Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1469966
SUMMER 2022 13 T H E C L I M B above, clockwise from top right: Aguirre's first official Native American art show in downtown Los Angeles with (l to r) tribal member Gilbert Flores, Aguirre, his mom, dad, and niece, and Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell; With The Last Wish Aguirre imagines the end of Geronimo's life in captivity; Aguirre is thankful for all of his mentors and the opportunities he's had to learn from animation greats like (left) Art Leonardi; Aguirre with his first mentor, Bob Singer (right) in the desert." The Last Wish reflects the influence of his two favorite fine artists, Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh, and contains traces of his vocation, as well. Along with chalk pastels and colored pencils, he used a type of gouache. "It's a cel paint, actually," he says. Years ago, DreamWorks was getting rid of it. Aguirre rescued it and eventually incorporated it into his own art. These days, Aguirre's passions merge in a more substantial way. He is doing visual development and background design on Spirit Rangers, a forthcoming Netflix show for preschoolers about three Native American siblings. He also helps with historical accuracy and loves the opportunity to learn about other tribes. Currently he's pitching his own Native American show in the hope of giving back to his community, and he continues to follow the philosophy set out for him by his first mentor, Bob Singer. "Keep a humble heart and an open mind, and the doors will open," Singer told him. "The day you think you know everything; the doors will close. And whatever you do, pass it on." – Kim Fay