My name is Manuela Montoya and I’m a Colombian artist and 3D Animator living in the Bay Area. Since I was a little girl I lived in a world full of fantasy. I watched animated movies all day and kept daydreaming. Every time I was feeling down I turned on the TV and it cheered me up. Disney classics had a big impact on my life and encouraged me to keep going when facing adversities. That’s why I want to do the same for other kids and spent the rest of my life bringing joy through my creations! In 2020 I decided to become an animator. I started looking for different resources to learn from and started learning from youtube tutorials, and online courses from ArtStation and other platforms. I learned the basics of Animation, modeling, lighting, concept art, and design. Then I moved to the Us to chase my dreams and get a better education. I’m currently a student at Animshcool, an accredited online school taking the 3D animation program. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from great professional animators like Angelo Sta. Catalina, Christine Kwok, Eric Huang, Hector Godoy Garcia, Luke Randall, and Brendan Kirschbaum. The program has given me the skills I need to start my professional career from developing a story, creating a storyboard, making acting choices, and animating a sequence. As an artist, I am constantly exploring new mediums and techniques to better express my ideas and emotions. I am never satisfied with simply replicating what I have seen before, but instead strive to create something unique and personal. My artwork is a reflection of who I am as a person: always changing, growing, and evolving. I have very clear goals and I work hard every day to accomplish them. One of them is being a female director of an animated movie. I take initiative and receive critiques in a positive way. I’m also very artistic and emotional in what I do and that gives a special touch to my work. For this reason, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this camp and nourish myself with knowledge and fulfilling my dreams. I am very passionate about animation and I want to pursue a career in this field. Website: https://montoyafmanuela.wixsite.com/manuela-montoya LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuelamontoya-animator/