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Serena Yoakum
Drawing
Digital Illustration
Visual Storytelling

Recent 2D animation graduate currently seeking internships and entry-level jobs!

Biography

Hello! I earned my BFA in Art and Technology and minored in Screenwriting at The Ohio State University. Currently, I am an artist and 2D animator for AfroDuck Studios, which is developing a Pan-African RGP called "Zakumba: Astraia." I've taken on a few internships, collaborations, and freelance projects along the way which taught me valuable soft skills and better workflow practices. I also work as a Production Assistant for a multimedia management and production company called WrightOne Media Group. I have a passion for storytelling, world-building, character development, and animation which make me a great fit for creative teamwork. I aspire to work in several specializations within the animation industry, but 2D character animation predominantly calls my name.

Skills

Roles

  • Advanced
  • Advanced
  • Intermediate
  • Intermediate
  • Intermediate
  • Intermediate
  • Intermediate
  • Intermediate
  • Intermediate
  • Basic
  • Basic
  • Basic

Technical Skills

  • Mastery
  • Advanced
  • Intermediate

Work Experience

2023 – Present day

Production Assistant

WrightOne Media Group (Los Angeles, CA (Remote))
Selected for the fellowship program to be an independent contractor. Supporting client projects and leadership team's endeavors related to marketing, content creation, and business development.

2020 – Present day

Character Sprite Animator/Artist

AfroDuck Studios (Dublin, Ohio (Remote))
Creating final deliverables for any computer games and digital products of the company. Deliverables include animations, storyboards, illustrations, concepts, character and creature models, etc.

2021 – 2022

Animator (Freelance)

Self-employed
Worked with a client to produce an animated commercial about 2 minutes long. Includes voice-over, storyboard, animatic, character/background/prop design, animation, and compositing.

2019 – 2021

Senior - Graphic Designer

The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
Worked for the Media, Marketing, and Communication Scholars (MMC) in the Digital Sandbox lab by creating graphics, making buttons and stickers, and teaching project groups.

2021 – 2021

Animator (Internship)

Essence Cartoon (Hilliard, Ohio (Remote))
Participated within the animation studio pipeline, encompassing scripting, storyboarding, character and background design, hand-drawn rough and clean-up animations, coloring, and compositing.

Education

2018 – 2022

BFA: Art and Technology; minor in Screenwriting

The Ohio State University

Animation

Clubs and Societies: Art Scholars; President of Art and Technology Club; Treasurer of Animation Club

2021 – 2021

Columbus College of Art & Design

Animation

HECC Cross Registration program: took ANIM 2601.03 (Pipeline and Product Fundamentals)

2017 – 2017

Savannah College of Art and Design

Unknown

Rising Star Summer Program: took 2 college-level art courses