Illustration Student Wins Major Animation Deal
Monday, 20 February 2012
An illustration student at the University of Worcester has won a prestigious competition to illustrate an entire series of children’s characters.
Maria Gonzalez entered the competition on the advice of her lecturer and was delighted that her interpretation of a specific character was selected as the winner.
The competition, run by In the Picture, sought to find a talented undergraduate or postgraduate student from across the UK, with winning artist contracted to design and create a full character series that will be developed towards a range of children’s books, toys, platform game and animated series.
Participants were given the brief of a character named Sergeant Nutty, a militant, super organised, over energetic character who loved to create armies from inanimate objects.
Twenty-two-year-old Maria, who hails from the Basque Country in Spain, said: “I only had about a week from finding out about the competition until the deadline to design a character to fit the brief.
“I couldn’t believe it when my illustration was chosen as the winner. I have entered many competitions before but never won, so this is fantastic; such a wonderful opportunity for me.”
Maria is now working with the publishers on the illustrations for the series and said she was enjoying the chance to work on a live project.
“This is fantastic experience for me,” she said. “To get the chance to see my drawings actually being used in professional works is incredible. I am so pleased.”
Maria is hoping to complete a Masters degree after completing her undergraduate with the ultimate aim of becoming a full time illustrator.
Piet Grobler, Course Leader for Illustration, said: “Maria understands characterisation and she is a very skilled draughtsperson. Added to that, the fact that she also included Animation modules in her course and developed a very good understanding of sequence and movement – she has it all. I knew she could do it.”
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