Daily Inspiration: Meet Rodrigo Tello

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rodrigo Tello.

Hi Rodrigo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m an Ecuadorian and Chilean vis-dev artist that has worked in the animation field for the past seven years or so. I was born and raised in Los Angeles. Growing up in the SouthBay, all I did was draw as a kid. It’s probably the only thing that came naturally to me. I was a little chubby, anxiety-induced, nerdy Hispanic kid in the 90s. So making new friends at school was always a hassle, but drawing all day every day was the one thing that felt effortless.

My parents would show me so many movies growing up. From all the Disney classics, Indiana Jones to the Exorcist. They probably shouldn’t have shown me certain films at a young age. Nevertheless, I loved it either way. It pushed my love for cinema and escapism. This ultimately made me want to present it through my art. The easiest way for me at a young age to create worlds and makeup movies in my head was to draw it out.

I went to college at Cal State University Long Beach and got my BFA in animation/illustration. After that, I got my first gig at ShadowMachine, freelancing for the studio. I was still struggling to find consistent work the first year after graduating college. Ultimately, after reworking my portfolio and studying, I got hit up by Powerhouse Animation in Austin. I took my talents to Texas and worked there for a little over a year. Next, I got a gig at DreamWorks Tv, as a background designer on “Kipo age of the WonderBeasts”. Over there, I learned from such an immensely talented crew of artists. After almost two years at DreamWorks, I went over to Nickelodeon, where I’m currently at. At Nick, I worked on the “Rise of The Ninja Turtles Movie”, “The Casagrandes”, and currently at a new Nick show, “Rock Paper Scissors”. I have also done development and vis-dev work at Disney and Titmouse.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Getting into this industry I never believed it was going to be an easy road, and ultimately it was not. In high school, I knew I wanted to get into animation but I had no clue how. No one in my family was in animation. My parents were extremely supportive in my career choice, but getting there would be a challenge. I knew we weren’t going to be able to afford getting into a private art school, so I got into CSULB for animation and illustration. I learned a lot from going to a state school but I did have to do a lot of learning on my own. I took extra classes at concept design academy in Pasadena to up my artistic game. I also had to draw every day, studying life studies, painting and color.

My first year after college was week after week of rejection emails from every studio in animation. I had to take extra art classes to up my game and practice and draw every day to improve my portfolio. I was extremely privileged and fortunate to be able to live at home rent-free, and just get better at drawing. It was a risk either way, but my family was extremely supportive in my dreams to go all in.

I was able to gather up better pieces for my portfolio and went to CTN, an animation convention in Burbank. There I was able to show my portfolio to a bunch of studios. Ultimately, I got the attention from Powerhouse Animation in Austin, TX. Getting into the industry was by far the hardest part. You really begin to realize it once you’re in. Ever since getting in I have been extremely fortunate to have had consistent work since then.

I truly believe it’s a mix of luck and hard work on you’re end. And most of all not giving up. At school, there were so many artists that were significantly better than me. I think my persistence and drive was the reason why I made it through. The potential is so much more important in getting in than the initial talent.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a background designer/ visual development artist. As a background designer, I design the backgrounds and worlds that you see in animation. It’s such a fun job that I’m so thankful to have, where I’m able to design environments that are either realistic to cartoony. This is all in service in presenting the best story to the audience. I worked on so many projects that are all so different in scale. Working on the Rise of the Ninja Turtles movie specifically was such a highlight. For one, I always wanted to work on a Turtles project. Secondly, I loved the art style from the show. Getting the chance to dip my toe into that world and drawing buildings blowing up and alien invasion scenes every day was my dream.

In my own personal art, I do tend to draw a lot of cityscapes and little animated vignettes. I have a fascination on weird monsters, aliens, and supernatural concepts. I always think about having odd supernatural moments that slowly peek out into reality. In other words, weird moments that pop up into everyday scenarios. I’m really inspired by Jamie Hewlett and his work on the Gorillaz and Disney artist Cory Loftis. I also love Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry, and they’re music videos and films from the 90s. Watching and listening to music videos really help inspire the art I do on the daily. Recreating oddities that show up in reality.

What does success mean to you?
I define success ultimately to working on something that makes you happy. They’re going to be projects that help pay the bills. But having the chance to work on something that fulfills your soul is the dream.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rtelloportfolio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rtello516/?hl=en