Gesture Drawing / Sketching

Woody Woodman is an artist, storyteller and teacher with 20 years in the animation industry. After being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1991, I began my pursuit to become a professional artist, and enrolled at Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota Florida, where I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

I was recruited by Walt Disney Feature Animation and continued my education in their internship program in Orlando Florida in July of 1997. I began my animation career as an ‘inbetweener’ on the film “Mulan” with Barry Cook. I worked on several films; “Tarzan,” “The Emperor’s New Groove” and “Lilo & Stitch” Then I was accepted into the story department working with some of the finest storyboard artists and directors in the business. I also worked on “Treasure Planet” with Ron Clements, John Musker and Glen Keane. I continued to work for Disney in the story department on “Brother Bear” and a few films that where never realized, until the Orlando studio was shut down in 2003. Woody has continued his Animation experience working with such clients such as: Aardman, Lucas Films, Laika and 20 Century Fox.

Thomas Thorspecken, also known as Thor, attended the school of Visual Arts and Design in New York City.  In his 10 years as a freelance illustrator in the city, one of his assignments for the Daily News included sketching historic buildings throughout the city for a column called “Undiscovered Manhattan”.  Thor relocated to Orlando in 1993 to work for Disney Feature Animation.

After 10 years the studio closed, and he continued to pursue his passion for art through teaching and sketching.  His blog “Analog Artist Digital World” began in 2009 as a resolution to post a sketch every day.  He describes it as “his way to finally put down roots, to be part of the community, one sketch at a time.”  Thor has also been teaching Traditional Animation at Full Sail University and now is part of a great team of instructors at Elite Animation Academy.  Thor will continue his passion to teach and now will include Middle and High School students.  Some of the classes he will teach include Traditional Animation, Drawing Fundamental and Urban Sketching.

Tony Santo has background in illustration, he is always eager to achieve new distinctions as an artist. Perhaps even more important is my commitment to provide the best visual solutions for my distinguished clients and the clearest instruction for my students.

Since 2009, I have been designing storyboards for History Channel (Vikings), WWE (Wrestlemania), Cartoon Network (Ben 10: Omniverse), Pepsi, Sports Illustrated, Indeed.com, Starz, Florida Hospital, HBO, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and others. With animatics, cinematics, video editing, illustration, and concept art, I have successfully presented campaigns for A & E Network, Microsoft, PHD, Carnival Cruise Lines, Budweiser, Henry’s Hard Soda, Sun Trust, Merck, Humira, and more.

I worked as a Clean-Up Animator on Disney films like Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo and Stitch, Brother Bear, and The Emperor’s New Groove. In addition, I served as Art Director on multiple iterations of the award-winning EA Sports games Madden NFL and NCAA Football.

As a Chartpak Art Ambassador, I find reward demonstrating and presenting art supplies and techniques for brands like Higgins, Grumbacher, Koh-i-Noor, Molotov, and others.

I currently reside in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, but my home is where my work takes me.