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Maritza Louis

@_punchy_

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Klukʷtús skʷukʷúsnt
Indigenous VisDev Modeler | Concept Sculptor
@ Walt Disney Animation Studios
Sylix/Secwépemc
Freelance | Consulting | Mentoring

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New year, new show reel update!

Visual Development Modeler | Concept Sculptor | Show Reel 2023

maritzalouis@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maritzalouis/
www.maritzalouis.com

Hi, I’m Maritza Louis, a member of the Syilx/ Secwépemc Nations in the Okanagan/ Shuswap regions of BC, Canada, and I am a Visual Development Modeler | CG Artist with over 18 years of experience in Feature Animation, Game, VFX and Cinematics. With a focus on character creation and visual development. taken in Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Səl̓ilwətaɁɬ, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Unceded Territory by @_punchy_

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4 years ago

A update on the Lil Frenchie, Pucci, to finish the rest of his color 🎨🐶 concept by @jamwoodser #sculpt #weekendsculpt #zbrush #pixelogic #pixelogiczbrush #artstation #cgart #3dart #concept #visdevelopment #pucci #frenchiesofinstagram #frenchbulldog #3dtotal #posing #cartoon #stylized #jameswoods #cg taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @_punchy_

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6 years ago

Been having a little too much fun with these weekend sculpts. Here is my latest sculpt based off of an @maxgrecke concept.............................................. full turntable on my www.artStation.com/artwork/Vd55PX ............................................. #3dsculpt #zbrush #pixelogic #stylized #cartoon #cg #cglife #muscles #visualdevelopment #posing #characterartist #charactermodeling #3dart #maya #weekendsculpt #tightywhities #conceptart #maxgrecke #artstation taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @_punchy_

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6 years ago

GIRLS AND STEAM SUMMIT is fast approaching! 🤩

I’m very excited for the summit with @scienceworldca. It really is an incredible opportunity for BIPOC girls and gender-diverse youth to see all the possibilities available to them in STEAM.

STEAM opened a lot of doors for me. If I can help keep that door open so others can come through a little more easily than I did, that feels important and very worthwhile.

Representation in STEAM matters because we need the diverse voices, experiences and ways of thinking that people bring to the table. We need those perspectives to help us find new solutions to the challenges we face in this rapidly changing world.

To my fellow Rez kids out there, you belong in STEAM. Your knowledge and presence are needed. Your voice matters. Your experience matters.

Our people have been using the alphabet of STEAM for a very long time.

Not all knowledge comes from a textbook. Textbooks matter, but they aren’t the only way knowledge is learned or shared. Land-based teachings are important. Community knowledge is important. The knowledge passed down through generations is important.

Keep trying. Keep pushing. You are likely a lot further along than you give yourself credit for. And if you need help, reach out to your community.

We are stronger together. 🧡 #indigneous #steam #sylix #secwépemc by @_punchy_

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2 days ago

We were very fortunate to have the lovely and talented @weavetoheal come in and share a cedar bracelet weaving workshop with some of the staff at the studio. @ritakompst you are so patient and thoughtful with your teachings. Limləmt / Thank you, for your time and generosity. Weaving with cedar was a lot of fun and very artistically humbling experience. 🙇🏽‍♀️🧡 #musqueamartist #cedarweaving #coastsalsih by @_punchy_

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3 days ago

✨Registration is OPEN for the Girls and STEAM Summit, presented by @stemcelltechnologies! We’re so excited to welcome this year’s keynote speaker, Maritza Louis (@_punchy_)!

Currently working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Maritza Louis (Klukʷtús skʷukʷúsnt) is a Syilx and Secwépemc Visual Development Modeler and Concept Sculptor with more than 20 years of experience working across feature animation, games, VFX, and cinematics. Maritza’s portfolio of work includes contributions to titles like Grand Theft Auto V, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Sausage Party, Spider-Man: Homecoming, DC League of Super-Pets, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, Moana 2, Hexed, and many others.

She is passionate about encouraging people of all ages, particularly Indigenous and underrepresented youth, to see themselves as creators, problem-solvers, and leaders in STEAM.

💫 The Girls and STEAM Summit brings together 300 participants aged 12-14 with over 150 different STEAM professionals and organizations for a day of hands-on learning, exploring and discovery for FREE. Don’t miss this inspiring opportunity to connect, learn, and dream big with Girls and STEAM!

📅: October 3, 2026

🔗 Register your youth for the summit now through our link in bio!

*While the terms “women” and “girls” are used in our event, Girls and STEAM invites participants who identify as women, girls, trans, genderqueer, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender questioning. taken in Science World by @_punchy_

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18 days ago

Just one more side quest…it’s the end of summer…
The weather was perfect. The start time was, again, ungodly, yet 💯 worth it.
Nothing like an impromptu call to adventure…
“Hey, wanna go climb in Squamish?”
Read the start time again. Psych myself up for a 5am wake up and immediately overcommit.
Agree to meet the bearded guy with the big van in the parking lot. 🤣🚐🏔️👀 It’s okay, he’s a nice fella. Husband, father, active outdoor cat named Paul, patiently waiting with Nicole while she drinks her coffee.
Hop into what can best be described as the Mystery Machine meets off roading, with the driver’s seat on the wrong side. Solid start.
We head to Conroy’s Castle instead of the other spot. I’m good with this. I have zero context for either.
My plan was to watch and learn, wait until everyone was tired, then take a crack at it.
They were not having any of that. 🤣
Paul leads the climb, sets the route and anchor, then comes back down. “Your turn.” Me?! Oh no, I can wait. “Nah, your turn,” says Nicole.
So I gear up, proud of my new safety helmet, while realizing I now own another helmet for another activity.
This escalated fast.
Outdoor climbing is different and exciting. No colored holds, no temperature control, no clear route. Just your feet, hands and brain problem solving your way up.
It’s kinda brilliant.
There are slips, smacks against rock and moments of, “Oh dang, I’m stuck. Now what…” Wait. No I’m not. I can do this.
Then someone below calls out a suggestion. Boom. AHA moment. Keep going until you reach the top.
The palms stop sweating, you catch your breath and remember to look around. See how far you’ve come.
There’s that inner voice saying you can quit. It’s okay. Then something shifts.
You get back up from the slip. Elbows and knees burning from fresh bruises, hands and toes shaky with fatigue.
You’ve done hard things before, and you can do this too.
Having strong, supportive Indigenous women like Nicole & Josie in your corner, the Pygmalion effect takes hold. These are good things. Grateful for folks willing to share their time and energy to welcome others into new spaces. 🙇🏽‍♀️ Soon more mountain 🐐🏔️ goals #indigenous #climbing #pygmalioneffect by @_punchy_

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23 days ago

This clay sculpture was my final piece after a week at the Design with Clay Workshop in Italy (Sept 2024), instructed by Andrea Blasich, whose work I’ve admired for years.

It was an unforgettable week in the foothills of the Italian Alps: sculpting outdoors, sharing home-cooked meals, walking past goats and horses to the studio, and connecting with artists from many backgrounds.

The piece began from a drawing by Kevin Roualland, described as “an Indigenous man, possibly Sioux, Apache, or Plains”. Because the specific Nation and identity are uncertain, I approached it as a respectful sculptural study rather than a definitive cultural representation. The drawing showed only the upper body, so I imagined and sculpted the rest of the figure as part of the exploration.

As an Indigenous artist, Syilx and Secwépemc, I understand the importance of representation and the care needed when depicting Indigenous peoples, Nations, regalia, and cultural objects. I don’t know the specific identity connected to the original reference, and I’m always open to learning more. It is important to keep learning and growing.

What I loved most was translating a 2D design into clay — expanding what wasn’t visible and exploring the form as it emerged. Unlike my digital sculpting, there’s no undo, no symmetry, no rolling back to a earlier version. Only more exploration of forms.

Afterward, the sculpture was packed in a handmade cardboard-and-tape case and lovingly carried across Italy and on the flight home. Working with clay continues to be an important part of my artistic journey, going all the way back to sculpting with playdough and mud as a kid on the 6 Mile flats of my home Nation in the Okanagan.

Sculpt by Maritza Louis (Klukʷtús skʷukʷúsnt) @_punchy_
Bust Design by Kevin Roualland @kevinroualland
Design with Clay Workshop in Italy - instructed by Andrea Blasich @andreablasichsculpture
Sept 2024 #indigenous #sculpture #clay by @_punchy_

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2 months ago

#latergram 🫶🏽 the time I got to see family share dance and song at the studio. ILM had a special guests in the @coastalwolfpack1 for #indigenouspeoplesday and invited the Walt Disney Animation Studios from Vancouver folks to join 🥰 Was so beautiful and heartfelt. The young one had shared a song she had wrote. (Won’t lie totally made me tear up with pride and joy) 🥹 Really special when culture can be shared. Also always happy to see and celebrate family. 🫶🏽 Also got to explore a bit of ILM and see some of my favorites 🙇🏽‍♀️ a queen from Aliens and lil Grogu ✨ *Side note remembering which camera spot it look at is always a 50/ 50 chance of getting right 😅 by @_punchy_

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2 months ago

TLDR📝
I had a small mountian of paperwork to do this weekend. Not uncommon, it’s something that happens as you become an adult, the boring mundane mandatory part of life. Nothing fun or exciting just regular things.

Then I see it stuck between papers and file, some simple lists, some jotted down notes from a workshop one of them had taken and a few words and a card.

My parent’s hand writing. Unrelated bits of paper but found them just the same. It was their writting. One in pencil and one in ink.

Clear as recognizing their voices. I knew it was their writing. Very different styles, both so neat and effortless.

Today a lot of things are typed up, emails, instant messages, slacks, texts. All keyboard strokes. Less handwriting. Occasionally a voice memo.

Immediately cried. Grief like a wave and then the joy of being able to connect with them again. Grief is like that sometimes. Losing both my parents far too soon. They were both older than most parents. I get angry and sad sometimes for not having more time with them. I have a million questions now as I get older. New things I want to share with them. It seems normal course of life but still hits you every once and awhile.

The grief will always be there and it does get a bit easier each year. So I light a bit of sage from home and smudge. Grateful for the time I did have with them and share a few updates from this year.

Hug your folks and give them call, write them a note. 🫶🏽❤️🌊 ✍️📝 As much as am not a fan of cards, sometimes they are nice to have 🙇🏽‍♀️🫶🏽

Haha I also came across a fake mouse. Made me laugh immediately. 😆 Dad loved leaving them around his work. Hoping to get a jump scare outta people. Cheeky bugger musta known I needed a laugh 😆💛 by @_punchy_

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2 months ago

~latergram ~ posting this trip all in reverse 😎
It’s only been almost two weeks since our lil Trail Crew took off on a northern adventure to take part in the @ravenultra50miler. We had never gone on a trip together before and hadn’t traveled for a race but were all very excited.
I’ll say having folks that push you to try new things, take new paths and support you along the way is important. These very rad indigiqueens I have had the great pleasure of getting to know are just that. I have gratitude to have meet them through @indigwomenoutdoors and many others that I have gotten to know through other groups like @native_women_run and or @neechieclub Getting to see so many Indigenous folks thriving and growing in so many new spaces, different career paths, different nations, is important. It’s not the narrative that is often taught to us. We are here and that we can do more than survive.
It’s always so inspiring to see and it has made a difference in my life. From the big belly laughs, to deep forest run confessions to encouragement when the trail gets hard, it’s something else. Being out of community for work can be really tough at times. Working in an industry where you are often the only indigenous person on staff. Can be challenging at times. So getting a little bit of that back by getting to be with other Indigenous folks is just good medicine.

Getting the opportunity to connect with other indigenous folks from other nations on turtle island is important and helps to undo what colonization did. It separated us and made us think we were alone. Rather than we are here and we are made stronger together.

I look forward to future adventures and trying more new things. Being terrible at them to start, then with curiosity and stubbornness unlocking new parts of the map.

#trailrunning #community #indigenous #sylix #secwépemc taken in Whitehorse, Yukon by @_punchy_

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3 months ago

My first outdoor Rock Climb!⛰️🧗🏼‍♀️2days before our race 🐐

A beautiful day out on the land with my trail running indigiqueens @n_almeida and @jojoiaci 🫶🏽 Nicole asked if we wanted to arrive early before the Raven50 race and do some climbing? We said a flip yas please! You are in great company when you are surrounded by those continuing to push themselves to improve their skills. Lil Mountain goats ☺️ It was a humbling day on the mountain. After my very bad concussion that derailed my life for a spell back in Jan this year. Part of that included the progress I was making with my climbing. Getting out there on the land and returning to climbing was inspiring and again grateful for my body’s health. I’m excited for more. 🫶🏽 Also not seen was a cheeky cousin chipmunk that was got spicy and heckled me at the peak 😆 🐿️

We were guided by our very fun and knowledgeable Leads Raphael and Simon @yusquatchmountainadventures 🧗🏼‍♀️

Just wow! Yup.

Sore, bruised, rock chewed up and I wanting more! 🤩

📍Climbing at Tsí Dhǟl (Paint Mountain) Near Haines Junction on the lands of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN)

#rockclimbing #indigenous #sylix #secwepemc #climbing taken in Yukon Territory, Canada by @_punchy_

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3 months ago