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

Jess Lee ‘23 is an artwork apply main whose work facilities round drawing, illustrations and portray. Lee additionally shares her ardour for digital artwork via the Stanford Storyboard Membership. The membership offers college students with a chance to study illustration abilities and character design, and offers college students the area to study extra in regards to the leisure arts business. Most not too long ago, members had the chance to learn to make stickers and even bought their creations on the SunSet Fest. 

The Stanford Day by 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 calmly edited for readability.

The Stanford Day by day [TSD]: Are you able to inform me about the way you initially grew to become enthusiastic 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 sport arts undertaking, and spent the whole 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 forms of actions and assist can college students anticipate from Storyboard Membership? 

[JL]: We do lectures and humanities occasions. We usher in visitor audio system, create stickers and do a variety of illustration. Much less fantastic arts — it’s extra centered on art work for the leisure business. Earlier than it was extra about comics and drawing, however these days, it’s character design, backgrounds, sport improvement, TV animation abilities.

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

[JL]: It’s been very nice being part of the group. The group may be very welcoming, and accepting of any type of story that you simply need to inform with any type of artwork that you simply do. We did a sticker-making workshop the place a variety of college students made their very own customized stickers, after which we bought them on the SunSet Fest. So in the event you’re enthusiastic about creating artwork or promoting your artwork, undoubtedly attain out — we are able to join you with sources that may get you began.

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

[JL]: In my freshman and sophomore years, undoubtedly much less group. College students had 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 college itself, there’s nonetheless not as a lot assist. The artwork division doesn’t focus on business work. It’s extra for fantastic arts and galleries. So that you don’t get a variety of courses that particularly educate you issues for an leisure arts portfolio.

[TSD]: What sort of recommendation would you give college students who need to become involved with the storyboard membership?

[JL]: Attain out to the Storyboard Membership! It’s the group you need to go to in the event you’re enthusiastic about doing artwork for the leisure business. We encourage college students to develop their very own private portfolio undertaking over the course of the 12 months, so you’ve gotten your individual inventive undertaking which you can put in a portfolio if you wish to apply to internships.