Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalina Murat.
Kalina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a first-generation Polish-American who grew up in Wheeling, IL (Chicagoland area). I always had a passion for art and animation, but it wasn’t until I tore my first ACL at the end of 8th grade that I found out I could be an artist working in animation. My parents bought me my first the “Art of ____” book while recovering from surgery, and I became obsessed.
From then on, I had decided that I wanted to be a Visual Development Artist. My junior year of high school I tore my other ACL, and it again reconfirmed my passion to work in animation. I applied to only one college. At the time, Academy of Art University was the only college with a four years degree specifically for Visual Development. I graduated with my Bachelor of Fine Arts in May 2019, and by December 2019 I moved to Los Angeles. I was close to finding work but was always told to “come back when you have an industry credit”. I was even a finalist for Netflix’s Prop Trainee program (twice!), but that opportunity never panned out and the pandemic made it tough to break into the industry. To hold myself over financially I worked as an office admin and as a sales associate in retail. At the end of 2020, I stumbled on an Instagram ad for a totally free certificate program. I applied and got into Emile Cohl Atelier’s (ECA) four months Background Design program. A month or two after I completed the program, ECA reached out to say that Skydance Animation wanted to offer myself and a few of my peers an internship position. I have now grown from Artist Development Mentee to Visual Development Apprentice, and am now a full-fledged Visual Development Artist at Skydance Animation. My career in animation is just starting; I look forward to where my story takes me and have my heart set on being a Production Designer in the future.
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?
Starting out was a challenge. I often felt like I was good, but never the best or as good as my peers to land a job. I would get through a few rounds of Visual Development Trainee programs or be a finalist for a program (but would not be placed). There were so many rejection letters and so many tears. I was told a few times to “come back when you have a [industry] credit”. It was so frustrating because I felt like I couldn’t get my foot in the door for a junior or trainee program and I couldn’t get an entry-level full-time gig so where was I supposed to get this experience from? Watching my friends from my university getting their first animation gigs was both so exciting (because they are all so talented and deserving) but also difficult when I was stuck in a Nordstrom during the middle of Covid trying to make ends meet. I felt pretty alone in LA with my family back home, and most of my friends still in San Francisco. There were a few times during 2020 and 2021 when I wondered if I should pack it up and go back to Chicago. I’m glad I stuck it out because my life has now done a total 360 in the best ways.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Visual Development Artist in animation working on 3D productions (aka a concept artist). I am considered a generalist, but I’d say my strong suit is my texture painting and packeting. I’ve also had the opportunity to work on costumes, environments, props, character texture paints, set dress, and help with project pitches. I love designing anything to do with pattern work: wallpaper, stained glass windows, costume textiles, etc. All of my industry artwork is still under NDA at the moment, BUT I’m most proud of the work I did at Skydance Animation for the upcoming TV series based on Tony DiTerlizzi’s “The Search for WondLa”. The air date is still in the works, but it will be available on Apple TV. It will be the first time I see my name in the credits of a project I’ve worked on, and I already know I’m going to cry when I see it.
What sets me apart from others is that I was given the chance to be mentored. I don’t think I am the best at any one skill in my field, but I am good at various disciplines. Don’t get me wrong: I do think I’m talented and have artistic vision. I’ve been willing to work hard, be flexible, be communicative, and bring my ideas to the table. But thanks to mentorship opportunities, I have grown at an exponential rate. I am now a confident professional who can hold my own, and I’m continuing to grow. I think if there were more opportunities in the industry to be mentored in a junior or trainee position, there would be more artists like me. So frequently it feels like there are only 2-4 spots available, but there are hundreds of applications. Sometimes, we just need an opportunity to be shown the ropes, and to ask questions. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, and know that without someone taking a chance one me I wouldn’t be where I am today.
How do you think about luck?
I’ve been very lucky with how my unlucky situations have gone. Tearing my ACLs in 8th grade and then my junior year of high school sucked. But it leads me to learning about an artistic career in animation. The pandemic hitting was awful for everyone, but very unlucky for someone who just moved to LA, not knowing too many people, and not having a job in their desired industry. Apart from going to my retail job, I was stuck at home. This lead me to finding Emile Cohl Atelier’s certificate program through an Instagram ad (which was free at the time) and ultimately lead to an internship position in Animation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kalinamuratart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalinkadink/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalina-murat-a28823b5/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kalinamuratart.com%2F
