We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shelby Hayes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shelby, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

One of the most unexpected challenges on my journey into the animation industry has been navigating the sudden and steep downturn in the job market.

I graduated with a degree in Visual Development for Animation in late 2019, just as the world was on the brink of shutdown in 2020. As a fresh graduate, finding my footing was a daunting task. Despite the animation industry holding steady, breaking in was still tough. I poured my energy into refining my portfolio and applying to every job and internship I could find, driven by my passion and the belief that my efforts would eventually pay off.

Fast forward to 2022, and I found myself balancing small unpaid art projects, freelance work, and a job at a coffee shop. Despite relentless applications, I faced rejection after rejection. Then, a glimmer of hope appeared: a friend from college mentioned her studio needed a Background Artist, my area of expertise. I applied, went through a couple interviews, and finally landed my first studio gig. The project was already halfway done, and my role was temporary, but I was ecstatic. It felt like the start of my career.

As my contract neared its end, the Director praised my work and invited me back for the next season. I was over the moon, anticipating a full contract and a more secure future. But as I began applying for other gigs to fill the gap, the animation world was hit with massive layoffs and show cancellations, leaving many artists, including myself, in limbo. My show, too, was canceled.

Now, I’ve been unemployed for about a year, waiting for the industry to recover. I love animation and the collaborative effort that goes into storytelling. Watching the industry struggle is heartbreaking. The current threats from AI and corporate decisions only add to the uncertainty for many artists.

Despite this, I remain dedicated to my craft and supportive of my fellow animation workers. It may seem stubborn to keep pushing forward in such a challenging time, but that’s the essence of being an artist. I continue to work hard, driven by the belief that our stories need to be told and that the industry will bounce back.

Oh, also, I’m back at the coffee shop.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello! My name is Shelby Hayes, a Visual Development Artist from sunny Southern California. My love with animation began when I was just a kid, glued to the TV watching Spongebob and Avatar: The Last Airbender every weekend, despite my parents’ best efforts to steer me towards sports. Their quirky approach to discipline was grounding me based on my grades. An A meant nothing, a B would ground me for a day, a C for a weekend, a D for a week, and an F for a whole month. As an avid doodler who didn’t absorb much classroom knowledge, I spent many summers grounded. The only reprieve was playing sports.

Being confined indoors wasn’t all bad. As a mildly awkward kid, it gave me the perfect excuse to immerse myself in what I loved most: art. Countless days and nights were spent filling sketchbooks, listening to my favorite music, and watching cartoons. It was awesome.

When college rolled around, I followed my passion to California State University, Long Beach, where I dived deep into learning the magic behind the cartoons I adored. Graduating in 2019, I’ve been chasing studio work ever since. In the interim, I’ve worked on indie projects, including a show called Bit Wars, started by fellow Long Beach grads. Now, I’m the Lead Background Artist for our comic, set to debut this year. I also had a brief but fulfilling stint as a Background Artist on Ten Year Old Tom at ShadowMachine—my first full-time paid studio gig.

In my free time, I treat art like a quest in a video game, constantly leveling up my skills through various challenges. I love month-long challenges like Plein Airpril, where I do a full environment study every day in April. I’m also deep into a color challenge, creating full background paintings with characters, each dominated by a single color, representing the colors of the rainbow. Additionally, I’m crafting a cult-themed story, with art to be released soon.

For years, my focus was solely on building my portfolio for studio jobs. While that remains important, I’m rediscovering the joy of making art for myself again.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The best way to support artists, in my opinion, is to follow them online and engage with the ongoing discourse within their industry. Unfortunately, the current animation ecosystem is struggling, and many artists need assistance. Last year, the public showed great support for actors during their strike, but now animation professionals need similar backing. Studios are trying to replace many talented artists with AI, which threatens the creativity and ingenuity that human artists bring to their work. When we allow this shift, we all lose the unique artistry that enriches our favorite shows and movies.

By supporting artists, sharing their work, and raising awareness about these issues, we can make a significant impact. Additionally, many artists have Patreons or online shops where you can purchase their work. Supporting them through these channels can make a real difference.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative might sound cheesy, but it’s the never-ending journey of learning. There’s always a new painting style to try or a cool story to build. Every piece I create is a chance to learn and grow, and by the end, it feels like I’ve completed an exciting journey with new knowledge for the next one.

A college professor once told me that if I ever think I know how to draw everything, then there’s no point in creating anymore. Even the best artists always have something new to learn.

Being a creative means always evolving and looking for new skills to add to your skill tree.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shelbyhayesart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyhayesart/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbyhayesart
• Twitter: https://x.com/shelbyhayesart

Image Credits

Shelby Hayes