Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Satterfield.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’m a visual artist working out of lil ol’ Burbank. I specialize in animation, but also dabble in various other creative pursuits in this splendid city. I’m not a native Angelino however I’m from way over yonder on the opposite coast. I grew up in a lovely semi-rural area in Greenville, South Carolina. Blessed to be raised in a home where the ‘practical’ career path was finding something I loved to do, I gravitated to creative work at a very young age (resulting in many crayon murals- sorry mom). Initially, I was all over the place in terms of the kind of art I wanted to create, but my love for Disney and Studio Ghibli films drew (ha) me into the world of animation.
However, I was a homeschooler in a small town, and internet-based learning resources were still limited at this point in time. Determined to learn, I created my own animation curriculum. I studied my favorite movies and shows, frame by frame, and DVD ‘behind the scenes’ specials whenever available. One day however, I found that one of my favorite TV cartoons at the time was prematurely canceled. BUT it already had completed scripts and voice acting for the episodes that were cut… all that was missing was the animation. So, at age 16, I launched a project to complete the animation myself. While I lacked formal terminology for what I was doing, I became familiar with every step of the process of creating an animated show from pre-production to post. The project was a great success, and to this day, I still credit that little ‘after-school activity’ for laying the groundwork of my entire career.
Fast-forward a few years, after high-school and briefly attending a local technical college, I was accepted to Savannah College of Art & Design’s (SCAD) animation program. There I furthered my learning while living in the charming city of Savannah, and over time met some of the most amazing artists in both my instructors and the students who studied alongside of me. Approaching my senior year, however, I was faced with the question of where I would go after graduation. Vague plans of moving to Atlanta and find work there was about all I had figured out. All that changed, however, with a phone-call from Nickelodeon Animation Studios. I had applied to their summer internship program for 2016, and to my absolute shock, they offered me one of the intern spots. I was FLOORED. This one seemingly-impossible moment opened the door for me to work in the animation industry in Los Angeles, and changed the course of my entire life.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
While I dabble in a bit of all sorts of art, my main specialty is color. I love studying how light impacts the surfaces of objects. It might seem a bit nerdy haha, but whenever I go anywhere – be it a morning coffee run, grocery shopping, or a night out with friends – I’m constantly focusing on the light sources in the room. I’m devastatingly fascinated by the relationships between light and what it touches.
So when it comes to my work, I love focusing the lighting and color aspects most of all. I still feel like my work does not do justice in capturing the essence of the beauty of light, but I practice near-daily in hopes that one day I might feel satisfied. We’ll see, haha. When it comes to how people see my work, I hope it brings out a little warmth in their heart, and nurtures a little smile. I’ve received some of the kindest comments online from complete strangers who have said seeing my animated work made their day a bit better, or even inspired their children. The joy I feel in those moments motivate me to keep going and strive to improve.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I’ve come to face with this great misconception that it can be ‘too late’ to do this or that, or that you have to be lucky to be born in a certain place to succeed. Nonsense! Take it from someone who, against all odds (being a woman, growing up in a rural place with little to no resources on getting to where I want to go, etc.) somehow managed to work full time in the entertainment biz in Los Angeles. Having a vision is everything. It makes sounds cheesy, but if you can dream it, it’s possible. There’s always a door open somewhere.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My professional work can be seen in small bits and pieces across the various television animation productions I’ve worked on. However, for my personal work, for now, I primarily post on my website and Instagram! I have a ko-fi account where very kind people will support my coffee habit, which in turn fuels my creative work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emilysatterfield.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynemical/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cynemical
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
