Greg L. Smith
Tel: (514) 522-5523
Email: gregsm@videotron.ca
Background:
I began oil painting lessons at age 12, and six years later, decided to enroll in the fine arts program at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (Halifax, NS), where I discovered my diversified interest in drawing, painting, art history, graphic design and photography. After enrolling in the newly created 3D graphics course (using Pansophic software on Intel 286 PCs), I was hooked... working part-time as a computer lab assistant, I continued further into the expanding 3D computer animation program at NSCAD using ALIAS/Wavefront software.
I decided after graduation to continue my education, and got accepted into the 1-year post-graduate character animation program at Sheridan College (using SOFTIMAGE|3D). I also worked as a lab assistant and discovered my skill in technical problem solving, so applied to Softimage and became employed in their Technical Support department, eventually becoming the dedicated support resource for the 3D product beta testing program. I advanced to coordinator for the Program Management group, not only overseeing the beta program, but also getting involved in the design and planning process for the upcoming 3d/XSI releases.
My role changed to Release Manager, where my areas of responsibility included overseeing the whole release process of the XSI product, including the beta program and release of the version 1.0 and subsequent updates (service packs), while maintaining cross-team communication to co-ordinate the packaging, logistics, and release of the product.
In order to get back to my fine arts roots, while also maintaining and upgrading my technical knowledge of 3D software, I became a freelance 3D animator and got involved in the Fridge Magnets project @ Moovmento Interactif, learning the AXEL v1.0 software on the job... since then, I have become an ongoing beta tester for MindAvenue, and continue to use the 3D interactive software to work on several personal and contract projects (see Projects section)
Work Experience:
ERGONET– Montreal, Quebec
2002
3D graphic artist/animator (contract)
(3D interactive web navigation using AXEL software)
MOOVMENTO INTERACTIF– Montreal, Quebec
2001
3D graphic artist/animator (contract)
(Fridge Magnets 3D interactive web site using AXEL software)
SOFTIMAGE– Montreal, Quebec
1998-2001
Project/Release Manager, 3D/XSI products
1995-1998
Coordinator, Program Management 3D
1993-1995
Graphics Specialist/Support Engineer (2D Paint + 3D Animation)
Work Experience and Personal Experimentation:
AXELedge software:
- Finalist in the Cyber Pitch 2.0 competition for the FCMM (using AXEL)
- Participated as beta test site for AXELedge version 1.5 (October, 2001 – February, 2002)
- Created interactive 3D modeling and animation of Avro Arrow (personal project) while testing/ providing feedback on the AXELedge beta version 1.5
- Avro Arrow and Escher's Relativity (FCMM) projects featured as part of Showcase on MindAvenue web site
Education:
Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology– Oakville, Ontario
Diploma in Computer 3D Animation (post-graduate level) - specializing in character animation
1992-1993
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) – Halifax, Nova Scotia
Diploma of Fine Arts and Graphic Design (minor in Art History)
1986-1992
Special Skills:
- Written and spoken French and English
- Fine arts (drawing, painting, stain glass)
- Digital and print (35mm) photography, including black and white processing/print
- Knowledge of various 2D/3D graphic software (including AXELedge [Mind Avenue], SOFTIMAGE|3D/XSI [Softimage], Photoshop 7.0 [Adobe], Sound Forge) as well as various Windows based products