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Q&A: Jess Lee ‘23 on Storyboard Membership’s function within the leisure arts neighborhood

Jess Lee ‘23 is an artwork apply main whose work facilities round drawing, illustrations and portray. Lee additionally shares her ardour for digital artwork by the Stanford Storyboard Membership. The membership supplies college students with a possibility to study illustration abilities and character design, and offers college students the area to study extra in regards to the leisure arts business. Most just lately, members had the chance to learn to make stickers and even bought their creations on the SunSet Fest. 

The Stanford Every day sat down with Lee, who’s the co-president of the Storyboard Membership, to study extra about her journey in digital artwork and the way the membership helps educate college students in regards to the leisure arts business. 

This interview has been evenly edited for readability.

The Stanford Every day [TSD]: Are you able to inform me about the way you initially turned fascinated about digital artwork?

Jess Lee [JL]: Initially, right here at Stanford, I used to be a premed after which a CS main. I didn’t actually have an artwork main on my thoughts at the moment. I used to be a part of the 2020 Chappell Lougee cohort. I proposed a recreation arts mission, and spent your complete summer time doing artwork. I discovered to love artwork extra and through that 12 months, I picked up digital artwork and began training, posting drawings and getting higher over time.

[TSD]: What sorts of actions and assist can college students count on from Storyboard Membership? 

[JL]: We do lectures and humanities occasions. We herald visitor audio system, create stickers and do plenty of illustration. Much less high-quality arts — it’s extra targeted on paintings for the leisure business. Earlier than it was extra about comics and drawing, however these days, it’s character design, backgrounds, recreation growth, TV animation abilities.

[TSD]: What has been a side of the storyboard membership you take pleasure in?

[JL]: It’s been very nice being part of the neighborhood. The neighborhood could be very welcoming, and accepting of any type of story that you just wish to inform with any type of artwork that you just do. We did a sticker-making workshop the place plenty of college students made their very own customized stickers, after which we bought them on the SunSet Fest. So in case you’re fascinated about creating artwork or promoting your artwork, undoubtedly attain out — we will join you with assets that may get you began.

[TSD]: Was it onerous to discover a neighborhood earlier than you joined? Particularly for college kids who’re within the artwork leisure business? 

[JL]: In my freshman and sophomore years, undoubtedly much less neighborhood. College students have been nonetheless doing it, however all individually; nobody actually knew one another. These days, it’s rather a lot simpler to seek out that group of individuals. There’s undoubtedly a stronger want for that. From the varsity itself, there’s nonetheless not as a lot assist. The artwork division doesn’t focus on business work. It’s extra for high-quality arts and galleries. So that you don’t get plenty of courses that particularly educate you issues for an leisure arts portfolio.

[TSD]: What sort of recommendation would you give college students who wish to get entangled with the storyboard membership?

[JL]: Attain out to the Storyboard Membership! It’s the neighborhood you wish to go to in case you’re fascinated about doing artwork for the leisure business. We encourage college students to develop their very own private portfolio mission over the course of the 12 months, so you’ve your personal artistic mission which you could put in a portfolio if you wish to apply to internships.