2023
I created The Valley as a project for Introduction to Unreal, taught by Dallas Drapeau. Starting from scratch we built our scene as a grey block and then learned materials, landscape tools, cameras, and a wide variety of other elements and tools for working in Unreal. The course covered topics from the perspective of working in Virtual Production, so there is a main area at the at the peak of the valley that is designed to be the location of a Volume.
It was a really great experience to get my hands on some areas of development that I've never touched and get to explore my love of landscapes, lighting, and VFX.
First Pass
Final Pass
2021
In early 2021 I continued to consider a transition to VFX and completed this project with a one time review from VFX artists in the industry who provided feedback as I learned what the core job would look like if I were to change careers. For reference I included the incomplete VFX (top) which were reviewed and led to the more polished final (bottom).
My primary goals were to create a strong cohesion with provided examples and make sure the explosion could fill in for any use case (which proved challenging!). My original concept was a blast that was strong, quick, and concussive, but the instability present in the blast would leave excess energy at its core that would stabilize and dissipate. As I began to block it out it was fairly clear that my original concept would end up lacking a clear shape to anchor it in space. Because of that I opted for a quick spherical shockwave and a more pronounced horizontal wave.
After feedback it was clear that the energy burn-off—which I originally intended to be part of the delight of the dissipation—wasn't reading well and needed to better assist the blast's shape and tempo. I adjusted the hit frames to hang just a bit longer to create a better impression, and gave the tendrils increased force and a quicker dissipation to move from impact to resolution more seamlessly.
2020
As 2020 ends and 2021 begins I crafted some Dawn Magic which cuts through and consumes the accumulated darkness of the long night to bring forth a powerful and glorious dawn.
I've always been fascinated by light, color, and motion, so flexing into VFX felt natural as I continue to explore my career. Over the 2020 Holidays I took a week to begin learning the basics of Unity and developed these effects—a burst, AoE buff, missile, and hit—with simple additive and alpha-blend shaders, basic hand-painted textures, and (probably far too many) particle systems.
2020
대취타 (Daechwita) by Agust D
Daechwita is a traditional Korean military song played during marching, a visit by the King, or when there has been a victory.
I took some of my favorite frames from the MV and developed a poster-esque series for the refrain of the chorus.
Daechwita is a traditional Korean military song played during marching, a visit by the King, or when there has been a victory.
I took some of my favorite frames from the MV and developed a poster-esque series for the refrain of the chorus.
Music Video: Credits for the video in the description (and watch it while you're there!)
2019
Having always loved Art Nouveau, I finally decided to try my hand at my own take on the graphical style. This piece highlights the statue of King Saint Stephen–found at the Fisherman's Bastion (seen in the background) in Budapest, Hungary–submerged in the Hungarian national flower, tulips.
2019
2 years before we moved to California was the first time I had ever seen mountains—now the peak of Santiago has an ever-present place in our lives. It stands as a constant reminder of God's unique relationship with nature, but also speaks to what Calvin referred to as the Sensus Divinitatis—our sense of the Divine sparked by the world around us—by the Sacred within the Mundane.
2019
— A pale figure has welcomed Lilith back with an extended hand, while other hands reach out of the darkness to defend Sanctuary. —
The Diablo IV announcement cinematic and gameplay trailer were incredible! This is a fan piece inspired by them.
The Diablo IV announcement cinematic and gameplay trailer were incredible! This is a fan piece inspired by them.
Photo: Toa Heftiba via Unsplash
Arcane Symbols: Fernando Forero
Arcane Symbols: Fernando Forero
2019
Type focused slides using Harbour & Work Sans. These slides were developed for a 12 minute talk on toxicity in the workplace which I was honored to give at an event for business leaders hosted by my alma mater. It was a great opportunity to explore a 50s-60s color palette that is so different from my usual preferences.
2019
Listening to the initial song releases from Bon Iver's i,i, This piece was a practice in taking in pre-established visual language and translating it through my own emotions and impressions of the music. Because of that it was very quick, reactive, and abstract.
Photo: Vashishtha Jogi via Unsplash
Listening to the initial song releases from Bon Iver's i,i, This piece was a practice in taking in pre-established visual language and translating it through my own emotions and impressions of the music. Because of that it was very quick, reactive, and abstract.
Photo: Vashishtha Jogi via Unsplash
2019
I've been wanting to do more photography and incorporate it into my design, while at the same time figuring out how to free up my process from the confines of a desk and computer.
This is a combination of two shots that I took at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, fully edited and combined via mobile (Snapseed).
This is a combination of two shots that I took at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, fully edited and combined via mobile (Snapseed).
2019
In my continued pursuit of practicing instinctual design, this is a piece that I half-dreamt and sketched out before falling completely asleep.
Photo: Prince Akachi via Unsplash
