Portfolio: http://karenrossanimation.weebly.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kcross42/ I've been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil! My name is Karen (KC) Ross, I'm an artist from Cleveland, Ohio and I am committed to becoming a storyboard artist. Growing up, I connected to people by expressing myself through art and stories! This was a constant all throughout my life, and I believe it will continue to be. 

I believe I would be a great fit for the THU Career Camp. I really need this guidance in my career, and my own career path has gone in a few different directions. My perspective is varied, but I want to focus and make my portfolio the best it can be. I studied traditional animation at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and then worked as a freelance artist in NYC. I I had trouble finding steady work during this period of time, so I decided to apply to an MFA program to further my studies, learn new skills and be qualified to teach animation, if my career went in that direction. All these experiences have made me a more well-rounded person and I learned so much! They also helped me realize that what I really, truly want to be doing is storyboarding.

 What I loved about animating most was drawing the key frames. I also connect so deeply with stories. As I learned more about the process of storyboarding, everything fell right into place. After I graduated, I moved to LA to pursue a career as a storyboard artist. From 2019-2021, I worked at Age of Learning in Glendale, CA doing animation, illustration, revisions, and some storyboarding for web series. I was able to take the class “Storyboarding for TV” with Ben Juwono and Trey Buongiorno at Concept Design Academy, and I learned a ton about storyboarding. It was an incredibly fun and invaluable experience, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. 

 I was laid off from Age of Learning in January of 2021, and have been solidly committed to breaking in to boards for television since then. Being a part of the THU Career Camp would be so incredibly valuable to me at this point in my life. Since my career has gone in several different directions, and I spent a lot of time in school, I am older than many people trying to break in. Specific guidance about breaking into the industry would be incredibly valuable to me because I’ve been trying for a very long time. I am completely committed to this, and I am always looking to grow as an artist, no matter how old I am. Being a part of this would be an amazing opportunity, and I would be incredibly grateful for it. I strive to be the type of person people enjoy being around and working with, and I would be able to learn so much! I hope you decide to grant me access to the THU Career Camp. Thanks so much!