〰
Christopher Pace
Nurture change and creativity will flourish
Chris founded Blaze in 1998 in a time when digital transformation was at the brink of change. Everything was new then as is now. Chris is an avid believer of innovation. He believes that constant challenge creates a positive vibe amongst the team and helps nurture the motivational spirit that is reflected in the quality of the work.
Constant change is an energy that fuels a creative pulse in the company. Every project needs to be different and better than our last project!
- 2D Artist
- Storyboard Artist
- 3D Modeller
- UV Mapper
- Texture Artist
- Game Designer
Having been involved in many roles within the business, Chris’s skills are a culmination of years of experience in the creative, technical, artistic and marketing disciplines. His passion for technology plays an important role in promoting advanced techniques in every process of the production and development pipeline. His cinematographic and design roots regularly contribute towards the conceptual and story telling execution. His experience in many processes together with his comprehensive business and entrepreneurial qualities combined, offer an outstanding and complete service to Blaze’s clients. Moreover, his ability to analyse and strategise holistically across the marketing spectrum, have also given him the ability to apply creative solutions more effectively in several sectors.
Apart from my artistic pursuits, I am an avid sports enthusiast. Engaging in physical activities not only keeps me fit but also fuels my creativity and inspires me. I find solace in the outdoors trail ultra running and on my scuba diving instructor career which use these experiences to bring a dynamic and energetic quality to my artistic works.
〰
Ivan Saliba
Handcraftedwith passion
Ivan is one of the longest standing veterans and major contributors to Blaze’s success. His creative ability combined with his technical skill enable him to be involved in many roles of the production pipeline. His placid character and hard-working amplitude are key contributors to the motivational and inspirational ambience created amongst the team. With two decades of experience under his belt, Ivan is still an eager beaver to conquer and learn new techniques and explore new ways and means of delivering excellence.
The creative train never stops. From time to time, you stop to visit the odd station but the journey continues allowing you to explore new avenues, new ideas and new inspiration. The creative scenery is spectacular and I am still enjoying the ride!
- Creative Director
- Concept Artist
- Texture Artist
- 3D Lighting Artist
- Animation Supervisor
- Game Designer
Ivan’s skills are diverse reaching very high standards in each discipline he masters. Besides being one of the leading local talents in 3D, Ivan brings the whole package into the scene with a long list of attributes that sometimes seem humanly impossible. He has been self-groomed in an environment that allowed him to explore cinematography, photography, graphic design and the application of various art forms on numerous projects at Blaze. He slices through technical challenges like a knife through butter. His artistic flare is impeccable and is reflective in his creative performance on every assignment be it in 2D, in 3D or a concoction of other disciplines. Ivan is the keystone in the team who helps make things happen efficiently.
Behind a vast collection of retro lenses is Ivan’s eye trying to capture the next scene in a variety of subjects. Ivan is not only intrigued by the principles and application of photography but is also obsessed with the exploration of light and how it effectively can shape mood, texture and composition. To satisfy his experimental photography and videography, Ivan will frequently rummage through eBay deals in search for his next optical gear so much so that we started calling him ‘The Pay Pal’.
Ivan also enjoys travelling and is evidently influenced by the diversity of world cuisines, as he also enjoys eating and cooking various dishes from around the world. Fortunately for the rest of the team, they often get to savour his experimental produce that typically happens during lunch-time at the office.
Ivan is a father of two and while it is a challenging task as a parent, he manages to juggle and fuse his passion even with his children as they very often become the main subjects of his photographic experiments.
Between the glorious moments of parenthood and the split seconds behind the eyepiece of his camera, Ivan is also a person who loves sharing ideas, sharing discoveries and a single malt to celebrate the small successes of each day with his teammates.
〰
Daniel Spagnol
Time is the only limitation
Daniel is an exceptional individual who possesses an innate ability to rapidly comprehend and master any technical concept presented to him. His insatiable curiosity and relentless pursuit of knowledge in the realm of 3D art propel him to new heights each day. With an unwavering drive, he explores novel techniques, software applications, and methodologies, consistently pushing the boundaries of his expertise.
Daniel’s remarkable talent lies in his capacity to convert his acquired knowledge into practical and innovative technical solutions. Entrusted with various projects, he never leaves any stone unturned in his quest to conquer any challenge, whether it be technical, creative, or a fusion of both. His unwavering determination and extensive experience make him an indispensable technical guru within the Blaze team.
In Daniel’s world, there is always another level to be reached. He relentlessly seeks out new techniques, explores the latest software advancements, and draws inspiration from the works of others. While this constant evolution and pursuit of novelty can sometimes feel overwhelming, it is precisely what ignites his motivation. Daniel embraces the ever-changing landscape of his field, consistently striving to solve problems and innovate, ensuring he stays ahead of the curve.
- 3D Generalist
- Photogrammetry Specialist
- Rigger
- Animator
- Interactive Designer
- Game Designer
Daniel has earned an admirable list of diverse skills in 3D and more recently, he focused specifically taking rigging and animation techniques to a new level. His persistence and level of commitment to excel then prevail are reminiscent to his disposition to face new challenges with open arms and not retreat from steep climbs. Daniel’s self-learned knoweledge in scripting languages extend his capabilities to new heights allowing him to deliver processes more efficiently and effectively. He is Blaze’s go-to talent when it comes to the more technically crtitical requirements of a project.
A big influence on Daniel’s technical and design qualities are his diverse interests in digital arts to the complex making of movies and the industry in general. His acumen for detail coupled with his observational qualities have become equally a passion as they are a hobby. His design background root his interest in other areas such as photography and whilst he does snap some impressive shots, he is also intrigued by the arduous technicalities behind the skill which he tends to master in a flash.
He also enjoys cooking and experimenting with different dishes – a passion he inherited from the influence of his teamates.
Notwithstanding his full schedule, he still manages to fit in some cycling, physical training and also kayaking.
Daniel is a born creative with combined interests in design, art, technology and surprisingly also birds more specifically parrots. He finds his parrot pet very amusing and to keep everything in the context of his other technical passions, he named her Poly Gone!
〰
Sirach Borg
Not all pencils have lead
Sirach is the youngest member of the squad but still bears a wealth of experience in many roles within the team. From a young and tender age, he has always been fascinated by the techniques used in producing the simplest of cartoons and animated movies. Sirach has an ability which is not commonly found in an artist. He can switch from one style into another as though a new artist has stepped in. This ability naturally gives Blaze the diversity of styles that is clearly evident in our portfolio of works.
- 2D Artist
- Storyboard Artist
- 3D Modeller
- UV Mapper
- Texture Artist
- Game Designer
Sirach is the owner of the white canvas. His early strokes and sketches start to define the ideas when they are in their most embryonic stage. He applies many traditional drawing techniques to modern digital tablet technology and fast forward through ample design research and many hours of manual strokes and paint buckets, he unveils his digital canvas with awe. Sirach is also a meticulous 3D modeller and ensures that every build is perfect and well optimised for the next process where textures come to play. Frequently, such textures also require the Sirach’s gifted hand to physically apply hand-drawn textures for a more stylised finish. Sirach is well-organised and a perfectionist in his work. Every crevice and every polygon of the mesh he builds in 3D is crafted with unmitigated precision, a much-appreciated attribute that makes the job of the next in line so much easier!
Sirach’s enthusiasm for art doesn’t come to a standstill at his digital workstation. His love for design, illustration and sculpting is also practiced as a hobby using raw materials such as wood, paint, stone and clay. His pass time experiments are often linked to interiors or art pieces that are both spectacular as they are unique. The physical hand-crafting and experience gained using real textures and materials are also evident in Sirach’s digital work. When the paints are dry and the artistic muse is temporarily parked, Sirach also enjoys adventurous trips either trekking or kayaking along the local coastlines and commonplace in his inventory during such trips is always his camera bag. Sirach also enjoys videography and photography and he indeed has a natural eye for it too. On days when work or adventure are not on his calendar, he will gladly immerse himself into a drawing frenzy sketching his next concept sportscar…another passion of his that accelerates his drive for art.
〰
JM Villalobos
Keen eye for detail
JM Villalobos Gallardo is a 3D artist from Spain who has a strong passion for creativity and a keen eye for detail, has established himself as a sought-after professional in the field of digital artistry.Highly skilled 3D modeler with a passion for creating visually captivating and immersive digital experiences, adept at transforming concepts and ideas into realistic and detailed 3D models. Collaborative team player with excellent communication skills and a commitment to delivering exceptional results. Strong understanding of form, composition, and lighting, with a keen eye for detail. Experienced in creating assets for video games Adept at optimizing models for performance and functionality.I indulge in my passion for 2D illustration, exploring various styles and techniques. Whether it’s digital painting, character design, or concept art, I enjoy the process of transforming ideas into visually stunning visuals. This hobby allows me to continuously refine my artistic skills and experiment with different mediums.
- 3D Generalist
- Photogrammetry Specialist
- Rigger
- Animator
- Interactive Designer
- Game Designer
Degree in Graphic design at Ceade University in Seville, Spain and Milan, Highly skilled and versatile freelance 3D Modeller with 5 years of experience in creating visually stunning assets for various industries, including gaming, and advertising. Proficient in industry-standard software such as Maya, C4D, and Substance Painter.
A big influence on Daniel’s technical and design qualities are his diverse interests in digital arts to the complex making of movies and the industry in general. His acumen for detail coupled with his observational qualities have become equally a passion as they are a hobby. His design background root his interest in other areas such as photography and whilst he does snap some impressive shots, he is also intrigued by the arduous technicalities behind the skill which he tends to master in a flash.
He also enjoys cooking and experimenting with different dishes – a passion he inherited from the influence of his teamates.
Notwithstanding his full schedule, he still manages to fit in some cycling, physical training and also kayaking.
Daniel is a born creative with combined interests in design, art, technology and surprisingly also birds more specifically parrots. He finds his parrot pet very amusing and to keep everything in the context of his other technical passions, he named her Poly Gone!