Kayla Mayer
The artist and storyboarder on life at Sincerely Truman
What’s your role at the company?
I’m very lucky – I get to wear many hats. I start working at the storyboarding stage, doing first-pass boards and cleanup, and I collaborate with Robert on mood and direction for all the videos. But the bulk of my job involves illustrating backgrounds, characters and type. Sometimes I’ll be called on to do some 2D animation, and I love when I get to do that.
How did you get the job?
I’ve only been at Truman for about 10 months now, but I’d only just graduated from PNCA a year before when the Bible Project approached me out of the blue. I was just one of a few portfolios they’d looked through, and it took about a week of doing test images for Jon and Robert, then I was on the team full time. The whole process felt very fast.
What do you enjoy most about working on the Bible Project?
I’ve been very fortunate to help shape the visual direction of the latest video, Sacrifice and Atonement. Developing the right mood for what Jon and Tim are trying to say is challenging, and I love that I get to help the team in this way – it feels very special.
What kind of training have you received since starting?
New skills for me involve storyboarding and animation, neither of which I’d ever formally done, and I’ve been able to learn on the job. Robert has also taught me style development and some fundamentals of art direction. But my other new skill is working interpersonally with a team: I’ve had to refine my communication skills, which feels awesome.
What advice would you give an artist looking to get a job like yours?
First, make sure your drafting chops are in order. Understand the principles behind drawing everything, and know how to break down shapes. Second, be fast. There’s no time to get stuck on details in production work. If I had gotten this job without those abilities, the nicest portfolio in the world wouldn’t have saved me.
What’s the working environment at Sincerely Truman like?
Magical. I feel spoiled. Everyone is so friendly. I couldn’t ask for more in my work environment. I love how productive and united this space feels, and I’m so happy to come to work every day.