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Nicholas Kennon

Nicholas Kennon

Phoenix, AZ, US

 

About 

As a Game Artist, I constantly seek to learn, to understand, and to further my own skills as an artist. I am a very hard working individual that is committed and dedicated to the work that I am tasked with completing in a timely manner and on a tight deadline.

I also work very well with teams or a group of people, being a people person myself I get along with anybody and strive for us to meet our goals. As a friendly and approachable team member I will not hesitate to offer constructive feedback, propose ideas and offer suggestions that can help us all out to get the best result possible.

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Since I was younger, I have always been fascinated with video games and the process that went on behind the scenes as to how they came to be.

During high school I took two 3D game design courses at a local community college where we used the Game Maker engine, which is a great tool to start getting used to making your own games with its simplistic and understandable visual programming language.

What really drove me and motivated me to become a Game Artist would have to have been that aforementioned experience. One of the greatest memories that i've had in my life was when I was able to see the fruition of what comes when you make a video game, the personal satisfaction and sense of accomplishment of course, but what really drives me still to this day and what motivates me is when I saw the reaction on the faces of those students that played the game that I had created and just how much enjoyment they got out of it.

That feeling was the greatest reward, and I can only hope to do that again and again.

Employment 

HeckleSports, Phoenix, AZ, US, Environmental Artist Intern

I worked on 3D environmental assets for an upcoming game entitled, "KickAFieldGoal", for a sports networking company on a tight schedule

Jan 2012 - current
 

Best Buy, Overland Park, KS, US, Cashier - Customer Service

Took care of customers and checked them out during the winter peak retail season

Sep 2002 - Feb 2003
 

Education 

The Art Institute of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, US, Bachelors, Game Art and Design

During my stay at that school I gained numerous hours and project experience using programs such as 3D Studio Max, Maya, Unity, Unreal, Photoshop, Zbrush, and other 2D and 3D programs/engines. Having graduated with a 3.6 GPA and the only student to graduate with honors in my program, it is a testament to my hard work, dedication, and commitment towards both meeting deadlines and producing quality work on an intense tight schedule.

The degree that I earned while at the Art Institute of Phoenix has taught me many different techniques such as high-poly modeling and the projection process required to make it a game ready asset, the texturing and unwrapping of the model, and the implementation and importation of the product into a variety of different game engines such as Unreal, and Unity.

Sep 2008 - Mar 2012
 

Awards 

Graduated with Honors, Award

Only student to graduate with honors in the BA Game Art and Design Program at the Art Institute of Phoenix for the Spring 2012 Quarter

2012
 

Best Portfolio in Show - Game Art and Design, Award

At Graduation, I received the award of Best Portfolio in Show for the Game Art and Design Program at the Art Institute of Phoenix

2012
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills