Meet Gina Garavalia | Animation Artist & Storyteller

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

Hi Gina, why did you pursue a creative career?
Hi! Firstly, thanks for taking time to interview me! Sometimes, people will ask me, “When did you start drawing?” Truthfully, I started drawing when I was old enough to hold a pencil and never stopped. Throughout my childhood, I enjoyed inventing stories to illustrate and incorporated art into my class projects whenever possible. Around 2009 when I grew more serious about pursuing art as a career, I received my first drawing tablet to create digital paintings. Later in 2012, I attended Stamps School of Art and Design at the University of Michigan. Being part of larger university allowed me to supplement my artistic studies with other interests such as creative writing, literature, and history. Around this time, I decided to try entering the animation industry, drawn by the prospect of working as a team with other artists to craft a meaningful story together.

After graduating in 2016, I worked in advertising as a graphic designer while I developed my animation portfolio. Living in Southwest Michigan gave me plenty of inspiration to draw from and sparked my interest in landscape painting. I spent lunch breaks and evenings sketching plein-air (from life) studies of my surroundings, from woods, to farm fields, to Lake Michigan waves crashing against the beach. I grew skilled at depicting different weather and lighting conditions, and I found joy in painting memories of the places I’ve visited.

Eventually, my effort paid off. In 2020, I moved to Los Angeles to begin my first full-time job in the animation industry as a background painter. Since then, I’ve worked for a number of companies including Bento Box and Disney TV Animation on projects like The Great North, Amphibia, and Hailey’s On It! Living in LA has supplied me with new subjects to paint – I especially enjoy mountains, palm trees, and city blocks sparkling at night! I hope to continue telling stories as both an animation artist and an individual working on my own personal projects.

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.
Much of my work is inspired by locations I’ve lived in and visited. When exploring a new place, I take note of details I find interesting such as color, patterns of light and shadow, and texture. Later, I reference this visual library to bring personal insight to every painting, whether it be work for a studio or my own projects. I’m also inspired by fantasy and science fiction, and studying from life also allows me to invent fictional locations that feel real.

One project of mine, “Lighthouse Dragons”, combines my love of fantasy creatures with my interest in lighthouses. I’ve toured many lighthouses in my home state of Michigan and have visited more here along the California coast. I imagined a fantasy world where friendly dragons keep the lighthouses lit using their magic fire. I’ve since created a painting called “Coastline Keeper” along with stickers and an enamel pin depicting the lighthouse keeper dragons, which I’ve sold online and in-person at events. Maintaining a store comes with its own set of challenges, but I’ve had fun!

Another project I’m working on, “The Wishing Stone”, follows teenage treasure hunter Wren and her friend Candle, a shapeshifting dragon disguised as a human boy. They team up to find a legendary magical artifact lost to time, uncovering secrets along the way. The story takes place in a fictional world inspired by the Western United States. After originally creating this project as my senior thesis, I have returned to it recently with new inspiration. I hope to share more soon!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d start with a hike! My favorite hiking spot is Malibu Creek State Park. I love winding through shady canyons to visit the M*A*S*H film site, looking out over the mountains, and painting beside the Rock Pool. Speaking of film sites, I also love visiting Vasquez Rocks where the otherworldly rock formations inspired many tv shows and movies. Finally, for a view of the Pacific Ocean, we’d head to Point Dume. The flowers in the spring are especially beautiful there.

Next, we’d go to the Getty Villa. It’s quieter than the Getty proper, and the unique setting makes for a relaxing day exploring and looking at historical artifacts. Our next stop would be the Huntington, where we’d spend the whole day strolling through the art museums and botanical gardens with a stop for lunch at the cafe. My favorite spot is the Desert Garden and its cacti of all shapes and sizes.

Finally, a visit to LA isn’t complete without a stop at Porto’s for some potato balls, pastries, and a Plato de Lechón!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m grateful to my family who have supported me from day one. My mom sparked my love for art by gifting me colored pencils and registering me for classes as a child. My dad encourages me when I talk about my job and its challenges, and we drove across the country together when I moved to LA. And my sister is always there to listen to my ideas and offer suggestions. I wouldn’t have made it this far without their kindness.

I’m also grateful to everyone who has left a thoughtful comment about my artwork on social media. Part of what drives me to paint in the first place is sharing those paintings–moments, places, feelings–with others. In the times I’ve felt isolated, the knowledge that someone out there connected with my work has helped me move forward and made me very happy. Thank you!

Website: https://www.ginagaravalia.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginagaravalia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginagaravalia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GinaGaravalia

Image Credits
All artwork is my own.