Meet Jenna Vopat | CG Artist and Production Artist

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

Hi Jenna, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always been an artistic and creative person, ever since I was young. Creative ideas and visions have always came easily to me and have always been something I was passionate about. When deciding what I wanted to pursue for a career I knew I wanted to follow a path that would always fascinate me and keep my life full of beauty and creativity, as well as keep me happy and endlessly learning and growing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There’s always a aspect of 3D art that catches an artists interest and never lets go. For me that was creating the environments and the lighting of a story. I have been passionate about creating vibrant, detailed and eye catching environments that make a story feel alive and spectacular, and lighting them makes the setting real. It makes the room a real room not just a 3D model. When I create my environments and I light them I focus on making them look colorful and saturated. I also enjoy making the classic realistic setting but something about creating a magical scene with colorful lights and shadows makes me want to never finish a project.

I’m definitely most proud of my thesis “Dot Gabi – FIRE” that I worked on with my thesis partner and friend Kaia Kim. We both made a great team and were extremely proud of ourselves that we were able to create a beautiful film that was accepted into 3 film festivals as well as win “Best Animation” at the “Experimental, Dance & Music Film Festival” We told a great story with captivating characters and scenes and we are very proud of it and all our hard work that we put into it.

Getting to where I am today professionally, artistically and mentally was not easy. I am at a point where I am doing very well; I got my first staff job in mid March, when I graduated last May. There were times when I felt doubt in pursuing my passion and not a conventional less artistic job. But I stayed positive and hopeful and I didn’t give up. I surrounded myself with supportive friends and went for every opportunity I could and never gave up.

I overcame most of the challenges in my life by keeping close to art and trying my hardest not to get discouraged. Whether its by a bad grade, a fall through in plans, a missed opportunity or a rejected job application. I would try to think about the things I did have in life and be grateful and be inspired by the events and things I saw in my life and create art.

One important lesson I think everyone should and will learn is to try to not compare yourself to others. Don’t compare your art, your life, your situation. Sure someone is doing great but so are you, you’re doing your best and that’s amazing. You’re art is just as amazing and you are always just as talented and will get to where you need to be in life in time.

Something I want the world to take away from my story and from me in general is that I am a forever growing person who simply loves to make art. I love to share my ideas and I love to make people happy and make people smile. I want the people who come across my art and the people I meet to walk away being inspired and glad that they got to see my art or meet me. I want to leave positive impacts on people and make peoples days.

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.
If my best friend was visiting NYC I would definitely have to take her to my favorite restaurants. A few are 99 Favor Taste Hot Pot in China Town, and Gen Korean BBQ House near Union Square! Other restaurants I love are Soothr, Barn Joo, Boadega, and Arthur and Sons! They all serve excellent food and are very friendly and beautiful restaurants. Other experiences that I’d recommend are going to museums like the Met and taking a stroll or having a picnic in Central Park. I know its basic but I can never get used to a classic Met and Park combo. I also would recommend going to any markets or festivals that are going on at the time. I believe any rare experience or opportunity is worth exploring and trying out! Madison Square Park is also a favorite of mine to walk around, to read in, to have lunch and sit down with friends. Its very chill and beautiful! I used to live near it so I might be biased, but I love it. Other interesting places or experiences I’d recommend are going to broadway shows or going to off broadway shows, whether its planned or impulsively, they’re always a great experience. I’d definitely recommend checking out SoHo for good shopping and any and all little stores you come across. I know big brands are enticing but some small shows can be gold mines for beautiful and original buys. Lastly I love to always end my days in the city with friends by getting dessert or boba at St. Marks Street, they have great options for dessert as well as food and my friends and I always walk out full and content.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m thankful that I had my mentor Anca Risca and supporters like Jimmy Calhoun at my school while working on my thesis. I’m thankful for companies like Forty Flying Fish and specifically its owner Kevin Nunez for giving me my first freelance gig and having confidence in my art and in me as a person. I’m also especially grateful for all of my friends and family that have and continue to support me on my journey as an artist.

Website: https://jennaavopat.wixsite.com/mysite

Instagram: @Jennavart

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-vopat-a72431195

Image Credits
3D Character modeling, texturing, shading, rigging to Kaia Kim <3