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The PVS Virtual Internship ProgramIn today’s competitive art industry, emerging creators often struggle to find real-world training to supplement their higher education and career development. Prime Vice Studios established its Virtual Internship Program™ to bridge that gap by giving talented students hands-on experience and academic credit for their work. Since launching in 2023, we have also welcomed back returning creators as Advanced Interns to deepen their expertise and contribute at an advanced level. This interview series highlights our interns, shares their testimonials, and celebrates their ongoing creative journeys. Johnathan Jackson About The Creator Johnathan Jackson is a 2D animator, character designer, and comic artist based in the Metro Atlanta area. Currently studying Digital Animation, Johnathan is driven by a mission to develop rich characters in motion-based settings while strengthening communities through cultural storytelling and authentic representation. He aims to work as a story developer for studios like Disney, Lion Forge, Sony Pictures, or DreamWorks, elevating culturally diverse narratives to global audiences. Beyond his studio ambitions, Johnathan aspires to become a professor, using his career insights to guide up-and-coming creators. To Johnathan, identity is not just a theme in his work. It is the foundation of his creative voice and his drive to connect people through shared human experiences. Perseverance & Finding Purpose Through ArtPVS: Johnathan, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us. To help our readers get to know you better, could you tell us your "Origin Story" and how you first got into art? Johnathan: I was born and raised in Conyers, Georgia, and I have been drawing ever since I was four years old. Growing up, I felt a deep personal connection to Sonic the Hedgehog, whose spirit of freedom and living life to the fullest resonated with me. I was also heavily drawn to anime, Disney, and Pixar films. Those stories taught me how to persevere through tough situations, and for a long time, consuming that media served as my primary art education. My breakthrough came in high school when an art teacher finally pushed me out of my comfort zone to study real human and animal anatomy. That challenge unlocked my love for concept creation and showed me that I wanted to bring those ideas to life through animation. Getting into college was not immediate. After failing my initial portfolio exam, I had to be honest with myself and evaluate if art was truly the path for me. With encouragement from my family and teachers, I completely overhauled my work and earned acceptance into Kennesaw State University’s art program. That experience taught me resilience. Today, I am confident in the path I chose, and I want to use my art to motivate others to find their own purpose and identity. The PVS Internship Experience: Leveling Up From Intern to Peer MentorPVS: Thank you for sharing your candid anecdotes. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since your last internship with us. Why did you decide to come back as an Advanced Level Intern? Johnathan: Prime Vice Studios has built such a welcoming and compelling community, and I wanted to help expand that environment. Returning gave me the opportunity to step into a leadership role, where I could mentor fellow artists and guide new interns as they develop into successful storytellers. On a creative level, I came back with a clear goal: to produce a professional-grade comic book exploring Tanzanian culture and the narrative of losing status and respect within a community. I knew that the network of artists, interns, and professors at PVS would give me the guidance and feedback I needed to bring that project to life. PVS: What was your experience like this time around compared to your first internship, and is there a particular highlight or story that stands out from your time with us? Johnathan: The biggest difference this time was gaining leadership experience. A major milestone for me was hosting my own Ideation Creation Workshop in collaboration with PVS. I wanted to share my process and help others learn how to build their own original stories and intellectual properties from an animator’s perspective. Leading that lesson was incredibly rewarding. Seeing everyone bring their own hobbies and brainstorming strategies to the table reinforced my desire to teach. I even had the chance to mentor a local artist on specific techniques like building story panels, designing character silhouettes, and crafting loglines to summarize an entire story in one sentence. That experience was invaluable, and it highlighted how supportive PVS is when it comes to helping artists grow both personally and professionally. PVS: Looking at your growth over time, how did the typical dynamic of this second internship differ from your first experience with PVS? Johnathan: During my first internship, I was primarily absorbing information, observing, and offering occasional input during workshops. This time around, I stepped up as a leader, teacher, and artist sharing that knowledge. Knowing how PVS operates gave me the confidence to speak up earlier, contribute to discussions on sequential art, and help fellow creators who were struggling with their work. Beyond the studio, this internship encouraged me to be much more social and engaged in outside creative communities. PVS helped build my foundation, but learning to apply those collaboration and communication skills in external spaces was what truly rounded out my growth as a professional. Lessons in Communication, Craft, and MentorshipPVS: We often learn the most from our mistakes. Can you share a challenge you faced during the project that turned into a valuable lesson? Johnathan: Early in the comic creation process, I made the mistake of assuming my existing knowledge was enough instead of actively researching traditional comic workflows. I chose working with traditional pencil and paper over digital because it gave me tighter precision, but I did not send enough progress updates or thumbnail sketches early on. Midway through, I realized I needed to communicate more and conduct additional research. Opening up that dialogue changed everything. The feedback I received from the PVS team, as well as family and friends, helped refine my story layout and panel flow. That experience taught me that proactive communication is essential. No matter how much you think you know, sharing your work early and asking questions always yields a better final product. PVS: Was there a pivotal moment when you realized this internship was having a profound impact on your professional growth? Johnathan: My 1-on-1 mentorship sessions with PVS co-founder Professor Carlos Perez were a major turning point. Beyond connecting on shared goals, working directly with Professor Perez to learn the technical process of scanning and digitizing my traditional comic pages triggered a huge mindset shift. At that moment, I stopped viewing myself as just a college student and started operating as a professional freelance artist capable of building a real career doing what I love. Professor Perez’s enthusiasm and guidance made a lasting impression, and it inspired me to lead my own workshop as a way to give back and show how much PVS helped build my confidence as a creator and aspiring educator. Pivotal Moments: Professional Growth, Skills & ConnectionsPVS: Reflecting on your growth during this apprenticeship, what specific activities or weekly routines had the biggest impact on you? Johnathan: Attending PVS’s weekly check-in meetings was invaluable. They gave me a chance to connect face-to-face with my team and reconnect with fellow students from Kennesaw State University. As an advanced intern, I was expected to step up, share feedback on our program, and help guide the summer cohort. Being put in a position where I had to speak up as a mentor pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it was exactly the kind of healthy pressure I needed to prepare for the industry. Giving meaningful feedback requires a deeper level of understanding than just having a casual conversation. For example, animation is a highly collaborative field where communicating complex ideas, techniques, and timelines is crucial to keeping a team aligned. PVS’s weekly check-ins taught me how to find my voice and express my ideas clearly, showing me that stepping into a leadership role, even when stressful, is key to building trust and supporting your team. PVS: What are three key skills or insights you gained during this experience that built upon what you learned in your first internship? Johnathan: My leadership, communication, and organization all leveled up significantly. Through mentoring fellow interns, I learned that true leadership is about active listening and focusing on how you can contribute to someone else's growth rather than just giving directives. Giving feedback became less about talking at someone and more about understanding their goals to help them succeed. Organizationally, PVS’s tracking and timesheet habits were a lifesaver. I was balancing this internship with an Honors Contract where I produced an animation guidebook and completed an advanced course. Knowing how to document my hours, take progress screenshots, and log my daily milestones allowed me to manage both workloads seamlessly and articulate my achievements professionally. PVS: Did you uncover any new creative or professional insights while working on your comic project? Johnathan: On the creative side, I gained a much deeper appreciation for character biographies in pre-production. When creating a story rooted in Tanzanian culture, detailed character breakdowns ensured I represented the community with authenticity and respect rather than relying on surface-level tropes. Understanding a character’s background, attire, and core motivation is what makes them feel human and believable to an audience. On the professional side, I learned how to navigate client relations in a formal digital setting. Maintaining a high standard of professional etiquette is crucial because how you treat clients directly impacts your reputation. PVS helped me refine that professional posture, which I continue to practice at career fairs, honors events, and industry networking spaces. PVS: Beyond your immediate team, what new connections did you build during this internship, and how did you expand your network? Johnathan: This time around, I intentionally branched out beyond my familiar spaces at PVS and the Syndicate Comics & Collectibles Shop. I built strong connections with KSU Associate Professor of Animation, Professor Chris Malone, as well as my peers in my summer Animation Pipeline class. I learned that expanding your network simply requires putting yourself out there. By sharing announcements about my workshop and creative goals, I received incredible support from classmates and faculty who genuinely cared about my growth. Stepping out of my comfort zone and reaching out to broader professional communities taught me that help and collaboration are always available if you are willing to communicate and break out of your shell. Looking Ahead: Legacy, Impact and CommunityPVS: Imagine sitting down with us two years from now to reflect on your journey. What specific milestones would mean you've succeeded, and how will PVS have helped you get there? Johnathan: Two years from now, I want my story, Project Legacy™, to be fully published, available in comic shops, and actively discussed by artists worldwide. My goal is to establish its core messages of personal identity and cultural awareness while continuing to evolve as a storyteller. PVS gave me the tools to make that vision a reality. Beyond teaching me how to conduct myself professionally and handle client negotiations, PVS provided concrete technical frameworks. Exercises from the Fresh Voices Comic Creation Workbook™ [which is part of the PVS Creative Intellectual Property Development Framework™], like thumbnail sketching and the setup-hit-aftermath formula, helped me know page layouts and build cohesive visual flow. PVS: What do you hope your creative projects achieve in the world, and how has that mission evolved since you first started? Johnathan: I want my art to motivate people to reflect deeply on their own values, traditions, and purpose, giving them hope that they can build a lasting legacy. My perspective has evolved in a meaningful way: I realized that while not everyone can travel the globe and experience new places firsthand, my art can bring rich cultures and landscapes directly to them. I want my work to serve as a bridge that inspires people to explore their own identity and the world around them. PVS: How do you plan to continue developing Project Legacy™ after completing this program? Johnathan: Now that I've spent a year laying the foundation, I’m transitioning into a full production phase for Project Legacy™. My immediate focus is producing detailed character designs, expression sheets, environmental concept art, and original pencilled comic pages. To make sure their stories feel authentic, I’m actively researching African folklore and media to deepen their personalities, expand worldbuilding, and understand core themes like the symbolism of fire, lions, and the sun. I also plan to launch a blog on my website to document the entire development journey of Project Legacy. Whether sharing behind-the-scenes concept art or reflecting on my process, I want to build a space that reminds creators that hope is real and that there is always a community waiting for your work. Strategy Before Execution: Tips for Future InternsPVS: Who should apply for this internship, and who would you recommend it to? Could you share a few of the core benefits? Johnathan: I would recommend this internship to any emerging artist who wants to sharpen their craft, grow professionally, and find a supportive creative community. A few of the biggest benefits you’ll gain include:
PVS: What advice would you give to interested students? Johnathan: Before applying to this or any art internship, I suggest sitting down and clarifying your main goal. Creative work takes time. Tasks like producing character designs, expression sheets, environment art, and comic pages can easily fill two to three months of focused effort. A great question to ask yourself is: Do I need to build my intellectual property, or do I need to build my professional business foundation? In other words, are you focusing on generating content for your portfolio, or are you creating business infrastructure like a website and networking assets? It’s hard to build a polished website if you don't have the finished art to fill it yet. Trying to do everything at once can lead to burn out, especially if you have limited time. When you focus on building a strong foundation in one key area first, everything else becomes much easier to stack on top of it later. Parting Thoughts & Looking AheadPVS: As we conclude this spotlight, please share what type of clients and audience you want to connect with or work for? Johnathan: Well, On the client side, I want to collaborate with brands and businesses looking to elevate their identity through creative storytelling and inclusive cultural representation. My goal isn't just to tell my own story—I want to help tell other people’s stories, too. As for my audience, I want to connect with people who value personal growth, purpose, and genuine community. I believe everyone has a unique story and purpose, and I want my work to bring people together. Whether you are an established creator, a client with a vision, or a reader looking for inspiration, I’d love to connect with your journey as we grow together. PVS: This was great Johnathan. Thanks for taking time for us to learn more about you and your art. We wish you continued success and of course are here to support you on your journey! Follow Up ContactsFollow Johnathan Jackson’s work or contact him via the following: Website: www.jcadaptations.com Social Media:
Creator Art Gallery If you or someone you know is interested in being involved with what PVS does feel free to contact us.
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The PVS Virtual Internship ProgramIn today’s industry landscape many art students are hard-pressed to find opportunities to gain real world experience and training to supplement their higher education and career development. Prime Vice Studios has established its Virtual Internship Program to give opportunity to talented students who wish to gain valuable experience and earn academic credit for their efforts. This interview series seeks to highlight our interns, share their testimonials and support them on their creative journeys. Jillian Soble About the CreatorJillian is currently studying Digital Animation at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, developing her story, Nathan Baker, Creature Maker™ as well as continuing to improve upon her Digital Art skills. Her passion for all things art has driven her to always keep learning, especially from her friends and peers. Jillian, Thank you so much for providing your testimonial. So our readers get to know you a bit better please share what nurtured your artistry? Growing up I was always encouraged to pursue my creative side, whether it was art camps over the summer or a marker set gifted on a birthday. This support helped me to improve upon my aptitude for multiple mediums, something I'm very proud of and thankful for. My family has always been a big part of my artistic side, both of my parents are artists and my grandmother was a painter. To me their support means the world. As I've grown, I’ve surrounded myself with art, the people I've gotten to meet through it are still some of my closest friends. That’s great! Kudos to having a strong support system and being able to garner a network of good people around you. That’s special. What are some of your art career goals? My goal would be to work at Disney or Capcom, but my absolute dream is to get the opportunity to work at Fox for King of the Hill, a show that holds a lot of significance to me as it makes a very palatable yet comedic spin on real issues that affect communities worldwide. PVS Internship ExperienceThose are great goals Jillian. We’re here to support you on your journey to achieve them. Our efforts with the PVS internship program is to help you prepare for and achieve those aspirations. Please tell us why you decided to do an internship with us? I was drawn to PVS because of the environment and community they cultivated. A big part of that draw came from the many interviews describing how they felt uplifted and supported during their internship. Prime Vice was always very vocal about how their internship program was working with us, and creating a foundation for our ideas which made me feel secure in sharing my ideas and art. That’s reassuring to know. With all people we work with, we want them to be passionate about their ideas. Drawing from your time with us this summer, what was your experience like? Were there any standout moments? My experience was really amazing! A standout moment for me definitely was the last workshop of the summer. Since I have a summer birthday, it's very hard to coordinate with my friends so when our workshop happened to fall on my birthday, Prime Vice made it all the more special for me by bringing me some treats and inviting me to bring along a few guests. To me, that made me feel like I was a part of Prime Vice. Knowledge & Skills GainedOur internship program provides the opportunity for experiential learning through our in-house production training and real world experiences. Please tell us about knowledge or skills you’ve personally gained through this internship? A big learning moment for me was learning how Google Classroom works in tandem with other programs. As this was my first time utilizing Google Classroom, I learned a lot on how to navigate it. When working on the worldbuilding section of the program, my understanding of what made a world feel real changed greatly. A world you create has personality and intent behind it. That concept and way of creating has stuck with me. Highlights & Pivotal MomentsReflecting on your own progress, please elaborate on times that you’ve noticed personal growth. During our workshop in June towards the end after we had packed up, I was approached by someone who was interested in what the event was. At that moment it was as if my body had forgotten that I'm shy around strangers. We started talking and I explained what Prime Vice does. It was so natural that when I got in my car I had to take a moment to recognize how far my public speaking had come. Also, of all I have learned during my internship, I think the following skills were the most impactful. For me, time management is integral, because I'm very quick to dive directly into a project and hard focus it until I'm done. During my time as an intern the encouragement to take breaks and check in for feedback really assisted my work/life balance. Another very important skill is communication. A big part of this for me comes from my hesitance to 'bother' the person I'm communicating with. In a professional setting, that mindset can be really harmful when a problem arrives, so having Professor Perez and Professor Vahal be so open and welcoming of questions really helped me. Last thing would be to have fun with the people you get to work with. While there is of course a time and place, getting to know the people who give you that awesome feedback is how you make friends. Vision For The FutureImagine we’re sitting down together two years from now or further looking back. What specific accomplishments would have to happen for you to be happy with your progress? I would like to have at least 2 volumes of Nathan Baker, Creature Maker™ created, with the intention to publish them. I would also want to have a separate website from my portfolio online to promote the story as well as keep my readers updated on my progress. What do you hope your art/ IPs will do in the world? I hope my IP can connect people. A big part of Nathan Baker, Creature Maker is connecting those who seem like an unlikely pair, to look beyond outward appearances and to embrace the ‘odd.’ How do you plan to continue developing your creative IP after this program? Now that I have a solid premise for my story, I plan to continue on the series at my own pace as I work on completing my degree as to not burn out or create a rushed product that I am not proud of. Advice For Creators & Future InternsJillian, what type of person would you recommend for this internship? I believe that anyone with a strong idea that they feel very confident about should definitely give this internship a try, but of course be willing to put in the work. If you love that idea, you have to take the steps needed to make it real. A big benefit of being an intern would be the numerous resources provided. With every module we completed there were always a myriad of books and articles on how to improve upon what we were working on. Excellent. What advice would you give to those interested? My advice to students who are interested would be to stay organized and above all, be proactive about communication. Another tip would be to try and remain active in the Discord, while it isn’t required, it is a great way to connect with the Prime Vice community. Final Thoughts & Follow UpLastly, what type of clients, audience do you want to connect with or work for? I want to connect with and make art for people of all walks of life. I also want to connect and network with others to strengthen my understanding of what the art industry is like. Jillian, thank you for taking time out for us and others to learn more about you and your art. PVS will continue to cheer on and wish you continued success! Follow Jillian’s work online or contact via the following contact info: Email: [email protected] Instagram: @sourdoedraws Website: https://jilliansoble.wixsite.com Creator Art Gallery If you or someone you know is interested in being involved with what PVS does feel free to contact us.
The PVS Virtual Internship ProgramIn today’s industry landscape many art students are hard-pressed to find opportunities to gain real world experience and training to supplement their higher education and career development. Prime Vice Studios has established its Virtual Internship Program to give opportunity to talented students who wish to gain valuable experience and/ or earn academic credit for their efforts. This interview series seeks to highlight our interns, share their testimonials and assist them on their creative journey Jen Stephens About The CreatorJen is an illustrator and comic artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her work often features motifs of fantasy and inspirations from different historical styles of character and clothing design. This passion for design and illustration began when Jen was very young, practicing art as a family tradition taught to her by her father. Her father is a carpenter and a painter who encouraged her to pursue art and to take it seriously. Due to this encouragement, Jen has spent her years learning about illustration and the story making process. PVS Internship ExperienceJen, thank you for doing this interview please share why you chose to do an internship with PVS? As a sequential art major, I was expecting for there to be little opportunity to get an internship focused on my specialty. However, I was surprised to find that was not the case. As soon as I saw the listing for a sequential art company internship I knew I had to apply. Nice. We’re happy that you saw the opportunity and applied. What was your experience with PVS like? I’ve had a great experience with the internship. It really gave me some time to sit with my story concept and just research and take my time with developing it. There was an entire weekend where I fell down a rabbit hole of researching French castles and writing down every little note about their design details and taking virtual tours. I really appreciate that I had the freedom to be able to do something like that and go in depth to different aspects of my work that I would usually be rushed through on a school assignment. Knowledge & Skills GainedPlease elaborate on the knowledge and skills you’ve gained working with us this summer? Because of that freedom, I feel so much more prepared for any future freelance work I may take on. I’m very grateful for those professional skills I’ve gained as well as the confidence I’ve gained to put myself and my work out more. Even if I don’t pursue the IP (intellectual property) I’ve worked on during this internship to completion post college, I’ll be happy if at least one person can read what I’ve done so far and be inspired by it in some way. Pivotal MomentPlease share a story highlighting a pivotal moment of the internship. The opportunity I was given to pursue a Google Certificate was also very rewarding. I chose to pursue my certificate in UX design and the skills I learned through that program helped me to begin designing a stronger personal website to share my work. For me this was pivotal in helping me gain confidence in working on my personal work and supplying a starting point for my professional career. Vision For The FutureImagine us sitting down together two years from now or further looking back. What specific accomplishments would have to happen for you to be happy with your progress? What do you hope your comics and IP will do in the world? In two years, I will have been happy to have finally started my projects. Hopefully, I will have graduated and begun working on several smaller comics to build up my brand and future customer base. I know progress will be slow and it may take a while, but I would love to make a series that truly and deeply impacts people. As long as I achieve that to some degree I feel I will be very satisfied with my accomplishments. Advice For Creators & Future InternsJen, who would you recommend for this internship for? If you have a passion for storytelling, or an interest in character creation or comics then I would recommend this internship. It will help you to make your own schedule and build the skills to share and pitch your work to the outside world. My only advice is to truly work on something that you feel passionate about. What advice would you give to interested students? My advice would definitely be to make a schedule and stick to it. The flexibility is great in the schedule, but if you get too complacent or do too little work it may make it harder on you in the end. Just pace yourself, use the resources given to you. Do work that feels fun and refreshing and just follow what you want to work on and it shouldn’t be a problem committing to a schedule. Ultimately, just try and make it fun! Final Thoughts & Follow UpWhat type of clients, audience do you want to connect with or work for? I’m willing to work with anyone whether it’s for professional or personal reasons. I’m able to help with comic creations, character designs, and many other types of commissions. As long as someone has a vision and a passion I’m able to turn it into reality! This was great Jen. Thanks for taking time for us to learn more about you and your art. We wish you continued success! Follow Jen’s work or reach via the following contact info: Social Media: Ig: JenCaye Email: j[email protected] Creator Art Gallery If you or someone you know would like to apply to be a PVS intern, apprentice, or volunteer fill out an application by clicking the button below.
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