Erica Adamek

Artist Statement

Hi there! I'm Erica Adamek, a 3D artist and animator. My senior project, Butter Beats, served as an opportunity for me to better understand the various stages of the animation pipeline, while building upon the skills required to make a 3D animated short. Although I enjoy working in many genres (such as fantasy, horror, etc.), I was greatly inspired by the saturated and cartoony aesthetics from media of the Y2K era when developing my thesis. I'm very interested in utilizing 2D design within 3D assets, and wanted to explore how I could incorporate these elements with the nostalgic media that inspired this project. 

My thesis character, named Butter, represents the authentic expression of movement and emotion that I often find difficult to express. Butter's toon-ish design and emoticon-like expressions highlight her eccentric personality, which she flaunts with confidence. As I continue to develop this character and concept post-graduation, it is my hope that Butter inspires others to feel comfortable in their personalities and bodies, regardless of how unconventional they may appear to others.

Click here to see the Butter Beats behind-the-scenes demo reel.