Instructor Bio: Vaughn Smith

 
 
Vaughn Smith Biography

Vaughn Smith is a concept and production cg modeler, both mechanical and organic, texture artist, look development & particle simulation technical director for the games and Visual Effects industries.
 
Vaughn has worked at Industrial Light and Magic as a Creature Modeler and Texture Artist on films such as Jurassic World, Unbroken, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Tommorowland. He has also worked for Lightstream Animation on films such as The Moon and The Sun.

Vaughn currently works at Tippett Studios as a Modeler/Texture Artist, and for AnatomyTools.com as a free-lance artist, and an assistant anatomy instructor.
 
http://www.vaughnsmithart.com/
 
 
Resume

- Tippett Studios 2015-current
• Modeling & Texturing
 
- Anatomytools.com - 2013-current
Character Artist, Concept Modeler, Look Dev, Technical Director
• Product PreVisualization Textures and Renders on 1:6th Male Anatomy Figures and Variations
• Product PreVisualization Modeling, Texturing, and Renders, from Andrew Cawrse Designs for client Cirque du Soleil
Anatomy Assistant Instructor
• Anatomy critiques, demonstration
• Human Anatomy Workshops - Traditional Sculpting - AnatomyTools.com 2012-2013
• The Masters Workshop with ZBrush, 2012  - AnatomyTools.com, Pixologic & Gnomon
• Mastering Human Anatomy with ZBrush,  April 2013 AnatomyTools.com & Gnomon
• Mastering Human Anatomy with ZBrush at Valve Corporation,  February 2014 AnatomyTools.com
• Provided ZBrush in house training to AnatomyTools.com staff.
 
- Industrial Light & Magic 2014 / Lucasfilm
• Modeling, Texturing & Animated Muscle corrective shapes
 
- Lightstream Animation Studios- Petaluma, CA- Feb. 2010- May 2013
3D Modeler
• Modeled main characters, environments, and prop assets for commercials and TV projects. Other work included concept art, texturing, cloth simulation, particle FX, and lighting.
 
- Character Modeler/ Creature Designer- Moon and Sun 2012 (Film: Not Yet Released)
• Design hero creature Mermaid from Iain McCaig artwork and actress Fan Bing Bing photography
• Model hero creature Mermaid from my approved creature designs, and prepare for texturing and rigging
 
Character Modeler- Witches 2011 (Film: Not Yet Released)
• Sculpted 4 main characters from Brian Froud designs
• Facial modeling blendshapes
 
Simulation & Effects TD - SharkNight 2012 (Film)
• Cloth/Skin Simulation on fish bait shots
• Particle Simulation on several underwater shots
 
 
- Academy of Art University- San Francisco, CA- September 2010- current
ZBrush Modeling Instructor
• Teach undergraduate and graduate students modeling in ZBrush, focusing on Anatomy and character modeling techniques for film, cinematics, and video games.
 
Maya 101 Instructor
• Teach undergraduate and graduate students basic Maya skills in modeling, UVs, texturing, rigging, animation, and lighting.
 
 
Technical Skills
• Maya: ZBrush: Mari: 3DSMax: Mudbox: Photoshop: Nuke: Traditional Sculpture: Drawing
 
 
Awards
• 1st Place Organic Modeling in Academy of Art University Spring Show 2009
• 2nd Place Organic Modeling in Academy of Art University Spring Show 2008
 
 
Education
Academy Art University- 2005-2009
San Francisco, CA
BFA  School of Animation Visual Effects., 3D Modeling