Available to hire
Hello! I am a seasoned illustrator and designer with high-profile experience translating stories into vivid, character-driven visuals for children and family audiences. My illustrations read quickly to a young reader while inviting lingering and rereading, revealing new details with every turn of the page.
Each story calls for its own visual language, so I tailor composition, color, and rhythm to amplify the story’s personality, collaborating with writers and editors every step of the way. My work combines theatrical composition, handcrafted sensibility, and digital finesse to create expressive characters, rich environments, and narrative layouts that engage and delight children and parents alike.
Skills
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Creative Director, Designer and Illustrator at Willionaire Design
January 1, 2000 - PresentVisualize, develop, and create a variety of award-winning designs across the full spectrum of media for widely recognized brands including Dreamworks, Laika, Inc., Mattel, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Co., and Warner Bros. Provide art direction and design services including, animation, concept and book illustration, development drawings, final art, 3D and tangible models, backgrounds, stage-set and prop designs for film, television, web, educational events, theme-park attractions, concert tours and other live experiences such as Disney's "Magic Happens", "Mickey & the Magician", "THOR: The Treasures of Asgard", "Tangled", and "Aladdin" Spectaculars, "Disneyland 50th Anniversary Celebration", "Mythica", Disney's "Paint the Night" and Universal Studios' "Spectacle Night Parade" Electrical Parades, as well as previz for "Harry Potter", Concert Tours for Barbra Streisand, "NIN", "Jeff Dunham's Scrooged-Up Holiday Special” (2024) and more. Official site with samples and videos at www.willionaire.net/Will_Main.html
Set Designer (credited) Background and Visual Development Artist (uncredited) on 'Coraline' (2009) at Laika, Inc.
September 1, 2006 - September 1, 2008'Coraline' (2009) - Set Designer (credited) Background and Visual Development Artist (uncredited) on Laika, Inc.’s Academy Award nominated animated feature film. Responsible for backgrounds, concept illustrations, models (real and virtual), drafting of sets, as well as selected storyboards, previz animations, prop designs, graphics, and final painting/print finishes for all interior sets and exterior background flats. Instructed co-workers on SketchUp , Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop techniques.
Senior Art Director at The Walt Disney Co., - The Disney Store, Inc.
October 1, 1997 - October 1, 2025The Walt Disney Co., - Senior Art Director, The Disney Store, Inc. Designed and supervised worldwide production of stores' architectural elements and all Disney theme and identity pieces such as 3-D character sculptures, backgrounds, murals, facades, props, signs and graphics, etc., for "rollout" stores and unique sites that include award winning locations in England, France, Italy, Japan, & Chicago. In charge of all aspects of process from concept through completion including concept and background paintings and illustrations, turnarounds, drafting, sculpting, field art direction, as well as management of staff artists, outside consultants, and vendors.
Set Designer, Draftsman, Illustrator, Modelmaker, Storyboard Artist, Asst. Art Director and Art Director at The Walt Disney Co., Disneyland, Disney Entertainment, and Disney Theatrical Group
December 31, 1989 - September 29, 1997Set Designer, Draftsman, Modelmaker, on "Disney Afternoon Live!" attractions. Storyboard Artist, Assistant Art Director, Modelmaker, Draftsman, and Prop Designer on the award-winning 'Disney’s Beauty & the Beast on Broadway' (1992 -1994) for Disney Theatrical Group. Assistant Art Director on "Mickey's Nutcracker" stage show, and "Aladdin" Parades, and Art Director and Prop Designer on Disney Christmas Parades from 1993 through 1997. Entertainment Designer for "Lion King Celebration", Asst. Designer for "Lion King Parade" & Stage shows, "New Tomorrowland", and, with W.D.I. Imagineers, Designer, Modelmaker, and Asst. Art Director on "Ariel's Grotto" attraction.
Education
at Cypress College, Cypress, California
January 11, 2030 - October 18, 2025 at Screen Cartoonist's Guild, North Hollywood, California
January 11, 2030 - October 18, 2025 at University of California at Irvine
January 11, 2030 - October 18, 2025Qualifications
THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2019Themed Entertainment Association, THEA Awards for Outstanding Achievement for projects I worked on in 2009, 2016, and 2019
IAAPA Brass Ring Awards in 2016 & 2021
January 1, 2016 - December 3, 2021Latter to team on 'Mickey & the Magician' at Disneyland Paris
Best Animated Feature Film, Academy Awards, BAFTA, and Golden Globes (nominated) for 'Coraline'
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 20092009 Best Feature Film, BAFTA Children’s Award (won) for 'Coraline'
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009Visual Effects Society - Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Feature Motion Picture. for 'Coraline' (nominated)
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009Chain Store Age, Retail Store of the Year - 2000, 2001, & 2002
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2002For Disney Flagship Stores in Chicago, Rome, Italy, and Maihama, Japan
ISP/VM+SD, Award of Merit - 1999 & 2000
January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2000For Disney Flagship Stores in Chicago, and London, England
Industry Experience
Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Education, Retail, Other, Travel & Hospitality
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