Shant Klebesadel

I am Shant Klebesadel, a Southern California multimedia artist specializing in both feature film visual effects and traditional watercolor and fluid acrylic painting.

I earned my Bachelor's Degree in English from UCLA in 2013 before studying Entertainment Design, Modeling, and Texturing at Gnomon School from 2013–2016. After graduating, I joined Lightstorm Entertainment, where I worked on Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar 3: Fire and Ash from 2016 to 2025.

During my time at Lightstorm, I worked in the Environments Lab creating digital assets, props, vehicles, vegetation, animals, and environment layouts for virtual production. Later, I joined the Kabuki Facial Capture department, processing actors' facial performances into animated textures for previs and helping develop proprietary tools to streamline the production pipeline. Most recently, I created facial blend shape rigs for ten characters in the upcoming META / Gravity Media VR experience Survivors of Hate.

Although my professional career has been rooted in feature film visual effects, painting has always remained a constant part of my life. The observation, composition, color, and storytelling I developed while working on productions like Avatar continue to influence my traditional artwork today.

Alongside my work in visual effects, I devote much of my creative energy to traditional watercolor and fluid acrylic painting. Working entirely by hand, I create realistic portraits, cherished pet portraits, landscapes, expressive abstract watercolors, and vibrant fluid acrylic paintings. I enjoy balancing technical precision with spontaneity, allowing each piece to capture not only a likeness or location, but also a sense of personality, atmosphere, and emotion.

Whether painting a beloved companion, commemorating a meaningful memory, exploring the beauty of a landscape, or creating an abstract composition inspired by movement and color, my goal is to create artwork that feels both personal and enduring.

I am currently available for freelance visual effects opportunities, traditional artwork, and custom commissions. If you're interested in a portrait, pet painting, landscape, abstract piece, or would like to discuss a professional collaboration, I'd be happy to hear from you.

Fine art prints of many of my original paintings are available at Shanticlair.RedBubble.com.

You can download my current résumé using the button below or get in touch through the Contact page above.