Biography

Hello!
My name is Sara Gianassi, and I am from Florence, Italy.
Drawing and painting have always been passions of mine. When I was 15 I started taking some private Drawing, Traditional Painting, and Fresco classes with Master Massimo Callossi, former student of famous painter Pietro Annigoni (1998 - 2005).
Then I Studied "Costume and Scenic Design" at the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence, from which I graduated with honors in 2007.
During college I attended a private course of traditional sculpting with Master Vincenzo Ventimiglia, professor at Academy of Fine Arts of Florence, and I was awarded with an Erasmus Scholarship, which allowed me to study for six months at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (2004 - 2005).
After graduating, I started working (2008) as a textile and graphic designer for fashion clothing brand Pratesi Casatex srl, in Pistoia, Italy; I worked there for three years, and although I was offered a long-term position, I realized that the world of fashion wasn't really my thing. So I undertook a new professional path, taking lessons to improve my skills as a designer and cloth modeler; I attended the Angela Vaggi Tei School for "CLOTH MODELERS" in Prato, Italy (2011 - 2012), and the "ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN" course at the NEMO Academy of Florence (2010 - 2013). While studying at the NEMO Academy I also had the chance to attend several workshops on Character Design, Animation, Illustration, Storyboarding, etc., with great instructors such as Stephen Silver, J.P. Vine, Alex Orelle, Liron Topaz, Lindsay Olivares, Bobby Chiu, Kei Acedera, Yoichi Kotabe, Takashi Namiki, Victor Navone, and Sandro Cleuzo.
Now that I have completed my training I am looking for jobs as freelance or as an employee in a studio.
I did several pubblications as children's books illustrator (Usborne, Hachette Group, Parragon, Penguin Random House, Nuinui, BoriBoricha, Lifeway, Raffaello Editrice, Studio Ad.Es....) and I worked 2 years as texture artist and visual artist for "Neko Productions", an animation Studio based in LA)
I also love travelling, singing, and playing sports - especially capoeira.
As children's book illustrator I'm represented by Astound Agency for USA area.