JDs Portfolio and other artwork

I have been working in the commercial animation industry for over 15 years, with most of my work in the traditional/2D animation department at LAIKA/house in Portland, Oregon. Starting at the studio in 1999 when it was Will Vinton Studios, I have worked in many capacities in a number of departments therein. I’ve had the opportunity to work on many interesting projects encompassing a vast number of traditional 2D and stop-motion animated commercials, music videos and feature films. Most recently I have been the Lead Ink & Paint artist in the 2D department specializing in using Toon Boom’s Harmony software system to bring the commercial projects from pencil drawn state to final color with camera work to enhance the visual stories. Projects and areas of specialty range from prop builder and set painter/builder on Will Vinton Studios’ Chili’s Restaurants’ “Assembly Required” stop-motion commercial, my first project, to lead assistant animator and lead digital ink and paint artist on the 2D animated end credits of Laika’s “The BoxTrolls” feature film, my most recent Laika project.