Meet Ava (Xiaoxiang) Long

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ava (Xiaoxiang) Long and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ava (Xiaoxiang), what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
As a 3D generalist graduated from SVA, my journey has been full of self-discovery and determination. Growing up in Wuhan, China, I found happiness and passion in creating characters, initially on the walls of my childhood home and later on paper. Despite excelling academically and pursuing Finance at CUHK SZ to meet societal expectations, I found myself being increasingly drawn to the world of animation.

Realizing my true calling in my junior year, I made the bold decision to pivot towards animation, teaching myself principles and techniques of animation while completing my finance degree. Filled with a relentless pursuit of my passion, I did some personal projects, honing my skills not just for academic success but also for personal fulfillment.

Studying at SVA provided me with the opportunity to immerse myself fully in my passion and interest. Beyond the curriculum, I delved into rigging, expanded my skill set independently to encompass all aspects of character creation, from design to animation. My journey is a proof of the power of perseverance and confidence, reaffirming my commitment to pursuing my artistic vision and contributing meaningfully to the world of animation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Tell us more about your art. I specialize in 3D animation, with a particular focus on character performance. I find joy in using 3D as a medium to bring my thoughts and ideas to life, experimenting with how characters can convey emotions and narratives. What sets me apart is my meticulous attention to detail. I believe that the nuances in movement and expression can make a significant difference in how a character is perceived, and I invest a lot of time ensuring these details are just right.

What are you most proud of or excited about?
I’m most proud of my thesis animation, which was a culmination of all the skills and knowledge I acquired throughout my journey. It was a project where I could truly showcase my attention to detail and my passion for character performance. Seeing the final piece come together and receiving positive feedback was incredibly rewarding. I’m also excited about continuing to push the boundaries of what I can create with 3D animation and exploring new techniques and technologies.

How did you get to where you are today professionally?
My journey to becoming a 3D generalist was not straightforward. I initially started as a finance student, always doodling and creating original characters in my spare time. Realizing my passion for art, I decided to pursue it professionally. Balancing my finance degree while teaching myself the fundamentals of animation required careful time management and dedication. I made sure to stay motivated by focusing on what I loved and constantly challenging myself to improve.

Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?
It wasn’t easy at all. Transitioning from finance to art was a significant challenge. I had to learn entirely new skills and adapt to a different way of thinking. The biggest hurdles were managing my time effectively and staying disciplined. I overcame these challenges by setting clear goals, breaking them down into manageable tasks, and maintaining a consistent schedule. I also surrounded myself with supportive peers and mentors who provided valuable feedback and encouragement.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to stay motivated by the things you love. Passion can drive you through the toughest challenges. I’ve also learned the importance of diligence and consistency. Laziness can be a significant barrier to progress, so it’s crucial to stay disciplined and continuously push yourself to try new things. Lastly, I’ve realized that it’s never too late to change your path and pursue your dreams. With perseverance and dedication, you can achieve what you set your mind to.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I want the world to know that my journey is a testament to the power of following your passion. Despite starting in a completely different field, I was able to transition to a career I love by staying dedicated and motivated. My story is about embracing change and pursuing what truly makes you happy, no matter how daunting it may seem. I hope to inspire others to chase their dreams and believe in their ability to achieve them, just as I did.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m currently living in New York, which offers an abundance of sightseeing opportunities. However, there’s one special experience I always love to share with my friends: wandering the streets in the middle of the night and taking the midnight train to Coney Island. I would love to share with you the story behind and why it’s so special to me.

Back when I was a first-year student at SVA MFA Computer Arts, my friends and I were incredibly dedicated, as we were all transitioning from different fields into 3D animation. On New Year’s Eve, we were still hard at work in the school. Around 10:00 PM, my friend Waylon suggested we go see the fireworks at Times Square. Although we went, the area was extremely crowded, and the fireworks were a bit underwhelming.

Afterwards, we decided to grab a drink. At around 3:30 AM, our friend Jiahan came up with the idea to head to Coney Island to watch the sunrise. Despite it being a two-hour trip and knowing the sunrise wouldn’t start until 7 AM, we decided to go for it. We took the train in the middle of the night, and when we arrived, it was quite creepy and cold at the beach.

As we were about to find a place to stay indoors, a magical moment occurred. Someone nearby started shooting fireworks, creating a stunning display against the night sky. It was a breathtaking sight. Afterwards, we had an early breakfast and watched the sunrise together. It turned out to be the most memorable night of my life.

To me, the important thing is to spend the most of my time with my friend to create the best memories. It really doesn’t matter much where to eat or visit. I really enjoy spurs of the moment and where they takes us.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to shout out to my great friend and the greatest teacher I have ever met in SVA, Gonzo! He is a character animation teacher at SVA, and also a fantastic motion designer at Nickelodeon. We first met last year at an online guest class at SVA. He had great experience on character animation (but had to do motion graphics after coming to the US), and I was responsible for a few characters’ rigging at that time for our group project. So I reached out to him and asked him if he could take a look at my rigs. He was so patient and responded to me promptly with many valuable feedbacks and encouragements on my rigs. This was the beginning of our friendship. Afterwards I took his character animation class and definitely impressed by his vibrant classes. He provided extra guidance and time on our group thesis as a character animation teacher, a thesis advisor, and a great friend to each of us. Even after graduation, he is still caring for our career development and always call on us to participate in events that are helpful for our career. We also hang out as friends together from time to time. He has became a precious friend to me, really a great shoutout for Gonzo!

Other people I’d love to credit in my story are my best friends met in SVA, Kathy and Yazhi. They are my thesis partners and they are two of the most talented artists I have met and worked with. We not only finished thesis together, but we also share similar hobbies of drawing and creating fanarts. When we worked together, everyone was talented and responsible for their works; when we play together, it was fan girl gathering. I learnt a lot from them as an artist, since I just switched to this field (they had more relavant field of study for undergrad). I also had so much fun with them when we hang out. It was them who kept the energy in our group so chill and happy that I never had any mental breakdown during thesis.

Last but not least, I’d really love to shoutout to my parents who had supported me chasing my dream. Thank you so much mom and dad for listening to my true voices and financially supported me to SVA. Without you guys, I think I will still be struggling to figure out a way out from a field that I don’t really love and have passion about.

Website: avalongart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avalong_art/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-long-561213258/ 

Image Credits
First 3 gifs are from thesis. Character and desk designing, modeling and texturing by Kaixi Yu. 2D motion design by Yazhi Zheng. The 3rd gif lighiting, rendering and compositing also by Kaixi Yu. Other aspects (rigging and animation of the character, lighting and compositing for the first 2 gifs) are by me. Other images are personal projects and 2D doodles.