Today we’d like to introduce you to Olanda Fong-Surdenas.
Hi Olanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
All these methods of telling fantastic stories through film, video games, and animation fascinated me early on. I managed to convince my parents to get me my first artbook when I was a kid as a Christmas present, and I was thrilled to find it took whole teams of specialized artists to get these stories from script to screen. The book was read over and over and copied from just as much. I’ve always wanted to become an artist ever since then, though I come from a family of engineers, and it was generally expected I go into a STEM field. My father and sister have been my bedrock over the year, and I’ll always be incredibly thankful for their support and encouragement to follow my dream, as well as the guidance of my art teacher back in high school.
I graduated from the Academy of Art University and followed up with some personal enrichment study at the Concept Design Academy in Pasadena. Following graduation, I got my first studio job in reality TV doing some GFX work, then eventually moved into TV and commercials at Digital Frontier FX, where I did my first storyboard for a VR animation series, concept work and even some matte painting. From there, I went into storyboard revisions at Splash Entertainment, and most recently, storyboard revision and concept art at Trilogy Productions.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at first. Student loans are one of those struggles, while the other is going your own way, regardless of what others will say of the decision. Rejections can be rough, but at the same time, it’s just a fact of life, and you learn to develop a thick skin.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work in animation (3D), though I’m in the pre-production side of things. That’s the area involving story and initial designs, so my job usually involves 2D drawing on programs such as Photoshop or Storyboard Pro. I’m known for being able to switch back and forth between roles, usually storyboard revision and concept art. So on one day, I might be adjusting acting, inserting new scenes and new acting, or restaging a storyboard sequence. In contrast, on another day, I’ll be doing initial concepts all the way to model sheets and texture callouts for characters and props. I can also change styles. I’ve enjoyed many of the projects I’ve worked on, but I’m most proud of being part of “The Veggietales Show” crew. They’re an incredibly talented group of people, and I’ve learned a lot from them. What makes me stand out on top of my flexibility in roles is my work ethic and speed. I’m there on time or often too early. I communicate often and I’m easy to reach, and I take feedback well. I also aim to get my assignment returned quickly and to do revisions quickly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artstation.com/olandafs
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olandafs/
Image Credits
Olanda Fong-Surdenas
