Meet Chris Beausire | 3D Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Beausire and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I would probably chalk that up to maintaining boundaries around my interests and hobbies. I’ve always been really curious, active, and sometimes stubborn. I don’t want to let go of the things in my life that I find meaning in. I love digging down research rabbit holes, going skating or hiking, exploring personal style and just discovering new avenues for knowledge. All of that aids in keeping my creative brain fed and the mental cobwebs away.

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.
My art has always come from a place of exploration and experimentation! I believe it visually reflects that, incorporating vivid colors, undulating forms, graphic elements, and snappy spacing. The 3D aspect of my art grew organically as my interests with art and technology converged as a child, and so I taught myself 80% of the foundation that I still rely on. It hasn’t always been easy. Lots of nights locked in my room, learning and creating, but feeling alone. Sometimes that fire of motivation gets dimmer, and I have to stoke the flames by looking sideways at other areas of my life instead of forwards toward growth all of the time. I’ve learned to understand myself better – that I am naturally motivated and curious, but that part of me is like a houseplant. It’s much more effective to care for that part of myself with gentle sun and water, to ease off of the pressure rather rather than forcing it into unnatural shapes. I need to take breaks from my brain and go run, rollerblade, and hike out of my funks.

I think what probably sets me apart most from others is that I came to animation and 3D art not necessarily as a fan of the existing media (not that I didn’t enjoy animation), but as someone who just wanted to continue the feeling of creation. Because of this I might have a bit of an outsider’s view of the field, and see animation simply as a single facet of the artistic and aesthetic cultural landscape. The borders are blurred and I always want to pull in aspects from other disciplines whether that be sport, retro games, ecology, fashion, or photography. I’ve always been interested in the unconventional and I have this urge to keep tunneling into new styles and approaches.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s a lot to do in Colorado! I’d definitely bring them to a hike at Mt. Sanitas, real close to Boulder, and go to Sanitas Brewing afterwards for a delicious quesadilla and some refreshment. Illegal Pete’s is a must if they want a burrito while exploring Pearl St. I’d take them to NCAR, the national center for atmospheric research, to see the iconic I. M. Pei architecture and wander the trails beyond. Denver is an underrated city, so we can take the bus out there and explore the small shops and bites down Broadway, go to the Art Museum and Union Station. I’d love to hang out and sketch at some coffee shops, or if it’s the season for it, we could also catch a Rockies game! Later in their stay, we could pack up and go southwest. I love how mountains, forests and plains start to turn to plateau, rock, and desert. Down there we could camp, maybe in Great Sand Dunes national park, and explore the little towns such as Dolores in that part of the state. Mesa Verde is also down there, and I could take weeks in that area alone breathing in the feeling that the landscape and history give off.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It’s hard to narrow down everything that’s influenced me positively, but the most obvious are the amazing teachers I’ve had. highschool art teachers like Erica Green who allowed me to think outside the box and encouraged me to continue with 3D art. The /r/blender subreddit was my first sounding board for my art, first encouragement and critique from like-minded people, and a very valuable resource when starting out. At Ringling I had the fortune of being taught by Sean McLaughlin, Billy Merritt, Ron Zeitler, and the late Gary Schumer who’s sense of humor truly made the world of animation seem warmer and more inviting. Those mentors turned me from someone with an obsession with 3D Art into someone who can maneuver and contribute to the industry. In addition, Chelsea Bruner and Iva Petkova gave me an education on design and fashion that really deepened my understanding of aesthetics in relation to culture, society and history. Noelle McCleaf and the Ringling photo department expanded my concept of composition and lighting by opening the door to fine art photography. The amazing team at Neighbor Animation allowed me to take chances and advocate for myself. I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without the support of my friends from RCAD and Colorado, as well as my ever-supportive family. Finally, I really appreciate fellow Shoutout feature Katie Heady! She’s always been the kind, funny friend I needed whether that meant joking around while grabbing lunch or venting about the struggles of being a creative. She’s remained, unprompted, one of my biggest cheerleaders and she deserves all of the success and happiness this field can afford her.

Website: www.chrisbeausire.com

Instagram: chrisbeausire

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-beausire/

Image Credits
Ringling College of Art and Design, National Bank of Commerce