Tamara is a …
Highly creative and multi talented Artist, Designer, and Multimedia Professional with extensive experience in film, television, theme park design, murals, sculpture and fine art. Exceptional collaborative and interpersonal skills; dynamic team player with well-developed written and verbal communication abilities. Highly skilled in client and vendor relations and negotiations; talented at building and maintaining “win-win” partnerships. Excels performing in deadline-driven environments with an emphasis on high aesthetic standards and working within budget requirements.
26+
Major Motion Pictures
11+
Stop Motion TV Shows & Miniseries
10+
Commercials & Music Videos
Education & Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts Degree from Art Center College of Design with a major in Illustration
Strong skills in Faux Finishing, Murals and Illustration
Puppet Fabrication; armatures, mold making, casting, custom build–ups, costumes, sculpting, painting, and finishing
Painting, Sculpting, and Drawing in all mediums
Custom design from concept to completion
Photoshop graphic design and photo editing
Miniature and full size set and prop construction
Sales and marketing experience
Extensive knowledge and skills utilizing power tools
Trained and experienced in driving a condor lift, scissor lift and fork lift
Interior and exterior house painting, drywall installation, patching and painting, basic construction skills
Landscape design and implementation
Detail oriented, hard working, dedicated professional multimedia artist and designer
Painter
Extensive experience and rendering abilities in watercolor, acrylic, gouache and most any paint medium on a multitude of surfaces.
Sculptor
Sculpting experience in numerous mediums including oil clay, air dry clay, wax, plaster, and various densities and types of foam.
Fine Artist
Versatile and skilled fine artist in many forms of art including drawing in all mediums, figure drawing, portraiture, abstract art and multimedia artwork.
Set Decorator | Dresser | Builder
Over 20 years experience building and dressing full size and miniature sets for feature films, commercials and music videos. Skilled in the use of all shop power tools, as well as scissor lift, condor lift and fork lift.
Stop Motion Puppet Fabricator
Over 5 years experience working on stop motion TV shows including Robot Chicken as a puppet fabricator. Skilled in custom fabrication, mold making, casting, painting and finishing work on puppets.
Film & TV Credentials
STOP MOTION TV SHOWS & MINISERIES
WWE Slam City
Supermansion Season 1
Robot Chicken Season 7
Robot Chicken Season 6
Disney Jr. Network Sam Sandwich
Robot Chicken Star Wars III
Robot Chicken Season 5
Robot Chicken Star Wars II
Frankenhole
Titan Maximum
The Imagination of Molly
STOP MOTION COMMERCIALS
Mac Cosmetics | Bing | Farmers Insurance
FEATURE FILMS
The Aviator | Team America | Six Feet Under | The Sum of All Fears | Behind Enemy Lines | Reign of Fire | Megiddo | Mission To Mars |
O Brother Where Art Thou | Bicentennial Man | End Of Days | Star Trek: Insurrection | Fantasia/2000 | Supernova | Blade | The X Files Movie | Godzilla | Batman & Robin | Celtic Pride | Volcano | Batman Forever | Brady Bunch Movie | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Viper | Stargate
COMMERCIALS & MUSIC VIDEOS
Mitsubishi Motors
Moen Faucets
Dr. Seuss Land Universal Studios Florida
Eve Music Video
7-Up Commercial
X Files Movie Music Video
IMD Toy Prototype/Licensing Sculptures
Professional Experience
Crew Member & Sign Team Artist
Trader Joe’s | Sherman Oaks, CA
2018 to 2022: Creating original signs for business to increase sales. Used various art media and materials, such as acrylic pens, masonite, styrene, and foam to design and produce signs. Also utilized Adobe PhotoShop to create mock-ups and ensure quality production.
Interior Designer & Senior Project Manager
Private 1936 Spanish Colonial Home | Beverlywood, CA
2017 to 2018: Supervised various administrative and creative aspects of an interior design project. Specific duties were to plan the timeline, create plan drawings for remodeling the space, consult with client to determine their budget and goals, and to put together a team to design, permit, construct, and decorate to exceed the client’s expectations.
Nursery Sales Manager
Orchard Supply Hardware | South Pasadena, CA
2016 to 2017: Leader in the store and critical member of the store management team with key carrier responsibilities including acting as Store Manager (opening/closing duties). Responsibilities: Supervision of associates, management of store talent, associate training, reviews, corrective action and counseling. Training and supervision of associates in Nursery department including daily work assignments. Communicating and assuring compliance with all company – driven programs and directives. Daily maintenance and beautification of the Nursery environment. Creation of unique retail Nursery displays. Licensed to drive a fork lift. Exemplification of legendary customer service, time management, verbal, written, listening, analytical and problem solving skills.
Set Decorator, Prop and Puppet Fabricator
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, ShadowMachine Films, and other Production Houses | Los Angeles, CA
2008 to 2016: Stop motion TV shows and miniseries. Custom puppet creation, mold making, casting, painting, costume design, sculpting, armatures, repair of broken puppets, and finishing work on puppets to make them camera ready. (List of industry credits are listed above).
- Collaborated with art directors to bring concept drawings and storyboards to life in sets, props and puppets
- Maintained the highest standard of clean, accurate fabrication to withstand the stop motion animation process
Owner & Award Winning Basket Designer
Tamara’s Treasures | Los Angeles, CA
2004 to 2008: Custom gift and event designer: Awarded Master of Design 2007, the top honor for the gift basket industry Nationwide. Provided needs assessment and developed proposals and closed sales with a high degree of success and satisfaction of both clients and gift recipients.
- Event coordinator; on-time preparation and delivery of orders for corporate events and corporate gifts
- Designed spectacular custom gifts year round and during the Holiday seasons to attract new business
- Staged displays of fresh, dry and silk floral arrangements, wreaths, and related products
- Provided clients with the highest quality, one of a kind designs that made a lasting impression on their customers
- Created and sustained top-producing relationships with customers and business partners
Sales Manager
Pimpernel USA
2004 to 2005: Sales Representative; retail, trade show and phone sales
Key Feature Film Special Effects Artist
Various Production Houses and Studios throughout Los Angeles, CA
1993 to 2004: Special Effects Artist for feature films, commercials and music videos. Construction of miniature and full size sets, props, and molds; casting, painting and sculpting in all mediums. (List of industry credits noted in section above).
Theme Park Designer
The Works Inc. | Los Angeles, California
1991 to 1993: Designed and built miniatures, construction models, sculpted and illustrated various characters and costumes, and created illustrations and plan drawings for full size construction of theme park ride shows and environments for theme parks in Japan.
Art Center Student
Art Center College of Design | Pasadena, CA
1989 to 1991: Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Illustration.
Assistant Art Director
Glenair, Inc. | Glendale, CA
1987 to 1988: Assistant Art Director; catalog design, air brush illustration, paste – up.