After Effects Animation and Photoshop lessons from Sydney-based graduate with 12 years of experience

Find out more about MD

• Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  The very first time I used a computer was my elder brother's computer back in 1997. I was 7 years old. Once or twice a week he used to train me and my cousins Microsoft Word, Excel, Microsoft Paint. Then I had my own computer back in 2001 and trained myself how to use various programs. The very first animation I made in Macromedia Flash 5 (taken over by Adobe now and known as Adobe Animate CC) back in 2003. At the same time I taught myself how to compose music using Frooty Loops (now known as FL Studio). I had no internet available in my area and there were no resources available so all of this softwares I taught myself.

• 2) What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  When I used my very first computer in 1997, back then it was a dream for people to have such a system configuration! I had 128mb Ram (yes, you read it right!), motherboard built-in 64mb graphics with audio, and a 13gb Hard Drive! Using that PC I composed music and made animation. Then upgraded in 2004 to 256mb ram, 40gb Hard Drive. Now the smartphone we carry has a minimum of 16gb Ram and 256gb space.
  
  I started learning 3d Studio Max for 3d Animation in 2004 but it didn't keep me interested that long because it took 10-15 minutes to preview a single frame on screen that I'm creating. If I can't see what I'm making, how can I be passionate to work on that? So I quit as a 3d Animator, but now things have changed. There are many user-friendly 3d softwares that are easy to learn. Blender is a free 3d software that can produce industry level production quality 3d animation. I believe Unreal Engine is a game changing software that will make a new revolution in the 3d art world for its real time 3d rendering and lighting. Also Virtual Reality (VR) is the next technology that will replace our smartphones.

• Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  The very first time I was interested in animation was when I watched some title animation for a local TV news in 1997. I never understood how they made those title animations for news, unless I finally found in 2008 they used Adobe After Effects to create those title animations. I started using After Effects in 2009 and till now it's helping me to make my career based on that software. Beside some other business related qualifications I graduated with a Diploma of Screen & Media 3d Maya animation from Victory College of Design (VCOD) Sydney in 2014. Then I graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts major with drawing, painting and sculpture from Nepean College Kingswood TAFE Sydney in 2015. I'm working as a freelance animator and I'm a Creative Art Teacher. I have various students aged between 6 years to 57 years old, most of them are from Australia, America and Canada. At the same time I'm training myself to use 3d programs such as Blender and Unreal Engine, doing digital 3d painting in Oculus Quest 2 VR. Which I believe will revolutionize the artistic world.

• Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  I don't have any very specific role model, but I observed their life very closely to get my most valuable lesson of life. When I was in year 7, suddenly I felt that studying hard will not make me perfect or allow me to express completely as a person who I am and what I think. When I listen to music, I enjoy the music rather than trying to find the person who made it if he / she has a degree. I enjoy their art, their creation, I don't follow their education or degree. The person you mentioned above on the question, all of them are college dropped out students who found true of themselves. When I realized this concept in year 7, since then everything has changed and I always focussed on my skills rather than my degrees. Instead of blindly following someone, I observe and take lessons from everyone to improve myself better than yesterday bit by bit. All you need is a spark from something that will make you passionate.

• What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  I'll say - Nothing is complicated if you are passionate about something. If you have passion and want to come out one step at a time from your comfort zone, you will find everything is easy. We always should find something to do that interests us. If you are passionate about something, turn it into your profession so that you are not stuck in the 9am-5pm Mon-Friday job's Matrix. Find your passion and enjoy what you love to do. Only then you will feel alive.

• What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  I love composing music and writing songs. I have written more than 40 songs and created a lot of instrumental music. I also love playing chess, watching movies and so on. I love teaching people creative stuff too.