Meet Kimmy Ma

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimmy Ma.

Hi Kimmy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a 3D generalist artist based in New York City. Currently, I am a junior student at the School of Visual Arts, pursuing my studies in 3D Animation and Visual Effects. I was born in Beijing, China, and grew up in seven different cities across the country. Being an only child in a constantly relocating family, I often felt lonely and struggled to adapt to new environments filled with strangers. Animated movies, especially those from Pixar and Disney, became my emotional refuge. I found comfort in immersing myself in these stories and connecting deeply with the unique and strong fictional characters.

My passion for 3D animation, video games, movies, and the narratives within them inspired me to pursue a degree in 3D Animation at the School of Visual Arts. I take great pride in my cultural heritage, and this pride, combined with my love for creating art with strong compositions and cinematic lighting, drives my work. My main focus lies in bringing my imagination to life by creating 3D environments using Unreal Engine.

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?
My artistic journey faced significant challenges during my first year of college. I realized the multitude of professional skills required to create even a short animated film, feeling overwhelmed by the need to learn programs like Maya and Houdini, as well as mastering modeling and texturing. This daunting prospect left me anxious and directionless. Taking a gap year, I interned at Time Axis, a visual effects studio in Hangzhou, China. Here, I delved into the movie production pipeline, virtual production, and Unreal Engine. Discovering Unreal Engine’s potential for real-time world-building, I became motivated to transform 2D concept artwork from Artstation into 3D pieces with stylized lighting.

Armed with newfound skills and rekindled passion, I returned to school and secured my first AAA game studio internship at Activision’s High Moon Studios. There, I contributed to the successful video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III” as an environment artist. This experience not only propelled my professional growth but also shaped my personal development. It has been a transformative journey, and I am profoundly grateful for the invaluable lessons learned and the meaningful friendships forged along the way.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My passion lies in immersing myself in captivating narratives through games and movies. As a 3D generalist, my primary focus lies in laying out, modeling, lighting, and texturing 3D environments. I possess a keen eye for the cinematic excellence of artworks, and I take pleasure in constructing immersive worlds with captivating hues that narrate meaningful stories.

I find the problem-solving aspect of my art creation process intriguing. Although technical problems can sometimes be quite challenging, I remain undaunted and tackle them by conducting research and fearlessly asking questions.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
During the Covid pandemic, I found myself with more time alone. This period provided me with the opportunity to introspect and truly understand my identity. It was a time of internal struggle, forcing me to confront pent-up emotions I had avoided. Despite the inconveniences and lack of social interaction due to staying at home, this solitude became a transformative period. It allowed me to rediscover my inner peace, clarify my artistic purpose, and develop resilience in the face of challenges. I learned to stay optimistic and passionate about both creating art and my life, regardless of the adversities the world presented.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kimmyma.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmymart3d/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimmy-ma-450427250/