New Faculty Member Q&A: Lucas Dimick
Lucas Dimick, an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies, is an artist and an award-winning independent animator whose animated short films have been screened in film festivals worldwide. His practice spans painting, drawing, animation, and new media performance. He holds an M.F.A. in Film, Video, New Media and Animation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a B.A. in Graphic Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. Dimick previously taught in the department as an adjunct faculty member.
Tell us about the classes you'll be teaching this year.
This academic year, I will be teaching two courses in both the fall and spring semesters: Media & Motion and Principles of Animation. Both are introductory courses that provide students with a foundation in digital art and animation. I will also teach Storyboarding in the fall and Interactive Animation in the spring. My goal is for each class to challenge students while giving them the opportunity to grow creatively and technically. I hope students leave my courses with a stronger understanding of how digital art and animation can become meaningful parts of their own artistic and professional practice.
What attracted you to the Arts and Entertainment Technologies department and The University of Texas at Austin?
What first attracted me to AET was its unique position as a digital art program within the College of Fine Arts and its interdisciplinary approach to art and technology. I see potential in the ways animation and interactivity connect to the broader field of digital art, from fine art and experimental media to video games and emerging technologies. The AET department at The University of Texas at Austin provides an environment where those disciplines can intersect in exciting and unexpected ways.
How did your professional pathway lead to your current research focus?
My undergraduate degree is in Graphic Arts, and I began my career as a graphic designer during the dot-com boom, designing everything from logos and annual reports to websites. Early in my career, an art director handed me a copy of Adobe After Effects—back when software came on discs—and told me we were now motion designers and that I needed to learn the program.
As I taught myself After Effects, I became fascinated by its creative possibilities beyond commercial design. I realized animation could become an integral part of my own fine art practice, leading me toward abstract, experimental, and interactive animation. That path ultimately inspired me to earn an MFA in Film, Video, New Media, and Animation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, which marked the beginning of my academic career.
What's something that students and colleagues should know about you?
I am naturally quiet and reserved, but that doesn't mean I am unapproachable. I have a dry sense of humor, and I strive to create a classroom environment that is welcoming, low-stress, and encourages curiosity. I want students to feel comfortable asking questions, experimenting, and taking creative risks as part of the learning process. I genuinely enjoy teaching and helping students discover their interests, develop their skills and realize their potential.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not teaching, researching or working?
Outside of work, I enjoy reading and cooking. Whenever I have the opportunity, I love to travel and explore new places. Experiencing different cultures, trying new foods, and continually learning from the people and places I encounter are some of the things I find most rewarding. At home, I have three kids, three cats, and a repertoire of solid dad jokes.