Naomi Law-Kornegay

About My Goals

Community Statement

While I enjoy 3D modeling and creating games to create bonds and playful rivalry amongst family and friends, at some point, I would also like to bring 3D digital art to Washington DC public and private schools. Washington DC has been making strides to add extracurriculars and art programs to schools, but, in the digital realm, has stayed relatively stagnant. DC’s public and art schools have neither brand name 3D modeling software, such as Maya or 3Ds Max, or Blender, a free 3D modeling art tool. Nor do most schools have the knowledge that they can affordably do so. DC also has the basic means outside of schools in buildings like the “art lab”.

I graduated from Duke Ellington School of the Arts and that is one of the places where I would like to start implementing 3D modeling and possibly animation. Duke Ellington is a performing arts high school that also offers a visual arts program that primarily focuses on traditional art. While I was there, we did have a digital arts class however we only really learned basic Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator skills. While those skills did help me later down the line, ex-students like myself and several of my classmates never knew of 3D modeling software or techniques that could have propelled our skillset early on. Maybe not every kid will gravitate towards 3D modeling, but having it implemented within an art curriculum or art class could open many doors to skilled kids who are unaware of the digital realm outside of Adobe. I, a few years back, taught at my school as a teachers helper and met so many talented students who had never even heard of blender. Although it would be a bit out of reach to immediately add it onto a school curriculum, it may be possible to add 3D modeling as a summer workshop first. Hopefully as time goes on they could add more advanced software's such as Zbrush, Substance painter, and Substance Designer.

Along with my previous school we have programs such as the “ARTLAB” after-school building for teens. ARTLAB is an all inclusive free digital art studio for teens thirteen to nineteen years old that provides local access to the latest technology, art materials, and occasional mentorship from professional artists to support creative learning. While most of their financing comes from government checks and donations, they often ask for suggestions to offer their students. My goal would be to point in the right direction and provide mentorship as both an ARTLAB and University alumni. Sadly I cannot rejoin the program personally, I can officially sign up as a volunteer just to show the basic skills of Blender and other paid programs.