Today we’d like to introduce you to Britta Strevig.
Hi Britta, 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?
Hi, my name is Britta I am an artist with Albinism. For those of you who don’t know, Albinism is a genetic condition that causes the lack of pigmentation in the hair, eyes, and skin. The eyes need pigment to function properly. Since I don’t have pigment in my eyes, I am blind. I was born with a vision impairment that cannot be corrected by any means. Growing up, I had to use assistive technology tools to help me succeed in school. I had enlarged papers with big text on them, a magnifier, a designated iPad, and used enlarged textbooks. From a young age, I have always been fascinated with the arts. Animated films have always been apart of my life for as long as I can remember. These films had such unique styles, worlds, and characters. I yearned to have a character look like me. I remember when I was 9 years old, I declared I wanted to work for Disney as an animator. My dream stayed consistent through the years. I took Advanced Placement art classes in high school. During these classes I had to create a series of pieces under one portfolio theme. I ventured into the themes of identity and disabilities during these classes classes as a way to find myself and also as a way to cope from self-hatred.
Ever since heard of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), I knew I wanted to attend their school after high school. I knew about their animation program. Senior year of high school, I was accepted into SCAD. I truly felt my pathway to my ultimate goal was underway.
My time at SCAD has been incredible. I had the privilege of learning from professors who have been in the industry, meet fellow peers who their own goals, connect with industry professionals, and have opportunities I don’t think I would have gotten anywhere else.. I am a rising senior here at SCAD, my dream is to be a storyboard artist for animated feature films.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As mentioned before, I have Albinism and blindness. With my vision impairment, I am unable to see things farther than 20 feet in front of me, I struggle to see small details, read small fonts, I lack depth perception, and I am very light sensitive. This has affected me since birth, and it has not prevented me from accomplishing all I have accomplished.
Growing up, I was the only student who looked like me. I was the only student who was blind in all my classes. I was the only one using the tools I had to use, which always felt embarrassing. Especially because I was always in the front of the classroom. I wanted nothing more than to fit in with my peers. I did not have any movies, books, or media with anyone who looked like me. I was the only one in my family who had Albinism and I did not have any friends who were blind like me. There wasn’t anything around me that indicated I fit in, and I often wondered if I belonged any where.
During high school, I truly hated myself for being the way I was. I didn’t have any friends or peers who looked like me, and I truly believed I was a burden for my disability. When I opened up about my self-hatred, I was told to “get over it”. “Others had it worse” and that I “didn’t have the right to feel the way I felt” because I wasn’t ever bullied. I was never bullied. But that didn’t make me stand out any less. As mentioned before, I was the only kid who used the tools and accommodations I used. I felt like there was something wrong with me because I had to do things extra and use extra things to be on the same level as my peers. Often i asked myself why couldn’t I just be normal. When my feelings were shut down, art became a coping mechanism during high school when it felt like I had no one else to turn to. During my Advanced Placement Art classes, I used art to explore the way I felt about myself. My junior year of high school AP Art portfolio had the theme of identity and exploring emotions. This allowed me express my feelings without being invalidated for how I felt about myself. My senior year of high school AP Art portfolio had the theme about disability and the challenges and triumphs. During senior year I ventured into the idea of exploring what its like to live with a disability.
Something I have to live with constantly is having to prove to others that I am capable of accomplishing my goals as a blind artist. Sometimes I have comments made about my ability to be independent. Once I was told “I didn’t think you would make it one month through college before getting hit by a car.” It hurt hearing this, especially from someone who knew you your whole life. It showed that I will always need to show others I am capable and independent.
My challenges with Albinism will never go away. I have had times where I wanted nothing more than my Albinism to be stripped away, if it meant I’d fit in. But at SCAD I am able to thrive despite my disability.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The type of art I pursue is Storyboarding. This is planning out a film, show, or even a commercial. Storyboards acts as a blueprint for animation. It sets the stage, sets the tone, and establishes the tone of a scene. As a storyboard artist, you work as a team to convey emotions, deliver dialogue and move the film along. All animated films, live action films, animated shows, and live actions shows have storyboards before animation. This part of the pipeline has always fascinated me most, i am a planner and love to see the different ways things can be envisioned. Storyboards are not clean, polished images. They are rough sequences consisting of many images that are sketches to showcase movement and action.
Here at SCAD, I am known for striving to inspire others through the use of storyboards. My peers know my goal is to have future generations feel seen and represented through the films I work on. They know that I did not have any representation growing up, and I want to be that connection for others to have. What sets me apart from my peers is the fact that I am a blind artist and my goal is to improve representation for all communities. I have to work hard to be on the same level as my peers, this is noticed by my peers.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
There are a couple things people are surprised of when I mention to them. These are things I don’t mention until I have gotten to know the person well. Ever since I came to SCAD, I have been less embarrassed about my blindness. I did not have to use enlarged textbooks, large papers, or any tools that made me stand out. Not many people knew I was blind. Since our assignments were always digital or submitted digitally, it was easy to blend in. The other thing that surprises people is the fact that I did not know how to digitally draw before coming to SCAD. My first major class put me to the test of how much I was willing to put into my work. I started off doing traditional art, but quickly related that digital art would make things significantly faster and easier. After working very hard over this obstacle and the obstacle of learning something new with a vision impairment, I was able to succeed in that class and in all classes afterwards.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brittastrevig.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittastrevigart?igsh=MTd0d2o1azZxZmE5aw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Brittas-Art/61569295167778/
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/britta-strevig-81376124b
