AMBER KENNESON
CHARACTER DESIGNER
(Password: AKennesondesign)
amber.c.kenneson@gmail.com ● Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/amberkenneson ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-kenneson/
WORK EXPERIENCE
January 2024 - present: Designer and Illustrator, Freelance, Low Desk Media & Crosspaint TV
Responsible for designing & illustrating style frames, key frames, and key character poses; concepting visualization and storyboard revisions as needed.
June 2023 - present: Character Designer, Freelance, TWR Motion
Responsible for character design and establishing art direction for characters on the current production; responsibilities also include creating the character style guide.
August - October 2023: Visual Development Artist and Illustrator, Freelance, BibleProject
Responsible for visual development to establish the overall look of the project, helping build the style guide for the project, and creating assets for use by other designers as well as animators. Also responsible for designing & illustrating style frames, as well as providing feedback and art direction for other illustrators on the team.
December 2022 - March 2023: Design for an NDA Motion Design Project
Responsible for designing & illustrating style frames, key frames, and key character poses; responsibilities also included some storyboarding and providing feedback and art direction for another designer on the project.
March 2020 - October 2022: Character Designer, Freelance, SHED, Montreal
2022: Revelations 2022, IGA commercial
2022: Ete 2022, IGA commercial
2021: Pitch for unannounced project
2021: Noel, IGA commercial
2021: Canadiens Spring, IGA commercial
2021: EEF, IGA commercial
2021: Short film pitch
2021: Ete (Summer), IGA commercial
2021: Compliments, IGA commercial
2021: Canadiens, IGA commercial
2020: Made with Love, short film
2020: Évolution, IGA commercial with SHED
February 2017 - present: Director of Academic Affairs at CG Master Academy (CGMA)
At CGMA, my department is responsible for supervising and managing all instructors (who are all entertainment industry professionals) as well as overseeing curriculum development. As the Director of Academic Affairs, I oversee the department operations and personnel, manage and train the Academic Affairs team, and directly work with instructors on developing their curriculum. I also work with other departments to improve interdepartmental operations and to continually improve CGMA’s classroom platform for staff, instructors, and students.
March - August 2021: Character Design & Illustration, Freelance, Die Happy, Inc.
March - October 2018: Character Designer, Freelance, in development project with Deluxe Digital
Nov 2010 - August 2014: Character Designer, Visual Development Artist, Background Designer, Freelance, Mechem Media/Gloomers LLC
Nov 2010 - May 2014: Mya & the Mashups, character design, background design
Feb 2011 - Apr 2013: The Gloomers, character design, background design, character revisions
Jan - Apr 2013: Sneaky & Stinky, character revisions
Jan - Feb 2013: Van Ants, character revisions, logo design
Jan - Apr 2012: Unannounced mobile game, character design, character paint, background design
Feb 2012: One Million Dollar Man, character revisions
June 2011: Cloud 8, character revisions, background design
Jan - Feb 2011: Freddy the Flea, character design
EDUCATION
CG Master Academy (CGMA) 2017 - 2022
2022 - Costume Concept Design course with Phillip Boutte Jr.
2022 - Character Design Mentorship with Bill Robinson
2022 - The Art of Color & Light course with Chris Brock
2020 - Character Design Mentorship with Sang Jun Lee
2017-2019 - Character Design courses with Nate Wragg
American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory 2005 - 2007
MFA / Master of Fine Arts, Production Design
Hanover College 2001 - 2005
BA / Bachelor of Arts, Studio Art & Art History
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Character Design
Costume Design
Prop Design
Color Design
Visual Development
Illustration
Leadership & Management
Research & Reference Gathering
SOFTWARE
Adobe Photoshop
Procreate
Adobe Illustrator
ShotGrid
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
Muay Thai Kickboxing (Practicing 10 years, Taught for 3)
Installation Design & Construction