Meet Tam Le | 3D Environment and Look Development Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tam Le and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tam, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
When I was little, I loved drawing fun clothes and recreating art from comics or cartoons. As I grew up, I watched a lot of animated movies and was always impressed by how they could transfer me to different worlds of wonder. However, it was not until late middle school when a thought formed in my head that animation could be a possible career. Coming from Vietnam where there was not a big animation or film industry, I knew I wanted to study abroad to chase after my dream of being a part of creating movies that would inspire people’s lives.

My journey with 3D art officially started when I took my first animation class at Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta. I fell in love with background art and creating different 3D environments that are enriched with stories. Through my time in college, I am grateful to have been a part of multiple short films and learned how to be a team player. These productions have taught me to appreciate the outcome of mixing multiple creative minds together and the discipline to commit to the process til the very end. Currently, I am pursuing a career in Environment Art and Look Development for animation and games.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m heavily inspired by the day-to-day life, the same old corners in my hometowns, and even the broken patches on the brick wall. During a color theory class in college, I was assigned to create a painting with a limited color palette following the theme of “mundane life.” That term has stuck with me ever since. I strive to be an artist who sheds light on the beauty of life that people often miss in this hurried lifestyle.

My favorite aspect of the 3D pipeline is texturing. I love analyzing several reference images and spotting all the little details that would make an object or surface unique. Then, I would meticulously paint colors and imperfections to breathe life into an empty surface, turning it into a dirty pot, a damaged wall, or a delicious sunny side up! As an artist who is deeply inspired by technology, I love approaching creative projects with procedural methods, constantly asking myself how to make a task faster to redo and easier to adjust. Doing research on the tools and how to solve problems within software is a huge part of the 3D creative process. Through my studies, I have learned to embrace the cross path of art and technology and aim to grow in both aspects.

Recently, I have been influenced by the idea that as storytellers, we need to experience different obstacles in life to be able to tell stories that are deeply moving and unheard before. Therefore, I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone and live up to the motto “Do it for the plot.” Leaving my home country Vietnam at 16 years old and coming to the US has taught me many valuable lessons. It was not an easy journey but my overall experiences have been a good blend of my peaceful childhood in Vietnam as well as my coming of age amidst the diversity of America. Nonetheless, I am excited to see my next chapter in life unfold and how it will transform me as a creative!

During my senior year, I got the chance to co-directed the short film “Persimmon Red” with my friend Alice Jiwon Yoon. We are both international students who share great love and pride in our hometown and this film is a tribute to our memories of the lands that have raised us: Korea and Vietnam. We learned more about old architecture and folklore to enable visual elements to tell the story themselves without the use of dialogue. To me, this project has reinforced my passion to share the beauty of my hometown with the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I spent most of my time in Midtown, Atlanta during college and would often visit The High Museum, the Atlantic Station, or check out different shops along Peach Tree Street. The High Museum also offers free admission every second Sunday of each month making it a very affordable and fun option to visit if you are on a budget. Moreover, I have heard that there are a lot of great hiking spots right outside of Atlanta, and recently got the chance to visit Raven Cliffs Trailhead. It is a great way to take a break from the busy city lifestyle and allow yourself a moment to connect with nature. After hiking, you could also grab a nice meal or boba milk tea in the Duluth area before coming back to downtown Atlanta!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am thankful to my parents and host family for always believing in me and constantly supporting me in my career. Not everyone is fortunate enough to receive such support from their family when choosing to pursue art. Moreover, my artistic journey lifted off thanks to my art teacher in Vietnam – thầy Vương Đình Duy. For seven years, I took art lessons from Mr. Duy and grew in my creative thinking, my relationship with art, and explored various approaches to different art mediums. He has given me a strong foundation in traditional art which I rely on through every step of my digital art career. Next, I am also thankful for my host mom and my high school art teacher, Mrs. Webb. She has helped me navigate my artistic journey in the US and has always been the biggest supporter of my works!

Website: https://tamleanimation.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayumi.le/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tam-le-42424a203/

Other: ArtStation: www.artstation.com/kayumi_le