R. Lee is an animator/illustrator from Southern California. They studied character design at Art Center College of Design in Glendale before moving to the northeast to study animation. Lee attended Lesley University’s College of Art and Design in Cambridge, MA where they graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Animation and Motion Media and a minor in Illustration. After graduating, they were recruited to be an Alumni Ambassador and Peer Mentor for Lesley University.

Lee wrote, illustrated, and produced the webcomic, A Non-Binary Struggle, which sold out at the Massachusetts Independent Comic Exhibition in Cambridge, MA. They then joined White Snake Studios as a concept artist on the video game/opera, Cosmic Cowboy. Lee also created projection designs for both Mass Opera’s production of Die Fledermaus and the National Young Art’s Foundation’s musical performance, Dream Machine. Soon after, their film, Happy Harvest, was selected to screen as part of the 2019 MAST film festival, in Sommerville, MA.

Lee currently offers animation classes to both teens and adults at Silvermine Art Center in New Canaan, CT. Their courses cover the basics of animation and storytelling using Adobe Creative Cloud’s Photoshop and Animate software. Lee’s 2D digitally animated piece, Grand Hands, debuted at Silvermine’s Art Gallery in March, 2020.

Besides teaching, Lee works as the Lead Environmental Artist and Animator at indie game studio, Grand Scheme Games. They develop concept design, user interface, and animation for both characters and assets.

Lee’s work as an animator is informed by their studies in other art forms- such as writing music and painting on canvas. Though these skills may not be at the forefront of their practice, Lee continues to learn many different types of art to better hone their skills and toolkit as an artist.