digital matte artist

about meshapeimage_1_link_0
matte paintingmatte_painting.htmlmatte_painting.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0
demo reeldemo_reel.htmldemo_reel.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0
short filmshort_film.htmlshort_film.htmlshapeimage_4_link_0
resumeresume.htmlresume.htmlshapeimage_5_link_0
 

Welcome to my online portfolio.  My name is Heather Abels, and I'm a digital environments artist and matte painter based in southern California. 



I was born and raised in western New York until my family grew tired of the never ending snow and ice.  We moved to warmer climates in Columbia, Tennessee when I was 13. Tennessee was my teenage home, and where my professional aspirations began to take root.  For me, the visual effects bug was sparked by a show that aired in 1994 called "Movie Magic".  After that, I saw Toy Story, the making of Jurassic Park, and I knew my calling.  Thus my journey began.



I earned my BS in Engineering Technology at East Tennessee State University, the only school in the state that taught any computer graphics courses.  At the time the school touted being only one of 7 schools in the nation that had SGI boxes, and I was sold.  After graduation I moved worked as a graphic design artist and eventually as design director of The Voice magazine until I saved enough money for the move to California.  I knew that if I wanted to work in the industry, I had to move to the coast. 



I entered the masters program for visual effects at the Academy of Art University in Fall 2004.  I got my first job in January 2006 at Matte World Digital where I focused on developing my eye and skill set. Since then, I have hopped around several studios, completed my MFA, and relocated to Los Angeles with my husband in 2008.