Have you ever watched an infant take their first steps? Watching them see what's around them on their feet. They have a desire to stand, to walk and move around. They clumsily pull themselves up, and with slow, awkward movements they begin to move forward. Right as they set that first foot forward their life changes. Each of our lives changed with that moment and most of us don’t even remember it! I’m leaving an opening there for the possible yet unlikely reader with such a spectacular mind that they do somehow remember.

Art was my first step toward animation, I also can’t remember when exactly it happened.

I grew up around drawing and art. My mom is probably the most amazing artist I know. I have watched her draw cartoons, sculpt figures, and paint murals since I was born. Everything she did always seemed so perfect in my eyes. She could create beautiful things and share them with others. I was amazed. I wanted to be amazing like her. So I asked her questions here and there, and drew on my own. Mostly, however, I just watched.

Later I had other role models. My childhood babysitter watched anime, and would draw as she took care of my siblings and I. School gave me access to other children who also enjoyed what I enjoyed and we became fast friends.

In the beginning art was just a hobby of mine. Something that helped me focus in church or in class. It served as a stress relief and meditating tool. When drawing I could be only on the page I was looking at. I didn’t think I would find a way to apply this thing that I loved in my life as career, I just enjoyed it while pursuing other possible career ideas.

Because of this mindset I didn’t apply this skill academically. The only art class I took in school was a beginning art class my senior year of high school. The principles and techniques taught were things I had already learned in the 18 years of my life I spent watching learning and practicing on my own. The terms were the only new information. Shortly after graduation I was watching an animated film that offered a behind the scene look at how it was made. Animators talked about their work on the film. There was art involved. Music as well! Jokes and storytelling! The longer I watched, the more I felt a longing to be a part of such a group of people. I decided then and there that I wanted to be an animator.

Some steps I recommend if you are young or old:

1. Take the time NOW to learn what you love. That hobby you have may very well become a bigger part of your future than you even imagined. Or you may learn something valuable about yourself and find what you love even more.
2. Set big goals! But remember they are achieved with smaller goals. Children first learning to walk cannot have done so if it was expected that they first knew how to run and skip.
3. Pace yourself; remember, discouragement will come but if you allow yourself to get burnt out you will lose out on the opportunities before you. Take a step back every once in awhile. Do a little something different, then return. You may find you grow even more when you do

I hope this step in my journey helps you in a step in yours!