USV Faculty
Learn from industry veterans and creative leaders with real credits in games, film, business, and tech. Your mentors at USV bring Silicon Valley experience straight into the classroom.
Back to Faculty
About Thomas Esmeralda
Digital Art & Animation
I have taught art & design for nearly 14 years at the collegiate level, with the majority of classes
advanced courses in Digital Painting, and Visual Development. I have previously taught at San Jose State University, CSUMB, and Art Center College of Design. My primary focus and specialization has been with professional development to help students prepare for productive careers in the Entertainment Design Industry.
Before I entered the education, I worked full-time as an Art Director, Matte Painter, and Visual Development Artist in Visual Effects, Feature Animation, and Games for over 16 years. I began my career as one of the very first artists at Dreamworks Animation, painting backgrounds for the studio's first feature "The Prince of Egypt", and thereafter matte paintings for the studio's first CG features "Antz" & "Shrek". I went on to create imagery for numerous feature films, commercials, and video games at several studios in the U.S. & UK including Industrial Light+Magic, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Rhythm & Hues Studios, Framestore, Digital Domain, Electronic Arts, and Blizzard Entertainment.
This breadth of experience has allowed me to teach authoritatively on the numerous subjects that students will most likely encounter working in the Entertainment Industry. I am excited to join the DAA faculty here at USV!
I graduated with a BFA in Illustration from The Academy of Art University in 1994, followed by my MA in Theater Arts (Illustration Concentration) from San Jose State University in 2016.