Sam Michlap

Background

About Sam Michlap

As a narrative illustrator, capturing emotions has always been at the center of my art—I believe that without emotion, there is nothing. For 32 years I have made a career doing what was once a childhood dream, and am proud to have worked in the animation, themed entertainment, and live action industries. As an artist, it is essential for me to move fluidly throughout different styles, so I am constantly expanding my skill set and learning new processes so that I can best visualize each unique script. My early career was filled with a multitude of learning, done through countless hours of self-studies, rigorous mentorships while working at Walt Disney Studios, and practical experience by working on various animated films. Particularly close to me is the work I did for The Lion King to help refine the designs for Pride Rock and the work I did for the “Be Prepared” scene, and the sequence art I developed for The Prince of Egypt’s “Parting of the Red Sea” scene. Within the realm of film, I have worked on many exciting projects like Umbrella Academy, Star Trek: Discovery, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Space Jam 2: A New Legacy, and Epic Universe for Universal Creative Studios. I also enjoyed a successful fine art career. Throughout my career I have been lucky to work with many amazing artists, writers, and directors. One such project I take pride in having worked as a production designer on is Last Days of Ivory, a short PSA directed by Kathryn Bigelow about the illegal ivory trade, an issue that is especially close to me. While on the project I pushed myself to take new chances with my art, capturing the story’s vision through combining a uniquely simple artistic style with traditional African textile patterns and digital textural qualities that I had only ever achieved with traditional mediums. I have enjoyed quite a lively teaching career and taught at many local Los Angeles art schools, including Los Angeles Academy for Figurative Art and Art Center College of Design. I also create lessons that cover a comprehensive range of curriculum that is taught through courses I currently sell on Gumroad. No matter the setting or course, my goals and approach while teaching have consistently been the same: to uplift the next generation of artists and help them learn to navigate the challenge of building and maintaining a career in the entertainment industry, and to teach the fundamentals of art without any tricks or shortcuts.