NICOLE TAPIA

Sarasota, FL.

EDUCATION

Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL

Bachelor of Fine Arts, May 2024 * Major: Computer Animation * GPA: 3.⁴⁄₄.0 * Projected Senior Thesis: a two-minute film emphasizing visual storytelling, emotion, and character interaction

Pratt Institute, New York, NY, Graphic Design

Pre College Program, October-December 2018

Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, Figure

Drawing Intensive, October-December 2019

ANIMATION / VISUAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

Computer Animator, Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL, September 2020 - May 2022
- As part of an animation course, produced 15-second scenes to demonstrate weight, force, and character emotion:
- Designed characters and environments, planned animation with thumbnails, researched indoor lighting and developed a schematic to identify lighting needs
- Modeled and textured characters, environments and props, lit scenes, animated pose-to-pose
Story Artist, Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL, September 2020 - May 2022
- As part of a story-boarding course, worked under time-sensitive deadlines to develop one-minute stories for animation:
- With supporting visuals, pitched ideas to class; performed scenes with the assistance of professional thespians and filmed exercises as reference to enhance emotional moments in each story
- Developed storyboards based on video reference and class critique, edited boards into animatics with sound

COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIENCE

Store Cashier, Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City, NY, Summer 2017
- Sold items and offered information on the Museums exhibits
- Kept the store organized for guests
- Offered assistance during Museum dinners and events
Arts and Crafts Counselor, Coleman Country Day Camp, Roosevelt, NY, June 29, 2022-Present
- Instruct and assist campers with the creation of various art projects
- Run a specialist club titled Cartooning/Drawing and teach club members how to draw characters and environments step by step
- Teach Cartooning Club members the basics of character design and storytelling for comic creating

SKILLS/PERSONAL

Proficient in: Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Audition, Adobe After Effects, Zbrush
Built and painted props and furniture for Kellenberg Memorial High School’s theater shows as a former member of the Backstage Set Design Club

Awards

Second place for an Art Competition hosted by Lynn University for incoming students.
Ringling Faculty Scholarship