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

Hi Stella, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
There have of course been some times when I didn’t think I was cut out to be an artist but I realized creating makes me feel fulfilled and that I wouldn’t know how far I could go if I stopped prematurely. There are so many different forms of art and I learned that if I didn’t find success in one avenue there might be another one that would be better. Originally I was pursuing concept design but felt the storytelling aspect I enjoy expressing so much was missing. When I decided to become a storyboard artist, I realized I could combine the skills I honed from concept design and my love for acting and storytelling into a career that would satisfy me. It was what was best for me!

To me, an appropriate time to give up is if the cons vastly outweigh the pros. If there is something else you’d rather be doing then maybe that’s what you should be doing. All the skills you’ve learned from what you had pursued prior won’t go to waste because there’s always a chance it’ll be helpful in your next endeavor.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started working towards becoming a storyboard artist after realizing how important storytelling was to me. Storyboarding gives me the fulfillment to explore a story in an efficient way and coupled with my love for writing short stories and screenplays, it was the perfect fit. I was a bit nervous at first because it felt like a totally different beast compared to my original major. However, after a few boards, I realized how much fun it was to create my own interpretation of a scene and to see how others might interpret it differently. My favorite part about storyboarding are dialogue moments and being able to explore the behavior of characters in subtle ways. I’m very excited to find new opportunities where I can continue to hone and explore my love for storyboarding!

I’ve also still had the privilege to work on some concept work and writing for an indie game called The Kitchen Kauldron! It’s an interactive story room about a witch named Wendy who is trying to save her failing food truck business. I worked with an incredible team of artists and game designers to create a fully realized space with unique analog controls and mystical set dressing! We had the opportunity to show the game at Two Bit Circus’ Beta Night and are hoping to submit it to more showcases and conferences like IndieCade.

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 would no doubt take them to some of the amazing museums and gardens around here! The Natural History Museum, Norton Simon Museum, and LACMA are some spectacular museums that you could lose yourself in for a whole day. Also, places like The LA Arboretum and The Huntington Gardens are wonderful places to stroll around and relax. They are also great places to go sketching! In terms of food, I would definitely take them around to some special places in LA. Like Little Tokyo or Old Town Pasadena! One of my favorite spots in Old Town is this teahouse called The Tea Rose Garden. I’ve been having fancy tea there since my mother used to take me when I was a little girl. It’s a fun time to dress up with your friends and feel fanciful for a day!
Also, although cliche perhaps, I’d definitely take them to one of the many beaches we have here! When a friend of mine visited LA a long while back I was surprised they had never seen the ocean in person before. There are places to gather and have bonfire parties and some beaches with some great restaurants like the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe!

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 have had some wonderful teachers who have been very supportive when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do in this industry. They helped me see what I was strong in, encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, and were generous enough to introduce me to new people I could learn from. I would still be anxious and unsure about the future without all of their guidance! I also have some fantastic friends whose work inspires me every day. I think it’s incredibly important to have friends you can grow with because life is already plenty stressful if walked through alone.

Website: https://www.stellagolden.art/

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

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

Image Credits
Wilson Huang

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