We were lucky to catch up with Camilla Boston recently and have shared our conversation below.

Camilla, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I was homeschooled for the entirety of my life up until college, so preparations for my degree were entirely in my own hands.
From learning how to properly calculate my own GPA, to curating my self-taught portfolio work through the guidance of the internet, I truly didn’t know if any of my applications would be accepted, but I was able to start my college career in 2019.
I come from a low income family, and I was determined to make my Mom’s sacrifices for me to attend college worth as much as possible.
I worked multiple jobs throughout my school years, served as president of the CCAD animation student collective, had multiple internships, and graduated as the outstanding senior in animation for the class of 2023.
While I may have needed to find a healthier balance, I am beyond grateful for the opportunities I was presented with, and am so happy that I took hold of them.
I am a huge advocate of the fact that artists with non-traditional backgrounds not only have a place within the animation industry, but are a vital part of it.

Camilla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello! My name is Camilla Boston, I’m a Character Designer, Visual Development Artist, and 2D Animator.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Animation from the Columbus College of Art and Design in the spring of 2023, and was offered a job with Aha media at the end of my senior year.

I am currently serving with a studio as a part time character designer and 2D animator, while freelancing and selling my work at art shows on the side.

While I genuinely love every part of the 2D pipeline, Character Design is biggest passion, and the place I feel my personality and passion shines through the most. My work is focused on the off-kilter and energetic, and I love getting to highlight nuances and quirks in each of my designs that makes them feel alive.

Outside of animation, my main passions are Writing poetry, spending time with my cat Crumbs, wood carving, and collecting obscure fashion dolls.

I am currently available for part time or freelance work, and would love to help your projects shine!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As someone currently working a part-time studio job and freelancing on the side, I find It’s extremely important for me to find something that I genuinely connect with in any given assignment. Whether it’s a love for the story or style on display, or something as simple as discovering a new technique, I believe there’s merit to be found in every project. I’m currently working on expanding ideas for a pitch deck, and have been allowing myself to explore some themes that are deeply personal to me. I don’t want to tell a story just for the sake of it, but because I have something I really want to say.
Animation is such an incredibly versatile and limitless medium, and the opportunities to find meaning within our own projects and those assigned to us are just as limitless.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’d say the biggest lesson (That I am still learning) is that my validity as a creative is more than my direct output in any given moment.

throughout my high school years I would sketch for at least five hours a day after work and school, even when spending time with friends and family, or during important events.

I found that the workload was completely unsustainable after my freshman year of college. With my extracurriculars and jobs, on top of self admitted perfectionism, I worked myself into developing carpal tunnel, and was unable to hold a pencil properly for weeks post graduation.

Throughout college, and thanks to the wonderful friends I made during my time there, I learned how much merit can be found in fully experiencing moments, away from my sketchbook and tablet.

Not only has it improved my personal health and life, but my work itself has become stronger for it, with my new experiences turning into constant inspiration for projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://camillaboston.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyclopsarts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilla-boston-b638051a7

Image Credits
Nick Osborn