Interview
Felipe Amaya
Felipe Amaya is a visual effects artist and designer based in New York City. As a Houdini specialist, his main focuses are FX, proceduralism, and tool development. He has extensive experience in production, initially as a CG Generalist and later as a technical FX artist and FX Supervisor. Felipe has worked on a wide range of commercial, film, and episodic projects, contributing both creatively and technically. He is passionate about art and design, scripting, problem-solving, parameterization, and dynamic effects.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am a designer, technical artist, and FX supervisor. I’ve always been a visually driven person, with a deep-rooted affinity for art, design, and film that began in childhood. From a young age, I would spend countless hours drawing and sculpting with clay, while frequent trips to the local movie theater with my parents sparked a fascination with cinema. Every film left a lasting impression and further fueled my creative curiosity. This passion continued to grow and eventually led me to pursue a bachelor's degree in graphic design, where I refined my visual sensibilities and developed a strong foundation in design principles. However, while I remained passionate about design, I found that graphic design alone didn’t fully satisfy my creative ambitions. I was drawn to the dynamic world of moving images and storytelling through visual effects. To bridge that gap, I sought formal training in 3D, animation, and visual effects in New York, where I studied intensively for a full year. That experience launched my career in visual effects, and I began working for a studio that specialized in VFX for commercials. After a few years, I realized I wanted to deepen my knowledge further and decided to pursue an MFA in Visual Effects at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Upon graduating, I returned to New York City, where I transitioned into film and episodic work—first at FuseFX and currently at Folks VFX.”
What inspires you?
“I find inspiration in many things—almost anything, really—especially when it comes to art. It can be paintings, sculptures, fascinating visual illusions, or beautifully crafted animations. I’m often moved by striking movie shots with thoughtful cinematography. Roger Deakins is the cinematographer who comes to mind when I think about beautiful lighting in film. I also love complex, layered music.
In particular, I enjoy listening to compositions with intricate polyrhythms. I gravitate toward energetic music, whether it’s epic soundtracks by composers like Hans Zimmer, John Williams, or Ludwig Göransson, or the legendary Cowboy Bebop score by Yoko Kanno. I also thoroughly enjoy heavier genres and often listen to bands like Periphery, Animals as Leaders, and Veil of Maya. On the more technical side, I’m inspired by well-designed tools that optimize workflows in visual effects. Seeing smart, efficient solutions to complex problems motivates me to push my own technical boundaries and explore new approaches. Nature also plays an important role in my creative process. I recently went on vacation with my wife, and we spent most of our time exploring the outdoors. It was incredibly refreshing to be surrounded by birdsong, crystal-clear streams, and expansive landscapes. The experience reminded me of how energizing and creatively inspiring the natural world can be.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I infuse my personal work with the things I’m naturally drawn to—whether it’s design principles, optical illusions, or clever visual concepts. I always like to create parametrically, which allows me to tweak and adjust elements without having to start over from scratch. As an artist working in the visual effects industry, this approach has become essential, especially in a field where endless revisions are the norm. Whenever possible, I also enjoy exploring whimsical and clever narratives to bring an extra layer of meaning or playfulness to the work.”
“I am fascinated by humans’ ability to be extremely methodical and precise at the same time, especially before the existence of modern computers.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe my work as a combination of technical digital tools infused with design and color. It is not only a collection of videos and still images, but also a repository of technical explorations and creative ideas.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I am fascinated by humans’ ability to be extremely methodical and precise at the same time, especially before the existence of modern computers. M.C. Escher is an artist who has always inspired and influenced my work, not only through his art but also through his persona. An analytical, obsessive, and introspective person who, to this day, more than a hundred years after his birth, still influences art and the world. Painters like Monet and Van Gogh have always fascinated me because of how they pushed the boundaries of painting in their time. More modern artists, especially in the digital art scene, are also monumental inspirations to me—names like Simon Holmedal and Yann Lega come to mind.”
What is your creative process like?
“All of my work begins with a question, something like ‘Would it be possible to...?’ or ‘What if you combined X with Y?’ These types of questions spark visual ideas in my mind, which I begin to shape and develop. Before committing anything to paper or screen, I usually discuss these early concepts with my wife, who is also a designer and artist. Her insight often helps clarify and refine my thinking at the very beginning of the process. Once the idea feels more solid and I have a clearer visual direction, I move into sketching or directly exploring the idea in 3D. However, no matter how well planned, there is always an element of serendipity involved. The final result rarely looks exactly like what I originally imagined, but it typically retains the core essence of what I set out to achieve. I tend to enjoy the creative process more than the finished piece itself. I am probably my own harshest critic and often evaluate my final work with a very critical eye. That said, I am not someone who endlessly polishes a piece. I am able to call something finished rather than done when I feel that it has reached the goal I initially set for it. I value closure, especially because I have an endless stream of new ideas and visuals that I want to explore. It is important for me to recognize when a piece has fulfilled its purpose so I can move on to the next.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“To me, the role of an artist in society is constantly evolving. Art appears to be an innate human impulse. The need to externalize our ideas through creative expression dates back to prehistoric times. It serves as a reflection of who we were, who we are, and where we might be headed. Art is not just a historical record; it can evoke joy, wonder, and awe. It helps us tell stories, whether grounded in reality or entirely fantastical, and it fuels our imagination. At the center of this is the artist. Whether it’s a writer, musician, sculptor, or digital creator, we as humans are natural tinkerers and dreamers, and art is one of the primary ways we explore those dreams. I believe that art allows us to hold a mirror to ourselves as individuals and as societies. It gives us space to reflect, to celebrate, to grieve, and to process complex emotions. Artists are an essential part of humanity. Their contributions are as meaningful and impactful as those of any other discipline.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’d like to invite you to watch some of the shows I’ve worked on. Most recently, I worked on We Were Liars for Amazon Prime and the latest season of 1923, where my role included both FX Artist and FX Supervisor. If you want to see more of my personal work, I’d recommend checking out my Instagram. However, I’m trying to move beyond sharing solely on social media and start exhibiting in other venues, like galleries. That said, I’m still in the very early stages of this process.”
Website: felipeamayaq.com
Instagram: @felipeamayaq
