Today we’d like to introduce you to Yousef Alhaddad.
Hi Yousef, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My name is Yousef Sameer Alhaddad. I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. Throughout my life Art have always been a passion of mine. To be more specific, I’ve always been drawn to characters whether it was a cartoon, series, movie, or a game I’ve been playing. My mom recalls since I was a child, I would pick any tools in front of me and start drawing a character (one that stood out and I would draw over and over again was “Wolverine”).
When I was about 10-11 years old, I started my own YouTube channel with the name “Lionard10” (it was my nickname; inspired by Ninja Turtles’ “Leonardo”) and started making “Sprites Animation” videos. They were a thing back in 2009-2010ish. The very first animation video I made was actually my most successful one. Uploaded August 9, 2009, with 280,000 views and over 700+ comments. I kept the channel running for a bit over a year, my last video was uploaded September 22, 2010. After that, when I was 12 years old, I switched up to another medium of Digital Art and that was “Digital Painting” in Photoshop. I created a DeviantArt account and would make pieces of my favorite characters and upload them there.
As years passed and I grew up, I drifted away from my past hobbies. Especially as the society and culture I lived in did not encourage that. After graduating High School, I didn’t know what I wanted to pursue (I know sounds cliché and repetitive), and I was like might as well do something useful, humane, and also brings money. Hence why I then proceeded to apply for medical schools to pursue being a Surgeon. Just after getting my E-mail of approval and a week prior of schools starting, my heart was not into it. I had to find something I love.
Doing some research opened my eyes as I would’ve never imagined that the stuff I used to do as a hobby as a kid can actually be turned into a career. Being an A+ student throughout my school years, I was able to land a full scholarship. I filled in all the necessary documents, packed my stuff, and flew to Canada to purse my Bachelor’s in Animation. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out well and my visa to Canada has been rejected. I had to flew back to Saudi and try a different place.
On my second approach, I settled in Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, Ohio. Fortunately, enough I still had my full scholarship and all necessary steps went through smoothly this time. Starting classes I still wasn’t sure in which Digital Art type I wanted to pursue, but as classes kept on going, I slowly started falling in love with 3D. It has the right amount of technicality and creativity and allows me to create characters that I could bring to life.
International students after graduating are allowed to apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training) a permit that allows them to stay in the U.S to work in their field for a period of a year with the eligibility to extend 2 more years if their major is considered a STEM major. However, they have a total of 90 unemployment days. Meaning that after graduating if they stayed without a job for 90 days they have to leave. Knowing that I wanted to pursue this career, I definitely cannot go back or I won’t have opportunities.
Having fixated my goals and being confident in what I wanted, I tried my best to make each class project, when possible, my “own”, that goes towards my goals in being a 3D Character Artist. And all instructors were understanding and nice enough to allow that when valid. Approaching my Senior year, and having the “90 days unemployment then out” thoughts on my mind I started applying for jobs and emailing companies inquiring about internships hoping that as soon as I graduate, I could land something.
Following graduating last year, May 2021, I was able to land my very first professional work gig with Black Book Studio in Riverside, IL which was for a week. And shortly after a gig with Otherworld (Futuristic entertainment center/museum) in Columbus, Ohio. Then starting my internship with Made By Things also local in Columbus, Ohio, and having the pleasure to create characters for Cedars-Sinai Hospital in LA. During the same period, I was contacted by BUCK Design to do some models for the new Apple Maps.
After my contracts ended, I couldn’t stop, I needed to get back into it as soon as possible. I was working on my portfolio while applying for jobs every single day. After over 400+ applications and 30+ interviews, I was finally contacted by Scanline VFX (recently acquired by Netflix) to join their Virtual Production team. I couldn’t be happier. Having the privilege to work on three superhero box office movies is a dream come true. Black Adam (2022) starring Dwayne Johnson; The Rock. The Flash (2023) and Aquaman 2 (2023). Also being contacted back by Made By Things to be a Lead Character Artist for an upcoming project! Couldn’t be more excited, and hopefully, more to come!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the struggles along the way was that the society and culture I lived in does not recognize that art and entertainment industry being a career path. I don’t know anyone personally from where I come from that pursued this path so it was a brand new and risky experience with plenty of unknown.
If I wanted to pursue this, I needed to leave, be fluent in another language, know about new culture and society, start a new life.
Understanding and going by all legal requirements and the strict rules to stay and keep on going.
Also, being a non-US citizen, I’ve been rejected few times from companies solely for that reason despite them liking my work and wanting me to be part of them but not being able to sponsor me to stay here further or not having the necessities, or wanting to deal with the hassle to do so. Which also required me to have to stand out among others and prove that I am worth the investment.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a 3D Artist. I’d say I specialize in 3D Character Art. I don’t have only one thing that I’m most proud of. But if I have to say something, I’d say successfully starting a new life and being a part of worldwide projects such as Apple Maps, and DC movies also landing my first Lead Character Artist role.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I’m aware it is very hard, but as early as you could, try to know what you want to do. And start working towards it as soon as possible. I wish I knew what I wanted to do when I was in high school. I believe that the earlier you start honing your skills and producing work towards it the more likely you will achieve it and the easier it will be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ysalhaddad.artstation.com/
- Instagram: yalhaddad3d
Image Credits
Valerio Buonfantino
Dom Murphy
