My name is Andrew Lee and I recently graduated from Champlain through the Art and Animation program. I came to Champlain knowing exactly what I wanted to do, although I had very limited experience with art in general. I was always interested in art related classes in high school but I didn't get serious until college. In most cases, it was my first time using the software in the Art and Animation program.

The Imperial Fortress is my first, full environment where I created all the models and textures. It is a celebration set at midnight and the festivities have moved inside the building. In front of the massive building is an empty courtyard decorated with lit lanterns. Found in each corner of the level are guardian statues that watch over the courtyard.  This environment is based on the Forbidden City in China, and I wanted to create a similar setting of power and grandeur.

This project was created for my 3D Game Environments class, and it was the second and final project. We were given around 10 weeks to create a fully modeled and textured environment of our choice. It was a daunting task to do by myself, but by doing so I learned a lot about my own abilities and the importance of planning and organizing. 

The work involved in the major can be quite difficult at times, but the pacing throughout the courses plus the supportive community of students makes the effort worthwhile. The resources on campus have been greatly helpful for those late night work sessions and it's never too late to get some helpful critiques. As I reached my senior year, I really started to understand the creation of 3D artwork and process of creating a full game, with my artistic abilities and experience following suit.

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