Q: Tell us a bit about you — where do you work and what do you do?
I am currently a Senior Technical Dynamics Artist at Naughty Dog, working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. My day-to-day work covers a wide range of technical and artistic tasks, including setting up destructible assets, running cloth simulations, and rigging props for animators.
When I am not creating in-game assets, I focus on my primary passion: developing Houdini tools and workflows that streamline production and help other artists in the department work more efficiently. I also develop many other tools that simplify and accelerate production, which is where I excel.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your personal journey into games. Why did you want to get into it?
I never planned on working in games. My journey began at 14, when I wanted to become a personal trainer and started recording and editing exercise tutorials in Final Cut Pro on my MacBook. As I became more comfortable with editing, I moved on to Adobe After Effects.
While learning After Effects, I came across an ad for Cinema 4D and became obsessed with creating 3D art. I realized I could not master 3D alone, so I began building a portfolio to apply to the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. I was accepted into their Advanced program right out of high school.
I knew I wanted to learn Houdini, but I initially expected to work in film until I discovered Unreal Engine. I remember watching a teacher update lighting in real time without waiting for a render, and my mind was blown. I was used to waiting over 12 hours for a single render on my MacBook, so seeing 3D art come to life instantly completely changed my perspective.
From that moment on, I never looked back. I have devoted myself to perfecting my craft in Houdini and Unreal Engine, and that passion continues to drive my work today.
Q: What do you love about working in games and what inspires you?
Working in games requires a problem-solving mindset, and I enjoy being presented with new challenges that push me to create entirely new workflows. There is nothing more satisfying than building something that becomes a tool or system the entire team relies on.
I find much of my inspiration while playing other games. When I see a unique effect or a highly polished environment, I often pause to study how it was made and sometimes attempt to recreate it myself. One of my most successful projects was inspired by a fully dynamic growing “infection” effect in Rocket League that appears when a goal is scored. The fact that it was created in Unreal Engine 3 motivated me to recreate it using today’s more advanced tools.
The best feeling comes from watching someone interact with something I helped create. This passion began more than a decade ago when I built puzzles in Minecraft, complete with advanced contraptions and rewards for players who reached the end. Being part of games played by millions today continues that same creative drive on a larger scale.
Q: Do you have a piece of work you’re most proud of in your career and if so, what is it?
The defining project in my journey as a 3D artist is the steampunk mechanical whale I modeled for a class at Gnomon. This was the first time I truly understood what it takes to create a special piece of artwork. I spent months staying up until 4 a.m., carefully modeling every small piece and detail of the whale. While I now maintain healthier and smarter working habits, that project taught me that exceptional work requires a deep level of love and dedication. At the time, my biggest goal was to have my work featured on the Gnomon Best of Term page.
I still remember driving to a friend’s house when I received the email saying I had been selected for the Best of Term award. I had to pull over to fully process how excited and proud I felt in that moment. Whenever I doubt myself now, I think back to that project and remind myself that my best work comes when I keep pushing beyond my doubts and limits.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you early in your career?
I was fortunate to have mentors who encouraged me to find a niche within my field and focus on it with dedication. Set yourself apart by creating solutions that are undeniably useful, and study the people in your workplace who are most successful to understand why they stand out.
I noticed that the most valuable people in a studio are often those who elevate their teammates. If I discover a faster or easier way to do something, I document it and share it with everyone. The best way to develop this skill is to first understand the workflows for your own tasks, then find ways to make them more efficient and share those improvements.
I began my career creating destructible assets for games, but quickly realized many of the repetitive parts of my work could be automated through Houdini. That focus on problem-solving and workflow efficiency has shaped my career ever since.
Q: What inspired you to join Vessel Forge as a mentor and why?
There is a strong connection between teaching and creating video games. In many games, the goal is to introduce the player to a new concept or challenge, then later apply that concept to a larger, more complex objective. The best games teach these concepts in such an engaging and seamless way that the player does not even realize they are learning.
Teaching works in much the same way. It is incredibly rewarding to provide a student with a set of ideas or techniques, then see them return with a beautiful piece that applies those same principles.
Mentorship is also a two-way learning experience. I often receive questions or ideas from students that present new ways of thinking about a problem, sometimes in ways I had never considered. Being a mentor is a fulfilling challenge that creates an exciting environment for both the mentor and the student.
Q: What mentorship program are you leading for Vessel Forge?
I am leading the Technical Art mentorship at Vessel Forge, specializing in Houdini for Games.
The Tech Art mentorship will focus on procedural modeling, environment creation, systemic thinking, and Houdini Digital Asset (HDA) development. For those interested, we will also cover how to prepare assets and data in Houdini for seamless integration into Unreal Engine 5. Making impressive effects and assets is challenging, but preparing and optimizing them for game engines can be even more demanding, and this mentorship will address both.
I have developed a broad skill set specializing in dynamics and destruction for games. This mentorship will cover cloth and wire simulations, the creation of destructible assets, and rigid body simulation techniques. Together, we will create large-scale destruction set pieces that require careful orchestration to achieve the perfect level of impact.
Students will also have the opportunity to explore more technical aspects of Houdini, including VEX, custom Python scripting, and creating interactive viewer states within HDAs.
By the end of the mentorship, you will have both the tools and the problem-solving mindset needed to create any asset or effect you can imagine in Houdini.
Q: Who are the ideal candidates for this mentorship and how can they sign up?
The ideal candidate for the Tech Art mentorship has a solid understanding of Houdini fundamentals and a strong desire to push their skills further. The less time we spend on the basics of procedural workflows, the more time we can dedicate to tackling advanced ideas and sharing techniques you can use throughout your entire career. Students who are eager to learn, experiment, and challenge themselves will thrive in this environment. My goal is to provide you with the knowledge and resources to create a timeless piece of work you can share with pride for years to come.
Mastering Houdini is challenging, and I wish I had early guidance to focus on the skills that would accelerate my growth the fastest. Once you can freestyle in Houdini, meaning you can create any idea you have without relying on a tutorial, your learning curve and the quality of your work will grow exponentially. When learning alone, it is easy to hit roadblocks and lose hours searching for hidden settings or obscure solutions. This mentorship will equip you with the knowledge and tools to break through those barriers quickly and keep your momentum going.
If you’re interested in signing up for this Technical Art mentorship, you can submit your application here. Spots are limited, but if your application is approved, we’ll reach out to you and provide you with a code to purchase your program and officially begin your mentorship journey.
