Artistic preparation
Gerardo Vargas, born in Puerto Rico, began his studies in visual arts when he entered the school “Central de Artes Visuales” in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in the 7th grade in 1985. His first years in high school consisted of exploring all forms of fine arts, from drawing and painting to sculpture and silkscreen printing.
After graduating from junior-high school and starting high school, Gerardo decided to concentrate on drawing and painting. For the next 3 years he dedicated himself to learning everything related to painting and drawing. His teacher Gabriel Cruz was a great inspiration and guide for Gerardo. He always felt that he became a fine artist in high school, providing him with the best ethical habits and high quality artistic skills development, which facilitated his studies at Pratt Institute.
Once at Pratt Institute, Gerardo was exposed to new international cultures. And new artistic ideas that influenced him in his constant search for knowledge. He began with the idea of becoming a Graphic Designer, but in his first year, he returned to his love of painting and transferred to Illustration as a career. He first dedicated himself to becoming a children’s and infant book illustrator, and then went on to become a general commercial illustrator for magazines and advertising. His teacher David Passallaqua inspired him to become an animator, and after trying an internship with Disney Studios in the summer of 1993, Gerardo went on to become a freelance animator. He began his career upon graduating in 1994 in the world of commercial animation and worked with companies such as Happy Trail Animation, Dan Akerman Films and Will Vinton Studios (now Laika) on television advertising productions.
But the love for mathematics and the influence of Alberto Quintero, his teacher in grades 10, 11 and 12 of algebra, trigonometry, geometry, pre-calculus and physics made Gerardo look at the technical side of the art world.
During the turmoil of the 90’s and early 2000’s in the animation industry, which underwent great changes both good and bad due to digital technology, Gerardo adapted as best he could to the constant changes. He learned both the creative and technical side to become an animator and creator of 3-D digital art, eventually adding the dimension of time and audio.
At this stage of his career: Education.
Gerardo Vargas is now dedicating his time and effort to give back to the community the love for art that he developed through a successful artistic career, in the form of an art academy. His passion for animation and his love for education have led him to the logical conclusion to create an academy to inspire other minds, young and not so young, and to cover all the artistic mediums responsible for the animated works we love so much and many of us grew up with.
One of his dreams is to provide today’s children with the moments of happiness that he and his friends had on Saturdays and Sundays watching “muñequitos” as animated cartoons are called in Puerto Rico.
“I hope I can inspire others to create healthy moments and memories for the boys and girls of this era.”