Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Hayes.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I always remember the dog story when I think of when I first started drawing. I was in elementary school and I had just moved to Huntington Beach. My older sister, Chelsea, had taught me how to draw a dog by using just four circles. It blew my mind. I went to school every day, so excited to offer my only talent to people. I remember teaching other classmates how to do it as well and they would get just as excited as I was when I learned. I think that was really my first introduction to how art can affect others. I continued to be a chronic doodler throughout the rest of my childhood. Which was easy since it was something that me and my three other siblings shared in common. We shared and challenged each other constantly. It was this bond with family that led to a lifelong passion of creativity. They really inspired me.
Another thing I was addicted to as a child was cartoons, specifically, Avatar: The Last Airbender. I looked forward to watching the recordings of each new episode and when I watched that show, I was there. I was fully enveloped in the story and wishing it was me flying through that world. Another world I wished to get lost in was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Just being able to explore all of this exaggerated nature was surreal. I think those are the things that really kickstarted my love for environments and world-building. The magic of it all overtook me and I wanted to give that same feeling to others.
By the time I got to high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go. Until I started taking art class as an elective and I was working with one teacher I will never forget. He taught me that anyone can make a career out of art. All it takes is constant practice and a love for what you’re doing.
So I want to combine the reaction to that silly little dog drawing and magic through a screen. I want to let that feeling drive me to keep creating no matter how long it takes for me to get a job in the industry.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel with any passion-driven career comes a bumpy road ahead. I’m torn between making what I love as work or keeping it to myself as medicine. I can’t imagine a career away from doing something creative so I’ve spent my life since high school studying art. I know I want to be creative but for a long time, I wasn’t sure what that meant to me. My first instinct was to follow my older brother. He went into advertising as a creative and thrived. Seeing his success made me excited to follow his road. So my first major was advertising. After about a year of that, I realized that it wasn’t the right product for me. Advertising was fun but I wanted to work with a story.
My second major was animation. This was a whole skill level of art that I had never experienced which was both fun and terrifying. The deeper I dove into animation the more I realized that what I loved about it was the environments. The world that contains the story is where I find the most satisfaction in creating. With that realization, I changed my major once more to Illustration. Pinpointing my exact interest was challenging and it took a lot of exploring. I am glad that I’ve gone through all the changes that I have.
The more I work with environments, the more I find a love for the 3D world. I am amazed at how beautiful games have become during my lifetime. I want to be a part of that world moving forward. Although, having very little exposure to the world of 3D art at school made the jump into it all the more difficult. Opening up a new program feels like I’m learning how to draw all over again. The muscles are different and I just have to keep practicing them. As with my siblings during childhood, I have people around me that are keeping me inspired as an adult. I’m always working to improve.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am currently specializing in environments and prop design for animation. I’ve also produced some backgrounds for a graphic novel. There is something special about illustrating a place in time. Setting up a world for animation is so gratifying. Also working with others to tell a story is some of the most rewarding work I’ve done. I love being a part of a team that can produce beautiful work together.
I am known for having an adaptive style. I am always inspired by the world around me. Especially when it comes to nature. If I can incorporate nature into anything I’m drawing, I will. I also am known for my use of color. Getting to the color and value stage of anything I’m working on is the most fun part of the process.
One of my current projects is starting to design the world for a graphic novel that one of my good friends is writing. I’m excited to work closely with her on creating a world in which her story can take place. I also look forward to the challenge this will give me and how it will help me improve.
The other project is a 3D train station environment. I’ve been working on this one longer. I am using this project to teach myself how to compose and present a 3D environment. It has many challenges for me which are interesting to figure out. I plan on continuing to practice this skill.
I do freelance occasionally, but my focus is to master the tools that I have. I hope to be a part of something that touches people’s hearts as many cartoons and games have done to me.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood would have to be when my older brother and I got my grandpa to draw us a duck. My grandpa lives in Florida so we don’t get to see him very often but when we do, it’s always fun. It was a warm summer day. He was sitting at the dining room table with my older brother and I, catching up. He mentions that he’s impressed with us having artistic talents and that he’d always wished he could draw too. We both tell him that anyone can draw! We then go back and forth on the subject and ask him to draw something for us. We hand him a small piece of paper and a pen and ask for him to draw us anything.
After a few thoughtful moments he draws a duck, “because ducks are my favorite animal”, he says. We named it Gerry-duck because his name is Gerry. This memory encapsulates everything that I love about art. It’s about the moments you can create with it and the moments that happen during the creation. I even have Gerry-Duck exactly as he drew it, tattooed on my ankle.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shelbyhayesart.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyhayesart/
- Other: https://www.artstation.com/shebbie
Image Credit:
Shelby Hayes
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