Pasadena Convention Center

Nikki Longfish (She/Her)

Traditional Artist Other
Nikki loves creating acrylic paintings featuring comfort food and cute creatures. After graduating from San Jose State University with a BFA in Illustration/Animation Nikki spent the first 10 years of her career working as an artist for multiple video game studios in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles she curated 5 art shows at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland in Eagle Rock, CA. Nikki currently works for the Concept Art Association as their Gallery and Mentorship Coordinator. Her paintings have been shown in various galleries including the Pence Gallery, Giant Robot Gallery, The Harman Project New York, Nanny Goat Gallery, WowXWow, Gallery Nucleus, Archival Gallery, Gallery 1988, and more.

PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE

Finding Your Family: The Importance of Creator Communities

Room 101-102 | Pentel Arts | Owen Freeman | Nikki Longfish | Erin McGuire | Arden Myers | Chris Koehler | Zi Xu

Building a career in animation, illustration, or entertainment art can feel isolating—but the right creative community can change everything.

This panel explores how artists find mentors, trusted peers, honest feedback, accountability, and the shared knowledge that helps careers grow. We’ll discuss where to find existing communities, how to start your own, and why in-person connection still matters, from casual coffee meetups to organized events.

We’ll also look at the benefits and pitfalls of social media and how artists can build deeper, lasting relationships online and off. Whether you’re established or just starting out, you’ll leave with practical ideas for finding your creative family and becoming stronger together.

Skill Level: General Audience

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