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 Rob Nitsch  Biography



Rob grew up in the small rural town of Kinnelon in northern New Jersey, he was exposed to the art world at a young age through the help of Manhattan’s great museums. Prior to graduating high school he had created two thriving art based businesses, a real estate illustration company and a t-shirt screen printing operation. Following High school he studied painting at Fairleigh Dickenson University. This is where he met the prominent painter Arie Galles, who hired him as a studio assistant. Arie taught him not only fundamental art skills but also how to thrive as a professional artist.

Eventually Rob was drawn to the quaint New England countryside, specifically Vermont where he completed his painting degree at Castleton State College. While living in Vermont he fell in love with black and white photography. “It wasn't that I didn’t like color photography, I only had access to a black and white darkroom”, says Rob. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree he left Vermont and that small darkroom behind.

In the mid-90’s, Hollywood literally had a computer graphics explosion. So after
some “normal” non-art related work Rob headed out west, to California to break into the computer graphics and entertainment industries. While obtaining his MFA in Visual Effects and Computer Animation, Rob was awarded the most prestigious internship in the industry at ILM. Over 800 students apply for a position at George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic, and only 18 were accepted. While at ILM he started his feature film Career by working on the prequel to the films that defined the special effects industry, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. Upon completing his MFA Rob went back to work for Mr. Lucas but, this time at his video game company Lucas Arts, he was now an artist designing video games for the award winning director. Soon after a new film had turned Hollywood upside down with unbelievable visuals, The Matrix, Rob was approached to come on board as an effects artist to help bring its sequels to the screen.

Upon The Matrix sequels completion Rob went on to work developing stunning effects for the film Hellboy. Sony Pictures then recruited him to bring The Polar Express to the big screen, so he and soon to be wife Sarah jumped at the opportunity, relocating to Los Angeles. While living in LA Rob also worked on Joss Whedon’s directorial film debut Serenity.

During his adventures in Hollywood, Robs love for still photography had never faded and at this time DSLR’s and ink jet printing were becoming a formidable force in the photography world. He realized that his home computer could replace that small darkroom he left behind in Vermont, and now he could work with color too. When not working on feature films he spends his time translating his cinematic style into still photography.

Next Rob headed to DreamWorks Animation. This is where he brought to life the lovable characters from such films as Kung Fu Panda, Shrek goes Forth, Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss In Boots. While at DreamWorks, Rob was given the great honor of having s solo photography show in the Cloud Nine Gallery which is the studio’s on campus Gallery. Rob’s show consisted of land and sea scapes he had captured right here on Cape Cod aptly titled; Cape Scapes. The show was a huge success

Rob’s favorite subject matter is New England landscapes. “I guess I have come full circle from my original love of the New England countryside. Luckily my wife Sarah’s family is still located here on Cape Cod, which has made it easy for us to relocate here”.

 

 

20 Bank Street

PO Box 837

Wellfleet MA 02667

t 508.349.6724

t 508.349.1714

blueheron@capecod.net.