Meet Laurel Valdez | 3D Hobbyist & Designer

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

Hi Laurel, what inspires you?
I’m inspired by just about everything around me. I’m constantly on a visual quest—drawn to textures, bold and unexpected color palettes, striking shapes, the way light moves through space, and all the subtle moments in between. Music is another major source of inspiration for me. I tend to gravitate toward composers and synth-heavy sounds—those beats and strings have a way of igniting something electric in my imagination.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of art and technology, and while I’m not sure my style alone sets me apart, my obsessive dedication definitely does. I’m fully self-taught in 3D and motion design—thousands of hours deep into research, problem-solving, and experimentation.

What I’m most proud of is the progress I’ve made through sheer persistence. If I compare where I was a year ago to where I am now, it genuinely excites me. There’s no better feeling than solving a complex issue without having to look it up—or finding a cleaner, faster way to do something I used to struggle with. It’s kind of absurd how happy it makes me to crack something in a highly technical, node-based program. Creating textures from scratch—whether they belong to this world or imagined ones—is incredibly satisfying. The results are often surprising: sometimes beautiful, sometimes strange, and every once in a while… honestly, pretty ugly. And that’s part of the fun.

None of this has come easily, and I’m honestly grateful for that. I live for the challenge. Sure, sometimes you need to step away or look something up to avoid wasting time—but I’ve learned to balance that with pushing myself to figure things out on my own.

One of the biggest lessons along the way has been letting go of external validation. My idea of “good art” doesn’t always align with what others respond to—and I’ve learned not to let that stop me. I keep creating, even when the work doesn’t hit the algorithm. Because one day when it does, the quiet work behind it will speak even louder.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to take away from my story, it’s that the process matters. The hours, the frustration, the breakthroughs—it all adds up. My art is as much about persistence as it is about aesthetics, and I hope that comes through in everything I make.

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 came to visit, I’d want to show them all the things that make LA feel like home — good food, great views, and a mix of classic spots and hidden gems. We’d kick off the week with breakfast at All Time, then hike up to Dante’s View in Griffith Park to take in the city. After that, grab lunch at Wax Paper, chill a bit, and finish the day with dinner at Antico Nuovo and a movie at Vista Theatre.

The rest of the week would have a good balance of exploring and just hanging out. Wednesday, we’d start at Kettl for matcha, hit Dune for lunch, wander around MOCA, and then go to a show at the LA Phil after dinner at Dunsmoor. Thursday would be breakfast at Sqirl, sandwiches at Jeff’s Table, a walk through the Hollyhock House, and night skating at Moonlight Rollerway after dinner at Checker Hall. The weekend would lean more fun — Cafe Telegrama and vintage shopping in Highland Park on Friday, dinner at Found Oyster, then play pool at The Goldfish. Saturday we’d hit the Flower Market in the morning, stop by the Eames House, and grab dinner at Saffy’s. Sunday would be pretty mellow — pastries at Bakers Bench, brunch at Highly Likely, a walk through The Broad, and dinner at Etra to close it out. Just a full week of good eats, great hangs, and showing off the best of LA.

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?
Roy and Ryan Chung, Founders of POSSIBLE Inc. I am currently employed with their company. I have worked here for just over 6 years and this is where my journey began…

Instagram: https://laurel.xyz

Image Credits
images by laurel.xyz for 3d design / elisa quero @eliquero for headshot image