Studying University-level Design and Animation classes in Hong Kong: Rhonda Tam

Rhonda Tam '18 participated in Savannah College of Art and Design's 'Rising Star' Program at their Hong Kong campus, having the chance to immerse herself in creative classes. Read about her experiences in the following interview.
What did you study?
Rhonda: During the summer, I studied Design 100 and Animation 180, university-accredited courses, taught by SCAD professors. These classes were 5 hours a day, for 5 weeks, and I got to earn university credits.
 
Why did you decide to apply for this program?
Rhonda: I’ve always considered a career in Art and Design. I wanted to take an intensive one month course at an Art University, which would allow me to obtain a truer sense of the environment. 
 
Where were the other participants from? 
Rhonda: Many were from the United States, and others from Puerto Rico, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Israel. I really enjoyed meeting new people! They were all so friendly, and it was so interesting to get to become friends with people from all over the world! Despite our cultural differences, we were all students with a strong passion for art which allowed us to connect easily.
 
What did you enjoy most? 
Rhonda: Doing art everyday for a month, for me, was very enjoyable and helped me discover my true passion for the arts. Even though I stayed up long nights doing homework, I loved it. It was very relaxing and interesting for me because I did not have to take my mind off art at all; my mind was constantly generating new ideas and using the creative side. 
Also, meeting new people from all other the globe was such a gift. I became best friends with my roommates and fellow art students. The friendships I had were so unique because we all had one thing in common: we all considered pursuing art and had a passion for it. The connections I made with these students opened my eyes and gave me millions more reasons to smile.
 
Can you describe some of the things you learned?
Rhonda: How to properly draw the human body - it was interesting to see my progression over a short period of time!  Walking into Animation, I was terrified because sketching people was not my strength. For 1.5 to 2 hours each class, a model came in and struck poses as we quickly sketched the anatomy. And through these sketches, discovering the movement of the body, and creating our own walk cycles with our own created characters, I overcame my weakness and surprised myself.
Moreover, I applied my knowledge of the elements and principles of design, and also learned how to use Adobe Photoshop and other creative software effectively, which was great because our generation is increasingly using technology.  
I’d definitely recommend anyone who is deciding to pursue a career in the Art and Design field to take this! It was definitely a life-changer for me, and it made me realize how much art makes me smile and keeps me going, especially at 3 am in the morning while completing my animation walk cycle!
  
And lastly, why do you enjoy creating art?
Rhonda: Art is my escape from the world, from reality. It brings me into a whole new dimension and when I do art, I can only do one thing at a time. Other than listening to music, I can’t direct any of my energy into anything but doing the art in front of me. 
Art is another form of communication. Words are powerful, but images, colour, and the visual appearances of a creation that travel to the eye can be even more influential. I love experiencing the process of creating a new piece each time. Brainstorming ideas, creating drafts and sketches, and exploring new techniques never fails to bring me excitement! 
I enjoy creating art that brings a different perspective of something into the spotlight. Being able to do this allows my imagination to wander anywhere with unlimited freedom. 
Also, Art connects me to the world in various ways. For example, if I’d never discovered my passion for art, I’d never have applied for the SCAD Summer Program, meaning I would have never been able to meet all these amazing people or learned so many interesting techniques. 
Back

School Information

4195 Alexandra Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 4C6
Tel: 604-738-9016
Support LFA | Contact Us | School Calendar

Social

Search