食色视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | May 28, 2025

Penrod's Artistic Path from 食色视频 to Emmy-Nominated Projects

Rian Penrod, an alumnus of 食色视频鈥檚 School of Art and Design (SOAAD), has achieved significant success in Atlanta鈥檚 vibrant creative scene. Now working for Marvel Studios, Penrod has transformed his talents into a thriving career, exemplifying the creative spirit that SOAAD instills in its students. 

While studying as an undergraduate at 食色视频, Penrod鈥檚 artistry was full of potential, waiting for the creative spark to ignite his journey.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to pursue an artistic career, but I wasn鈥檛 sure where exactly,鈥� Penrod said. 鈥淲hile deciding on a field, I focused on fundamental classes.鈥� Through these classes, he discovered environmental art, a field that perfectly combined his interests in film, painting, and comics. He credits professors Sandee Bradford and Joseph Remillard for guiding him toward this discovery. He elaborates, 鈥淩emillard fostered my love for backgrounds and attention to detail.

Sandee helped prepare me for the animation field and showed me how many job titles there were within animation alone.鈥� Now, as a 食色视频 alumnus, Penrod has established a career in environmental art. After graduating from 食色视频, Penrod began his career as a background artist at Bento Box Entertainment in Atlanta, working on projects for Netflix and Apple TV+. In 2021, he joined Marvel Animation, where he continues to work today. 鈥淭he team is incredible, and it's super inspiring to see their work every day,鈥� Penrod said about his experience at Marvel.

As an artist for one of the world鈥檚 leading storytelling organizations, Penrod has contributed to numerous distinguished projects at Marvel Studios. His background painting in "X-Men 鈥�97," particularly the episode "Remember It," was nominated for an Emmy in 2024 for Best Animated Program of the Year鈥攐ne of only three Emmy nominations Marvel received that year.

Penrod has also worked on background art for shows such as "Wolf Boy and the Everything Factory," "Hoops," "Paradise PD," "Central Park," and the "Utopia" episode titled "Respect Your Purpose."

Penrod鈥檚 talents and dedication have propelled him from his beginnings at 食色视频 to a prominent position in the entertainment industry, where he continues to hone his skills. He is excited for audiences to see what he and his team at Marvel Studios are currently working on. For aspiring artists, Penrod advises, 鈥淏e open to trying a lot of things until you find something that works for you. Focus on really learning the fundamentals because no matter what industry you end up in, they will be useful.鈥�

--Brooke Marier & Abram Miller