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Eni and Luca (who does not like to take pictures, :-)

Eni Oken was born in Brazil, now living in Los Angeles, CA since 1993.

Contact Eni here
Location:
Los Angeles, CA - USA

About The Artist: Eni Oken

To contact Eni, click here!

Eni is a multi-discipline artist: for the past 20 years, she has combined digital fantasy art, sculpture, jewelry, embroidery and other mixed media in whimsical and ornamental award-winning designs. Originally from Brazil, Eni was trained as an architect; however most of her artistic skills are self-taught. Eni now lives in Los Angeles where she explores and creates, writes and teaches about jewelry art.

Artist Statement (short version):

"Learn how to make pretty shiny things. Teach others how I made them. Repeat from the beginning. "

Artist Statement (long version):

Many artists are currently feeling the pressure to
"go digital."  On the contrary, my professional career started out and remained for many years exclusively focused on digital art, but has now returned to traditional media such as jewelry design and painting: there is an important tactile component missing in virtual art which cannot be replaced or forgotten. During this process, I discovered that my commitment has always been, now and before, to the essential "artistic ingredients": ornament, dimension, fantasy  design and color.  I aim to explore new techniques and designs, and then pass those processes to others through teaching and writing.

Education
Bachelor degree Architecture, University of Santos, Santos, Brazil. Honors: highest scores of the class of 1986.

Other Artistic Education
Visual Communication I ,  Gnomon School of Visual Effects, 2002.

Intro to Maya, Gnomon School of Visual Effects, 2000.
Interface Design , University of California Los  Angeles, 1997.
Visual Components of Cinema, University of California Los Angeles, 1996.
Teacher Training Program, Autodesk, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1991.

Teacher Training Program , Autodesk, Sao Paulo, Brazil,  1990

CAD Intro, Castelltort Designs, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1988.
Scenography, University of Santos Extension program, Brazil, 1986.

Model making , Escola Modelo, Brazil, 1984.
Window Dressing, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1984.
Architectural Illustration,  University of Santos Extension program, Brazil, 1984.
Basic  Photography , University of Santos Extension program, Brazil, 1983.
Creativity and Art, University of Santos Extension program, Brazil, 1982.
Fine Arts and Painting, Alliance Francaise, Brazil, 1976-1979.

Self Taught Artistic Skills
1999-present Self-taught  jewelry construction and design.
1999-2002 Self-taught digital art  skills.
1996-present Self-taught fantasy design .
1987-2001 Self-taught computer graphics and related skills.
1976-present Self taught fabric, lace-making and fiber skills.

Authored Publications
From 3D  Studio Max to Cult3D Designer. 3Dgate.com Online Magazine, 2001.
Using Corel Painter to Create Painterly, Seamless Textures. Artist's Canvas monthly column. 3DGate.com Online Magazine, 2001.
No Texture Painter Quite like this.Artist's Canvas monthly  column. 3DGate.com Online Magazine, 2001.
Creating Ornamental Jewelry CD. Self-published, 2000
No Clean and Crisp Edges,  Please! Artist's Canvas monthly column. 3DGate.com Online Magazine,  2000.
"Marking Image": The poor man's custom texture work. Artist's Canvas monthly column. 3DGate.com Online Magazine, 2000.
Where have all the Renaissance Men (or Women) Gone? Artist's Canvas monthly column. 3DGate.com Online Magazine, 2000.
The True Color of Things. Artist's Canvas monthly column. 3DGate.com Online  Magazine, 2000.
Flat versus Deep: Faking Depth in Texture Art. Artist's Canvas monthly column. 3DGate.com Online Magazine, 2000.
Artistic Style: Do you have it? Artist's Canvas monthly column. 3DGate.com Online Magazine, 2000.
Creating Rich and Beautiful Texture  Art. Artist's Corner. GIGnews.com online magazine, 2000.
Six  Steps Tutorial. Computer Arts magazine, 2000.
In search for 3D digital art. 3D Cafeine Online magazine. 3D Cafe©.com, 2000.
Color  Schemes: Planning Ahead. Design Freak Online Magazine, 2000.
Color  Wheel: Still the Designer's Best Friend. Design Freak Online Magazine, 2000.
Dimensional Ornate Texture Art. 3D Studio Max 3 Magic. New  Riders Publishing, 2000.
Painting in Another Dimension. In the Lab section, 3D Magazine, 2000.
Illusions of Depth: How to create  rich 3D texture art. 3D Magazine, 2000.
Designing 3D Fantasy Worlds: A Workshop. Game Developers Conference Proceedings, 2000.
Texture It (Paint and Wardrobe). Inside 3D Studio Max 3. New Riders Publishing, 2000.
Inside the Front Cover. Inside 3D Studio Max 3 book. New  Riders Publishing, 2000.
Chapter 3: A Bouquet from an Alien Friend. Mastering 3D Graphics: Digital Botany and Creepy Insects, 1999.
Designing with Color Theory. 3D Cafeen Online Magazine, 3Dcafe.com,  1999.
Color Schemes: the software that helps think about color. Color  Schemes Software Manual, 1999.
Color Theory: Knowing the Rules and When to Break Them. 3D Design & Animation Conference Proceedings,  1999.
Designing Fantasy Worlds, Part 1: Exploring Concepts. 3D Design  & Animation Conference Proceedings, 1999.
Designing Fantasy Worlds,  Part 2: Developing Concepts. 3D Design & Animation Conference  Proceedings, 1999.
Color Theory, Game Developer's Conference  Proceedings, 1999.
Designing with Color Schemes Workshop, Game Developer's Conference Proceedings, 1999.
A Bouquet from an Alien Friend. Serious 3D Magazine, 1998.
Cores e Mais Cores. Digital Designer Magazine, 1998.
Color, Color Everywhere. 3D Design Magazine, 1998.
Architecture with a Twist (fantasy worlds). 3D Design Magazine, 1998.
The Secrets of Zork Grand Inquisitor. 3D Design Conference Proceedings, 1998.
Designing Fantasy Worlds. 3D Design Conference Proceedings, 1998.
Creating Fantasy Worlds, The New Animation  Technology Conference and Exposition Proceedings, 1998.
Creating Fantasy Worlds , 3D Design Conference Proceedings, 1997.
3D Studio, uma versao impar. Publish Magazine, Brazil, 1994.
Maquete Electronica: a Arquitetura em 3D. Projeto Magazine, Brazil, 1993.
Modelamento  Tridimensional: visualizacao de projetos em Perspectiva. Computacao:  Arquitetura e Urbanismo International Conference Proceedings, Brazil, 1992.
Animator. Editora Erica, Brazil, 1991.
AutoCAD Avançado. Editora Erica, Brazil, 1990.
AutoCAD Dicas e Truques. Editora  Erica, Brazil, 1990

Interviews and other Publications

Eni Oken - A Jewelry Business Success Story. Interviewed by Rena Klingenberg. Home Jewelry Business Success Resource, August 2005.

Linear Depth article by Nina Gracci. Lapidary Journal, 2002.
Cover image and Artist Profile, by Michael McBride. Design4 Magazine, 2001.
Spectrum 7, The Best in  Contemporary Fantastic Art. Underwood Books, 2000.
Ornamental Jewelry CD  Review , by Tammy Powley. About.com,  Jewelry Making section, 2000.
Interview with Eni Oken, by Leonard Teo. InsideCG.com. June, 2000.
Little Village Far, far away image, by Kelly Murdock. 3D Studio Max R4 Bible, 2000.
3D Cafe Interview.Digital Fine Arts. 3Dcafe.com, 2000.
3D Artists Interview.  Raph.com. 3D Artists.com, 2000.
Game Development Gallery Visual Arts interview. Gamasutra.com, 2000.
Big Kahuna Awards 2000 finalists.3D Design Magazine, 2000.
In the News, by Mitra  Malek. MacWorld hosts Art Awards. Digital Fine Art Magazine, 1999.
In The News, by Matthew Hoover. Award Winning Alien. 3D Magazine.
Visiting Artist  Series,  3DRender.com.
Portfolio section . Digital Designer magazine, 1999.
Spectrum 5, The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. Underwood books, 1998.
The Best 3D of the Year: Big Kahuna Winners 1998, by Kelly Dove. 3D Design magazine, 1998.
Cover of Premiere Edition and Personal Interview. Digital Designer magazine, 1998.
Game Review, by Bob  Lindstrom. PC Games magazine, 1998.
Big Kahuna Awards 1997, by Kelly Dove. 3D Design Magazine, 1997.

2nd Page. 3D Design Magazine,  1997.
Big Kahuna Awards '97 finalists. 3D Design Magazine, 1997.
The Viz Wiz, Artist Profile: Fantasy Worlds. Cadalyst magazine,  1997.
Architect as Artist. Computer Graphics World Magazine,  1997..

Awards

Blue Water Challenge Award: Intermediate/Advanced Category. Juried online competition. Dream Big as the Ocean Blue Cuff. Society of International Jewelry Artisans. August 2005.

Masters of Tomorrow Best of Show Award. Juried competition. InDepth Gallery. Cash award. 2001.
3D Design  Big Kahuna Award finalist. Category: Imagination. 3D Design Magazine, 2000.
3D Design Big Kahuna Award finalist. Category: Storytelling. 3D Design Magazine, 2000.
Best of Show and First prize Non-Student Category. MacWorld EXPO Digital Art Gallery, 1999.
3D Design Big Kahuna Award finalist. Category Fantasy Worlds. 3D Design Magazine, 1999. 
3D Design Big Kahuna Award. Category Fantasy Worlds. 3D Design Magazine,  1998.
3D Design Big Kahuna Award.Category: Game Design. 3D Design Magazine, 1997.
New Media Invision Silver Award: Education. New Media Invision Awards Festival, 1997.
Spotlight Award. Category: Best  Rendered Art. Computer Game Developer Conference, 1997.
Achievement  Award.Highest grades of the Universidade Catolica de Santos, Class of  1986. Instituto de Preservacao Nacional, Brazil (Preservation Society).

Jury,  Curatorial and Advisory Duties

Be Bold Bangle Contest. Run by Connie Fox, at www.conniefox.com. Jury panelist. Selection of winners for the contest. 2004.
Insect & Bug Challenge 2004. Wire-jewelry newsgroup online. Organization of contest, entries fees and submissions, May 2004.
3D Artists Jury board. Raph.com 3D Artists Gallery. Daily curatorial functions since 2000 to present day.
Render.ru Jury. Render.ru Digital 3D contest, 2001.
Book review and advisement. Digital Texturing & Painting by Owen Demers. New Riders Publishing
Advisory board, 3D Design &  Animation Conference and Exhibition, 1999.

Exhibits online
3D Artists, Raph.com, 2000.
3D Art - Elite, 3DGrafix.com, 2000.
Gnomon3D Instructor  Gallery, Gnomon3d.com,  2000
MacWorld EXPO Digital Art Gallery, 1999.
Game Artist  Gallery, Gamasutra.com, 1998.
Digital Fantasy 3D Art,  Fantasya.net

Lectures,  Workshops and Classes Ministered
Independent Instructor. Jewelry-related tutorials ministered online. 2003 - present.
Independent  Instructor. Art-related workshops ministered online: Creative Textures for 3D Art.  Designing Fantasy Worlds: Sketch. Modeling Fantasy Worlds in 3D. Painting Dimensional Textures for Realtime. 2001-present.
Instructor. Creating 2D Textures for 3D Art. Gnomon School of Visual Effects,  2000-present.
Designing 3D Fantasy Worlds. 3D Conference and Expo,  2000.
Understanding Texture Art for 3D. 3D Conference and Expo, 2000.
Color Theory. 3D Design & Animation Conference, 2000.
Designing 3D Fantasy Worlds: A Workshop. Game Developers Conference, 2000.
Designing with Color Theory. The American Film Institute, 2000

Designing with Color Theory. The American Film Institute, 1999

Designing Fantasy Worlds: Concept Development. The American Film  Institute, 1999.
Designing with Color Theory. The American Film  Institute, 1999.
Color Theory. 3D Design & Animation Conference, 1999.
Designing Fantasy Worlds, Part 1. 3D Design & Animation  Conference, 1999.
Designing Fantasy Worlds, Part 2. 3D Design & Animation Conference, 1999.
Color Theory. Game Developer's Conference, 1999.
Designing with Color Schemes Workshop. Game Developer's  Conference, 1999.
The Secrets of Zork Grand Inquisitor. 3D Design  Conference, 1998.
Designing Fantasy Worlds. 3D Design Conference,  1998.
Creating Fantasy Worlds. The New Animation Technology Conference, 1998.
Creating Fantasy Worlds. 3D Design Conference,  1997.
The Visualization of Architectural Projects. Hospital  Architecture Conference, Brazil, 1992.
Visualization of Architectural Projects. International Architectural Conference, Brazil, 1991.
Consultant and Corporate Instructor. 3D Studio and Autocad. Various Companies in Brazil and Los Angeles, 1990-1994.
Staff Instructor. Basic AutoCAD. Advanced AutoCAD. 3D Techniques.Serviço Nacional de  Aprendizagem ao Comércio (SENAC), Brazil, 1990-1992.

Artistic Experience and Commissions
Various individual jewelry commissions. Personal jewelry work. 2000-present.
Mixed media  dimensional art. Personal artistic work. 2002-present.
Digital fantasy art. Personal artistic work, 1999-2001.
Concept Art. Origin.  2000
Civilization Game Art. Activision, Inc., 1999.
Ultimate Worlds 3D Chatrooms art. Worlds, Inc., 1998.
Barnstormers Realtime  textures. Monkey Business, Inc, 1998.
Horse Whisperer CD Adventure game interface art. GPColor, Inc., 1998.
Zork Grand Inquisitor  Adventure CD game art and animation. Activision, Inc., 1997.
Quaternity CD Adventure game art. Illumina, 1997.
Guitropolis  Interactive Edutainment interface art. Alfred Publishing, Inc., 1997.
Interactive Room for CAA/Intel art and animation. L-Squared, 1996.
Agent Intrigue Demo art. Qualia, 1996.
Temple of Twitch Interface. Launch Interactive Magazine, 1996.
Lighthouse Adventure CD  Game art. Sierra Online, 1996.
Zork Nemesis Adventure CD Game art and animation. Activision, Inc., 1996.
Virtual sets art. Mr. Film, 1996.
Congo Descent to Zinj game art. Hyper Image/Viacom New Media, 1995.
3D architectural modeling. Various companies in Brazil and Los  Angeles, California, 1990-1995.
Furniture and accessory design and production. Tok & Stok, Brazil, 1987.
Toy design and production. Toy Designer. Madeira Viva, Brazil, 1983-1985.