still am when I have the time), but when I fell in love with animated TV shows like Steven Universe and Teen Titans, I knew I wanted to tell stories through animation. I went to a high school in my home state of Louisiana with an awesome art program where I took every art class I could get my hands on. I’d wanted to go to SCAD since my freshman year, and I worked extremely hard to get enough scholarship money to come, which I thankfully got with my portfolio.
I went into SCAD’s animation program and immediately knew I’d make the right choice with the blood, sweat, and tears I put into being able to come. With the tight-knit community of artists here who all strive to grow together, I’ve met so many amazing people and am now able to tell the stories I’ve dreamed of telling. I’ve found my niche drawing backgrounds, which allows me to construct elaborate environments that characters can live in. I also produced an independent 2D animated film named “Arcade” last year, and I’m currently directing and co-producing a 3D animated film called “Ultramarine.” I just love the process of collaborating with people to create something together that you couldn’t do by yourself, working towards a story that you all believe in. It’s an incredible feeling seeing everything come together, and I’m so thankful that I’m in a place where I can do that!
I’m a senior about to graduate with my BFA in Animation this June, and I’m starting my MFA in Illustration at SCAD this fall so I can focus on my love for illustrating backgrounds for animation full-time with my thesis.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the biggest struggle I’ve had has always been self-doubting my skills. There isn’t a lot of value placed in the arts as a serious career where I’m from, and there are a lot of misconceptions about what that could look like.
I kept asking myself if I was making the right choice in wanting to go to art school throughout high school, and when I got to Savannah, it was a reality check seeing so many talented artists in one place. In the end, I think it fueled me to improve and push myself. I still struggle with that as I look towards trying to break into the industry and trying to ensure my skills are at a professional level. Still, I’m determined to keep improving and relying on the artists in my life to keep me grounded.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in background layout and animation production management! For the 2D animation pipeline, the characters in your favorite TV shows and movies must stand in a “set,” which is what the backgrounds are for. I love illustrating detailed, vast environments that you can get lost in. Storytelling through backgrounds is my favorite thing to draw into my work because you can imply so much just from what a character is walking around in. Backgrounds help bring a story to life!
For those backgrounds, perspective is necessary to understand how to construct houses, cities, props, and anything you can think of. I’ve taken as many classes as possible to help me learn and improve on those skills, as well as teaching myself 3D software to mock up compositions quickly to trace over. I’ve also worked on eight student films during my time at SCAD, six of which were as a background artist, so I’ve learned a lot about what goes into making a background that gets utilized in a production.
I’ve also taught myself the skill of Production Management, which is when you set timelines for your film to hit, manage artists to ensure they’re turning in work and receiving assignments and organize the entire film to operate smoothly throughout a production. I first produced an independent film called “Arcade” last year, where I learned that skill on the job, and I fell in love with production as a result. Sometimes, when you’ve drawn so much that your brain melts, having a way of staying involved in your passion while also taking a break to keep from burning out is really nice. Production is amazing because you’re actively watching the film come together and working with all of the artists to ensure that the story you want to tell starts becoming reality piece by piece.
A huge focus in my work has been representation. When I was growing up, without realizing it until much later, animated stories helped me realize who I was as a person, and they made me who I am today. Many films I’ve helped to write and worked on have featured diverse characters, which is a goal I want to bring into the animation industry. I want to spotlight stories that break the mold and reach out to the audience to let them know they’re not out of the ordinary to be who they are.
The film I’m currently directing, Ultramarine, features a heartwarming lesbian love story. I feel it’s extremely important, especially now, to empower and uplift the stories of LGBTQ+ and POC folks, and I want those folks to feel comfort and solace in the stories I help to tell. I’m sure it’s a common story with many other students here at SCAD, but I haven’t felt truly safe and accepted until much later in life, and in the meantime, I had animation.
I’m extremely proud of how far I’ve come since starting college. I never dreamed I could be where I am today, and even though I have a long way to go, the fact that I’ve made such big strides to where I can confidently look at my portfolio and be happy with what I’ve made has been incredible. I’m eternally grateful for the friends I’ve made and what I’ve been able to learn; I just can’t wait to draw and grow more!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share my story!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gracewisdomart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planttcell/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/planttcell
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/ultramarine.film/?igsh=eWlwaDJuYTc3bm1s
