Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabrina Chen.
Sabrina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am from Hsinchu, a city in Taiwan. Before I came here to the U.S., I studied in communications at National Taiwan Normal University and worked as a social media editor afterward. Now, I’m a second-year Taiwanese graduate student at the School of Visual Arts, majoring in computer arts.
While I was an editor, I had interviews with motion designers and animators. It was my first time getting to know more about motion graphics, and I was surprised at how powerful this medium was for conveying emotions and feelings. And they combine visual and kinetic elements to create a dynamic and engaging experience for the viewers. I really enjoyed listening to them talking about the process making and the sense of accomplishment after a project is done. The mind-blowing art pieces they shared, which were on the big screens of concerts, ceremonies, and billboards, strongly inspired me. Ever since I was a kid, I love creating art and telling stories, through which I hope to bring people joy and resonance. And the experience of being an editor made me decide to fulfill my dream as an artist.
To build up my portfolio and acquire the knowledge of motion design, I learned the skills of basic filming 2D and 3D animation from online tutorials and workshops and trained myself with sketching, illustrating, and color compositing. Later on, I decided to pursue a degree at SVA to further improve my mastery of motion art.
Though now I’m still learning, and there is a lot for me to improve, I feel very blessed to be helped and loved by the people around me. Everyone I met in the industry is so friendly and willing to share their experience with me. I also enjoy this learning process very much. Every project is like a difficult challenge, but I’m always passionate about the projects and feel extremely satisfied after completing it, and I am also very happy to see myself making more progress along the way.
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?
Even though I have gained some basic knowledge regarding animation designs, neither my major in undergrad nor my studying background was related to the field, making it difficult for me to get into the industry of arts.
Hence, while I had a full-time job as an editor in Taiwan, I started studying art to increase my practical skills during my spare time, such as learning drawing techniques, developing a sensitivity to colors, and making dynamic motions. My goal was to explore the possibilities of arts, as well as my strengths and interests in designing motions, to find myself a stage to share my creations overseas.
Throughout the self-learning progress, I have had thoughts to give up and return to my comfort zone whenever pressure occurs. However, my advisor in NTNU, who switched his career from material science and engineering to animation in his thirties, once told me: “You only live once; live for yourself and go after your dreams.” His words encouraged me not to leave any regrets behind.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do illustrations, 2D and 3D motion graphics. I enjoy playing with gradients patterns, and shapes. I am quite sensitive to “shapes” and “objects,” which allows me to design unique characters and style frames for motion designs. I’d like to convey really bright and positive side and make my viewers feel happy and interesting.
Furthermore, my background in communications allows me to understand the different thinking patterns of all groups of people and produce suitable pieces accordingly. I have always been fascinated by how visual arts can be delivered regardless of language and culture; it is a form of art that can strike a chord with audiences worldwide. I enjoy all the productions, and as an interdisciplinary learner, my goal would be to improve my motion skills and enjoy every moment when I’m creating art.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love New York City. The city provides a dynamic and ever-changing vibe. With the energy of the city itself can serve as a constant source of inspiration for artists like me. Being in this city is definitely a great exposure to different forms of art. These exposures helped me refine my artistic vision and broaden my creative horizons. Furthermore, I can constantly absorb artistic information and stimulate creative thinking through life experiences. I also enjoy how the city surprises me every time with the amazing food, people, and gorgeous views. I love my life here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sabrinachen16.weebly.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrina.art21/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-chen-05609514b/
