introduction
  Jeff Vargas is a digital artist and designer with a background in illustration and traditional arts. His passion for art at an early age won him various awards and honors paving the way for his education, and ultimately his career. In the summer of 1991 he attended Rhode Island School of Design's Pre-College Program prior to his senior year in high school. He was enrolled in the Advanced Placement Program for his artistic abilities and soon after moved on to win First Place in the Stamford Art association Competition. He was awarded a scholarship to the Columbus College of Art and Design, OH, by alumni Jerry McDaniel, Advertising Dean at F.I.T. in New York City.

While at CCAD, he studied various design fields with an added interest in furthering his illustration abilities under the instruction of professionals such as Carl Banks, penciler for Green Lantern, DC Comics. After receiving a Bachelors in Advertising and Graphic Design, he went on to pursue a career in computer graphics.

While freelancing for Big Ripple Multimedia Inc in New York City, he became exposed to a new world of possibilities in the realm of computer graphics, where interaction and animation lent itself to new ways of communicating. In 1998, he moved from print production to After Effects animatics for TV Commercials under the guidance of Gary Porter, Art Director at Combe Inc, learning the intricacies of motion graphics. He went on to attend Pratt Institute in Manhattan, where he focused on 3D modeling, rendering, and animation in AutoDesk's 3D Studio Max, under the instruction of Discreet Character Animator Kim Lee, author of "Inside 3D studio Max 4" - New Riders.

In 2000, he was asked to create artwork for a World Wrestling Federation XFL trailer which lead to various works including the illustration of a poster for Armageddon 2000, a WWF Pay Per View Event. As a freelance designer, he worked on a wide variety of projects that span from packaging and print, to illustration and 3D.

In spring of 2002, he formed Dive Urgency Multimedia, LLC, creating DiveUrgency.com and relocating to Los Angeles, CA. This puts him and his company in the very mecca of motion graphics and animation. He continues to dive into web media as a means of exploration and gains momentum while building numerous websites, creating videos and graphics for various trade show multiplayer games.

In fall of 2002, he teamed up with lead agency Big Ripple to create RealityCheckNY.com, an anti tobacco industry web site. In fall of 2004, he designed a cycling Pro Kit for Liquid Fitness racing team. Also in fall of 2004, he teamed up with ITWebWorx LLC and built LA-CarsForKids.org for Louisiana Cars for Kids, Southern Style Inc. The list of proceeds from the "Mega Car Show" that took place in February 2005 included the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Easter Seals Society to name a few.

In 2005, while working for Spark Networks, plc, Jeff re-designs JDate.com, a jewish matchmaking website. In 2006, while working at DZN Group, he designs and develops HootMovie.com for NewLine Cinema’s “Hoot”.

Jeff Vargas is presently working on a full feature, 3D animated, and composited scene from his own independent film, in preparation for Siggraph 2009. The scene will involve 3D character animation being matched to live footage.