Sebastian Sears shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Sebastian, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve recently moved back in with my folks to save up money and pay off some debt so I have a longer commute to my job at the moment. Lately I have been going to events at a comedy cellar down the street as well as some other local organizations that have popped up over the last 10 years and establishing a community.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a visual animation artist and designer that has spent the last five years gaining traction in creating projected video for local live theater performances and immersive installations. My artistic style is very narrative with an otherworldly premises that combines futurism with nature/atmosphere.
Currently, I am in the process of putting together an installation set for 2026 that places the viewers inside a rectangular space with projected video on all four walls. They would sit inside a small structure that would mimic a boat sailing down a river while the scenery changes. Think a smaller scale of a Universal Studio ride or the tunnel scene from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory but not as creepy haha.
Along with my installation, I have currently been asked by three different directors to collaborate in creating and running projected scenery for their live performances all opening this fall. So needless to say, I’ve got my work cut out for me.
I still work a full time day job for an agency as a case manager for special needs adults that has been keeping my life structured and sustained the last four years but am working towards a two year goal to move out to the west coast to live on a houseboat and get a full time position at a gallery or arts center. I want to take my projected work to a larger scale in having screenings in different harbors that can be city funded as well as project out in natural spaces such as national parks and famous landmarks that tell a visual story related to or about the locations.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Going to events and outings without a clear intent or that don’t attribute to my goals or interests.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Working for profit driven design agencies or just those types of marketing companies in general. I wouldn’t say I failed hard but I stayed at a sketchy debt relief company doing mundane data processing and mailing longer than I wanted to. By the third year I was dreading going to work. I couldn’t stand most of the people that worked there and the owner was getting more and more intense with certain rules and security. I was more relieved when they let me go in Feb. of 2020 right before the pandemic.
I also landed a job at a very small design agency that following year after hammering out an online UI/UX design course. They paid me way below the average salary of what an entry level designer makes on average and more so assumed I knew more than I let on. After a few weeks they sat me down and gave me more of an ultimatum to get up to speed with using the software in a week. I remember feeling panicked and staying late to meet certain deadlines. The computer I was working at also started having issues that slowed things down. I was over thinking which caused me to make small mistakes. Needless to say I was let go. That experience kind of traumatized me and gave me a bad taste in general about design agencies.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
The entrepreneurial influencers and mens dating coaches on social media. Granted there is some truth in ways to socialize and make good impressions but overall it comes off a manipulative and kind of sexist.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Ehh.. It’s not something I’m thinking about now as I’m trying to live presently. That’s more for a way later time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.illustranetic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illustranettic.art/
