I am Sebastian Posada, I was born in Medellin, Colombia in 1988. My interest in being at THU, is related to my childhood, in terms of my relationship with illustration and visual culture. It started when I played Warhammer games with my friends; I used to devour all the rulebooks because they had amazing fantasy stories with beautiful and very reality-grounded illustrations from Paul Dainton, Adrian Smith, and Karl Kopinski. Later, I studied a Bachelor of Honours in International Business. Which gave me great tools in terms of business, financial and legal skills I can use to complement my illustration work. I have coursed studies in different schools and learned from teachers from whom I have garnered skills, contacts and experience that can make me a good candidate for this degree. I made the Foundation and Design course from CGMastersAcademy online, where I studied with the likes of Peter Han, Shannon Beaumont, Marco Bucci and Ron Lemen. From them I learned skills and knowledge in Perspective, Light and Colour, Human Figure, Design Principles, value control, character design, environment design, and animal drawing. I also have studied in Watts Atelier online from 2018, school where I have developed a deep love of Charcoal Pencils and Newsprint. From this school I have acquired skills that make me competitive in drawing the human figure, head, anatomy, composition, and Dragon Design. I can handle the anatomy of almost any part of the body, which gives me an edge in illustration. At Watts Atelier I have also received 1-on-1 private mentoring in drawing with instructor Brian Knox. I also studied some months with Colombian Artist Óscar Jaramillo, one the most respected artists from Medellín and a true master of the Turpentine and Graphite technique. And I recently finished an Illustration mentorship with Winona Nelson at SmArt Art School. I want to help the field of illustration in my country; because there are many things that one can do to improve this under-developed field in Colombia. My lifetime achievement goal is to become a Fantasy Illustrator and create an Atelier here in Colombia where I can help people become professionals in both knowledge and skill. I enjoy a lot doing master's studies and reading from painters I admire. Currently I am reading The Art Spirit (1923) by Robert Henri and learning a lot from Andrew Loomis’s book, Creative Illustration (1947). Other books I study include Alla Prima II by Richard Schmid (2013), Harley Brown’s eternal truths for every artist by Harley Brown (2001), and George Bridgman’s Constructive Anatomy (1920). My main inspiration for illustration is literature, when I read my brain is just exploding all the time with imagery, which is why I also want to create my own intellectual property based in the Mesoamerican or Iberian Cultures to tell stories and make them images. Books I have deeply enjoyed include Vampire Wars by Steven Savile (2017), The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit, and Alatriste by Arturo Pérez Reverte (1998). For my portfolio, most of my work is digital painting, but I would like to transition original illustrations to Oil paint. I’ve developed a deep love for painting through digital, but I’ve come to realize that my most appealing so-called “style” of visual communication is loose painting, a style I’m trying to develop. I started practicing oils and applying their concepts and technique to digital painting. Something I learned from mentor Jaime Martínez. Some great loose painters I admire are Greg Manchess, Winona Nelson, Cynthia Sheppard, Jeffrey Watts, and Paul Dainton. They make communicative statements through an exemplar use of brush marks and accurate and informed drawing. My sheer interest, drive, and love for this field are what make me suitable to go be hired in an entry-level job. I know will pour compromise, interest, and hard work. And although I do not have a lot of professional experience, I have a good set of skills, which can be improved upon by going through junior and entry-level jobs where I can learn hand-in-hand with art directors and my constant off-work study in Watts Atelier online, tutorials and New Masters Academy. Best, Zeb