Anita Clipston

Anita is a Compositor and Senior Paint Artist at Industrial Light and Magic and Lucasfilm in Vancouver. She has worked on Star Wars VII Force Awakens, Tomorrowland and Jurassic World.

How has your creative practice evolved since studying at Norwich?

Working in the visual effects industry definitely draws on my animation and drawing skills.

I’m currently learning classical realism style drawing and painting, so my skill set keeps growing on top of my Norwich University foundation. I didn’t have computer training when I graduated but that is now essential for the industry.

What kind of tasks do you work on in your commercial practice?

In the VFX field I’m able to combine the visual language of art and photography with the technical process of computer animation. Day to day I work on digital paint, which involves removing, replacing and enhancing practical photography elements to help with the integration with computer-generated assets. A strong traditional painting background has helped me to recreate people, clothing and sets in full motion.

What is a typical day in your studio like?

Long! I am not going to lie. It is a very high-paced industry, with constant reviews to address the workload for the next few hours. Quality control is a very important part of the process too. It’s crucial to have an eye for that one pixel that might be off – even if no one will actually see it, the work has to be pixel perfect!

Do you have any tips for budding VFX professionals?

Spend time at University finding out where you want to be within the industry and then don’t stray from the path, no matter how hard it is.