View Static Version
Loading

Kiana Morgan Animator and 3d Modeler

Artist's Statement

Creations serve as a form of escapism. Escaping into a work of art is one of my favorite pass times. There’s nothing like being able to sit down and enjoy a movie, or read a book, or binge an entire show. Creating something for others submerge themselves in is a way for me to give back to all of the inspirations that have allowed me to create in the first place.

Creating is a way to relate to others. In a world so big, which has been expanded through the use of internet, it is easy to feel small and alone. Art is a catalyst for creations that will lead to connections with others. Creating stories allows me to tell audiences, “Hey, I’ve felt that way before too.” In doing that, someone who experiences my art might feel less alone.

I create to tell stories. Stories are a form of communication. Whether it is to teach, to console, or to entertain, stories are the way that I express myself in ways that are easier for others to grasp and understand. I create art to tell stories that will stay with people, and inspire the people who experience it.

Demo Reel

Kindergarten Classroom

Spring 2020

Kindergarten Classroom - This is the classroom for kindergarteners. The idea behind this 3D modeled environment came from the possibility of putting young children through virtual schooling. I thought having a virtual classroom with items for the children to interact with was an interesting idea. Not only would it be educational, but it would be fun and immersive for children.

Boy's Bedroom

Spring 2020

After creating the classroom in Maya, I felt inspired to continue creating objects and materials. I 3D modeled this bedroom based on my younger brother's dorm room in college.

The assignment that inspired this project asked for something 3D modeled, rendered and lit. I had to show off what I could do in Maya based on what I learned up until that point. I really explored the program here to see what I could build and create from the basic shapes that you can start with. I learned a lot about modeling, creating textures, and about what I wanted to do when I graduated.

Diner

Spring 2019

This is my first 3D modeled environment. It was for a semester-long project. I wanted to create a 1950's-1960's American Diner. I researched diners, food, and popular items during that time period to create an effective diner.

(Click on the images to enlarge them!)

I used Maya to create this environment and I rendered this out with Arnold. Thinking back to this project, I am realizing how far I've come in my journey as a an artist.

Full Bloom

Fall 2020

I also work with 2D animations. This project for was an assignment in which I had to create an abstract video with music. This had to be something with a theme and a dream-like quality. I remember struggling to find an idea to use for this project, but then coming across a song that would inspire me to animate along with the song.

Starting out, I already knew what the color scheme and them of the video would be. While a lot was changed during the process, the overall story structure stayed in tact. This was ultimately my experimental stage in Adobe After Effects. As this project progressed, I wanted to push AE more and see what it could do.
Here are some of the ideal backgrounds that I thought would appear in "Full Bloom." I created these along with the storyboard in mind, and without any idea that my video would turnout to be different from the original ideas I had.

Quest For Quilla

Fall 2020

Quest for Quilla is a 2D side-scroller game I created about an adopted prince who has to save his kingdom, Quilla.

Here is the game play for the game I created. The object of this game is to collect the crystals in each level before moving on to the next level. While collecting the crystals, the player must dodge or destroy the enemy stones they encounter.

(Click the images to enlarge them!)

I spent a lot of time developing the story and characters for this game before I even began the art process. The images above shows the beginning process of me figuring out the direction I wanted to go in with the game and the characters.

Brav is the main character of the game, and he is the one the playable character in the game. Brav was adopted and raised by the king of Quilla at a young age. He stands out from the rest of his new family because of his appearance and magical abilities. Brav is young, shy, and kind. Even when his older brother, and true heir to Quilla, threatens to destroy Quilla, Brav believes there is redemption for him.
I had design all of the assets I would need in the game, that included the collectable crystals, the "Play" and "How to Play" buttons, and any other UI/UX that would appear in the game. Because this was a 2D game, Adobe Photoshop played a large role in creating the assets for this game. This project is one of my biggest accomplishments thus far, and I want to expand more on the development of this game.
NextPrevious