Courtney Myers Cervantes - Where Digital Animation Meets Traditional Oil Painting
Meet the Georgia-based artist who seamlessly blends her background in 3D animation with the timeless art of oil painting, creating captivating works that bridge traditional and contemporary artistic worlds.
A Modern Artist’s Journey
Based in the charming town of Canton, Georgia, Courtney Myers Cervantes represents a new generation of artists who navigate multiple creative disciplines with remarkable skill. Her unique artistic path showcases how contemporary artists can successfully balance full-time professional careers while pursuing their deepest creative passions.
Courtney’s journey began at the prestigious Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she earned her degree in 2018 with a major in 3D Animation and a minor in Illustration. This comprehensive education provided her with a diverse toolkit of artistic skills that would later inform and enhance her approach to traditional oil painting in unexpected ways.
The Digital Foundation
Her formal training in 3D animation and illustration at SCAD—one of the nation’s leading art and design institutions—gave Courtney a deep understanding of form, lighting, composition, and storytelling that extends far beyond digital media. The principles she learned while creating animated worlds and illustrated narratives now inform her approach to oil painting, bringing a contemporary sensibility to this classical medium.
Working professionally as an art and social media specialist, Courtney stays connected to the pulse of contemporary visual culture while developing her skills in digital marketing and content creation. This professional experience has given her unique insights into how art functions in our digital age, knowledge that enhances both her artistic practice and her ability to share her work with broader audiences.
The Call of Oil Paint
While her professional life centers on digital media, Courtney’s true passion lies in the tactile, meditative world of oil painting. This traditional medium offers her a profound counterbalance to her screen-based work, providing an opportunity to slow down and engage with the physical properties of paint, canvas, and brush.
Her oil paintings demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of color theory and composition that clearly draws from her animation background. The way she handles light and shadow, creates depth, and constructs compelling visual narratives shows the influence of her digital training while embracing the unique possibilities that only oil paint can offer.
Artistic Vision and Style
Courtney’s work showcases remarkable versatility, ranging from atmospheric landscapes to pop culture-inspired pieces that reflect her diverse interests and experiences. Her Instagram reveals an artist comfortable working across different subjects and approaches—from serene natural scenes that capture the beauty of Georgia’s landscapes to more contemporary subjects that speak to modern life and interests.
Her “Underpaintings” series demonstrates her technical foundation and process-oriented approach to oil painting. By sharing these behind-the-scenes glimpses, she educates viewers about the methodical building of an oil painting while showcasing her solid grasp of traditional techniques.
The influence of her animation background is evident in her strong sense of composition and her ability to create paintings that tell stories or capture specific moments in time. Her understanding of how images work in sequence and narrative translates beautifully to individual paintings that feel complete and engaging.
Balancing Art and Life
What makes Courtney’s story particularly compelling is how she manages to maintain her artistic practice while juggling professional responsibilities and personal interests. Her life includes caring for a beloved Dalmatian and an fascinating collection of ten tarantulas—details that speak to someone who embraces diverse interests and isn’t afraid to be authentically herself.
This authentic approach to life seems to inform her art as well. There’s an honesty and directness to her work that suggests an artist comfortable with who she is and what she wants to express. Her willingness to share her process, her works in progress, and her artistic journey on social media creates a genuine connection with her audience.
The Contemporary Art Professional
Courtney represents a growing demographic of contemporary artists who work in professional creative fields while maintaining serious artistic practices. Her role as an art and social media specialist gives her professional stability while keeping her connected to the broader art world and contemporary visual culture.
This dual existence—professional by day, painter by night—is increasingly common among today’s artists, and Courtney demonstrates how this arrangement can actually enhance rather than hinder artistic development. Her professional experience with visual communication and digital media informs her artistic work while her painting practice keeps her connected to fundamental artistic skills and personal expression.
Technical Excellence and Emotional Depth
Courtney’s oil paintings demonstrate solid technical skills combined with genuine emotional engagement with her subjects. Whether painting landscapes, pop culture references, or experimental pieces, she brings the same level of commitment and skill to each work.
Her color palette shows sophistication and intentionality, often featuring rich, saturated colors that create mood and atmosphere. Her brushwork varies appropriately with her subjects—controlled and precise when detail is needed, more expressive and loose when the painting calls for energy and movement.
Building Community Through Art
Through her social media presence, Courtney has built a community of followers who appreciate both her finished works and her insights into the artistic process. Her willingness to share works in progress, discuss techniques, and engage with other artists creates connections that extend beyond simple appreciation of finished pieces.
This community-building aspect of her practice reflects both her professional social media skills and her genuine desire to connect with others who share her passion for art. She demonstrates how contemporary artists can use digital platforms not just for self-promotion, but for genuine artistic dialogue and community building.
Looking Forward
As Courtney continues to develop her artistic practice, she stands as an inspiring example of how contemporary artists can pursue their passions while maintaining professional stability. Her story resonates with many artists who must balance creative dreams with practical realities, showing that dedication and smart time management can lead to continued artistic growth.
Her unique background positions her well for continued success as both a professional and an artist. The skills she’s developed in animation, illustration, and social media, combined with her growing mastery of oil painting, create a foundation for a rich and varied artistic career.
Conclusion
Courtney Myers Cervantes embodies the contemporary artist’s ability to work across multiple disciplines while maintaining authentic personal expression. Her journey from SCAD animation student to professional art specialist to dedicated oil painter demonstrates that artistic paths in the 21st century can be wonderfully non-linear and multifaceted.
Her work reminds us that traditional media like oil painting continue to offer unique expressive possibilities that digital media cannot replicate, while also showing how contemporary training and sensibilities can breathe new life into classical techniques. As she continues to balance her professional life with her artistic passion, Courtney represents the best of both worlds—technical excellence informed by contemporary understanding, combined with the timeless appeal of paint on canvas.
Follow Courtney Myers Cervantes on Instagram @courtney_art to see her latest oil paintings and get insights into her artistic process. Her work is available for commission, and she continues to explore the rich possibilities of traditional oil painting while maintaining her professional career in the art and social media world.