Created by a Steve Leeper
Inspired by James Weldon Johnson's The Creation Poem

The Creation Poem, directed by Professor Steve Leeper, is an 8-minute 2D animated film based on James Weldon Johnson’s iconic poem, The Creation. Johnson’s poem calls attention to the beauty of our planet and its connection to humankind. Given this, The Creation Poem film aims to showcase the beauty of the poem through visual storytelling and to help viewers develop a deeper appreciation for our beautiful planet. The film is set to release in Spring 2027.

My role in this project was to focus specifically on the visual development of Act 3 as a color and background artist. I created Act 3’s color script, vectorized plant assets, and four fully colored backgrounds. I worked in a simplified style inspired by Aaron Douglas’s original illustrations and was influenced by complex environments, like southern water banks and the Scottish Highlands.