Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Barnhoorn
Hi Tyler, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Tyler Barnhoorn, and I am an aspiring artist with a deep passion for visual storytelling. Growing up in Rancho Santa Margarita Orange County where I was involved in scouting and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
I was captivated by the vibrant world of animation and the way it brought stories to life. This fascination fueled my journey into the arts, I’ve been dedicated to honing my skills and finding my unique voice.
Coming from a multicultural background, I’ve been exposed to a rich tapestry of stories, traditions, and perspectives. This diversity has significantly influenced my artistic vision, driving me to create characters and narratives that resonate with a wide range of audiences. My goal is to bring underrepresented voices and unique cultural elements to the forefront of animation, adding depth and authenticity to the stories we tell.
I am a project intern at Open The Portal, a creative studio that produces animated and live-action content for various platforms and clients. I am passionate about exploring new ways of expression and communication through animation and film, and I aspire to contribute to creative media and entertainment with my vision and talent.
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 road has had its ups and downs. It hasn’t been a smooth journey, especially as someone entering a highly competitive industry. The entertainment business can be tough to break into, and it’s a slow struggle for someone newly graduated to find work. There are often more applicants than opportunities, and building the right connections takes time. One of the biggest challenges has been dealing with financial and professional uncertainty, navigating rejection, and constantly adapting to an ever-changing industry. But these struggles have also been learning experiences that have shaped my resilience and determination.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a recent Cal State Long Beach graduate majoring in Illustration and Animation. I have over four years of work experience as a character animator and five years as a visual effects artist. I have worked on projects, such as logo and promotional video design, animated shorts, feature films, rotoscoping, green screen work, motion graphics, matte painting, and motion tracking. I have skills in video editing, 2D, and 3D character animation, and stop motion. I enjoy combining different mediums and techniques to create unique and engaging visual stories.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was pretty introverted and often found myself feeling stressed out, especially in school. It was tough for me, and I struggled a lot with the pressure. To cope, I always turned to drawing, art, and films as a way to escape reality and express myself. Creativity became my outlet. Joining Boy Scouts was a turning point for me, though. It gave me a way to accomplish things outside of academics and improve life skills. Through experiences like the World Scout Jamboree in Japan and the National Jamboree in West Virginia, I gained confidence, resilience, and learned how to navigate challenges in a different way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://me2legos1.wixsite.com/tylerbarnhoorn
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyler.barnhoorn/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://x.com/tylerbarnhoorn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tylerbarnhoornproductions7506
- Other: https://linktr.ee/tylerbarnhoorn
Image Credits
All images are created by me but, the last one was a shot I animated and designed for a conjointed project with Open the Portal.
