Open to opportunities

Kyle Mendez

@thevaultdweller

Message

I am a passionate illustrator and art graduate skilled in digital and traditional illustration.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I'm seeking entry-level creative roles where I can apply traditional and digital illustration skills to entertainment, design, or media projects; I value collaborative teams, hands-on project work, and opportunities to learn VFX/compositing.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art from California State University, Northridge, earning a 3.7+ GPA and training in Digital Compositing and animation principles. I specialize in both traditional and digital illustration, with strong foundations in pencil, ink, and charcoal.

Since 2023 I've worked as a freelance illustrator creating character art and digital commissions, and I have trained in The Foundry’s Nuke to complement still images with compositing and special effects. I am eager to bring my artistic skills to collaborative projects across entertainment, design, or media and to grow through hands-on creative work.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Freelance Illustrator

Current

Self-Employed

Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 5 months)

Created character art and digital illustrations for online commissions and managed client communications to ensure on-time delivery of commissioned pieces.

Storyboarding Nuke Adobe Photoshop Client Communication

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

California State University, Northridge

Bachelor of Arts, Art

2020 - 2025

Grade: 3.7+

Activities and societies: Relevant coursework: Digital Compositing, Traditional Drawing, Animation Principles. Software: The Foundry's Nuke, Adobe Photoshop. Freelance Illustrator (2023-Present); portfolio in progress.

Bachelor of Arts in Art with coursework in Digital Compositing, Traditional Drawing, and Animation Principles; maintained a 3.7+ GPA and trained in The Foundry's Nuke.