Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Donahue.
Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from Pickerington, Ohio and I relocated to Los Angeles for work after graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2021. Growing up, I always loved the arts and leaped at every chance I had to involve myself in them more deeply – I spent my free time painting, drawing, playing the violin in my school’s orchestras, and performing onstage in musicals… you name it, and I probably did it. When I was younger and my family first arrived in Pickerington, my parents noticed and nurtured my passion for art by encouraging me to take classes at Columbus College of Art and Design and sacrificing their Saturday mornings to drive me downtown. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend classes there for more than a decade on scholarships and this allowed me to explore many different focuses. One of the courses was an introduction to 3D animation, and upon stepping into the room full of Cintiqs, I was hopelessly hooked. At about age twelve, I started working on building my portfolio for art schools, and every moment after that was dedicated to learning as much as I could about the medium.
So, from a young age, I knew exactly what it was that I was meant to pursue, and I chased it all the way to sunny Savannah, Georgia, where I earned my BFA in 3D animation with a minor in themed entertainment design at SCAD. I sought out opportunities to work on student films during my time there to learn every part of the animation production pipeline, eventually culminating in directing my senior film, Heartstrings (2021). The film completed its festival circuit last September.
During my final year in school, I interned with WarnerMedia just after the launch of HBO Max, and now I’m a design management coordinator working on the upcoming launch of Max, so that’s been a cool full-circle moment.
I still pursue my love of fine arts by working on custom-painted surfboard commissions in my spare time, as well as cultivate my love for animation by working on indie short films and personal projects after work hours.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The entertainment industry can be cutthroat and certainly full of highs and lows. As an artist pursuing a non-traditional path compared to my peers growing up, it hasn’t always been the smoothest path, but to look at it in a positive light, we can draw from our road bumps to inform our storytelling.
Attending a private university anywhere is expensive, but when you have three younger siblings and you’re the first in your family to go to college out of state, that adds even more pressure to remove the financial burden of school and succeed as an example for them. I’m proud of the work that it took to get to where I am today, including overnight shifts in warehouses, concurrent on-campus jobs, internships, and even learning a whole new instrument to pay for my education – shout out to SCAD Drumline!
Really, I think one of the toughest hurdles for me to overcome remains my own imposter syndrome. We are our own worst critics. It can be difficult to block out that voice in the back of your head that asks, “Am I meant to be in this room? Do I deserve it? Am I doing enough?” And I try to remember that the answer is yes, but it’s hard to unlearn that doubt.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a 3D artist and project manager for animated projects and immersive experiences. From short films to theme parks, my work reflects my curiosity and passion for bringing audiences into worlds that have only ever existed in their imaginations. With a blended background in art and design management, I am uniquely poised to bring creative ideas and a logistical mindset to every new project I begin.
In my time at SCAD, I admit I resented the idea of specializing in a specific part of the animation pipeline because there was so much to learn and I wanted to know it all. I still carry that thirst for knowledge with me alongside my generalist skillset as a result, but primarily I focus on 3D modeling and project management.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
So many people deserve credit for helping me get to where I am now, even though I’m still early on in my career journey, and I’ll never feel like I’ve thanked them enough. First and foremost, my family. They never once made me feel like studying art was a bad idea – they always approached it with an attitude of, “Okay, here’s your end goal. What can we do to give you the best chance? Sounds good, let’s do it.” This article is going to get very long if I list out specifics, but to my mom and dad, thank you endlessly for the continuing support. I’m trying to do everything I can to make you proud.
Many thanks are also due to my professors and advisors at SCAD, who sought out opportunities on my behalf and pushed me to improve with every project, my incredibly talented Heartstrings film crew, my high school art teacher who wrote the recommendation letter that helped me to graduate with minimal debt, and my friends around the country.
It is so much easier to follow your dreams when you have people in your corner rooting you on. I’m lucky to have that support system and I don’t take it for granted.
Pricing:
- A custom-painted surfboard starts at $2,000 – The base price does not include additional costs incurred due to board size, design complexity, special materials, or additional revisions. See my website for details.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.erindonahueart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/princessoferindelle/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erindonahueart/
Image Credits
Karma Hill Photography MDB Photography
