Nicole Keane is a painter & sculptor based in Aotearoa New Zealand

In my personal work I tend to focus more on whimsy, color, and emotion, with pieces that convey a sense of life through their details.

Inspired by the style of stop-motion and Studio Ghibli films, I use photorealism techniques to bring to life fantastical characters and elements.❖

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Growing up with a mild obsession over Final Fantasy games, and a healthy dose of early 90s CGI, it only made sense that I wanted to learn how to make what I saw on screen for myself.

After a summer course learning Maya, I was hooked. Many years later I would get my big break at Industrial Light & Magic, working as a generalist on Avengers: Age of Ultron.

In 2016, and with a few films under my belt, my partner and I moved to New Zealand, which I now call home. In the following years I juggled many hats between Wētā Digital, Wētā Workshop, and then back.

After having kids though, the desire to step away from a traditional career was strong, so I decided to start up the studio. This allows me to create more physical art, while having the flexibility to spend time with my family. A win-win! ❖

FAQs

  • Yes, I send out a monthly postcard to members at my Patreon. Unfortunately, the cost of running a subscription model through Squarespace was too high. The postcard features a new painting done by me each month and is exclusive to members! ❖

  • Currently I’m loving Blender and ZBrush for all things 3D printing and sculpture. I also use Photoshop, Marvelous Designer, and Substance Painter as needed. ❖

  • Sign up for the monthly studio newsletter to stay in the loop on new product releases! You may also see sneak peeks of upcoming projects. ❖

  • Yes! A B.F.A. in Visual Effects, with a minor in Technical Direction. ❖