The Amazing White On Rice

Tuesday Focus - Ross Symons

Today, I am posting an extra piece all about Ross Symons and his fantastic company, white-onrice.

Ross has been kind enough to video his story, and I have outlined his incredible journey here. 

From Johannesburg's vibrant scene to Cape Town's creative pulse, my journey began steeped in South Africa's diverse cultures, which shaped my path from technology to art. Initially, a computer programmer and web developer, my true passion for origami ignited at 21 when my brother asked me to fold a crane, leading to an unexpected fascination with paper art. This interest deepened as a daily origami project shared on Instagram, inspired by Wayne Dyer's dedication to yearly meditation. The daily discipline highlighted my commitment, drawing attention and significantly growing my social media presence.

Branding this endeavour as "White on Rice," I encapsulated the essence of being comprehensive and omnipresent in the creative sphere. The brand and my increasing online influence led to my first paid gig—an origami installation of pigs for a Bacon Bar window display. This milestone marked a pivotal transition, prompting me to leave a stable advertising job in 2014 to pursue freelance creative opportunities full-time.

Alongside origami, I cultivated an interest in stop-motion animation. Learning through YouTube tutorials and countless trials, I slowly amassed the essential tools: cameras, lights, rigs, and bounce boards, enhancing my ability to tell stories through motion. Although working solo was challenging, it proved efficient, and I discovered a preference for collaboration, thriving on collective creativity.

Expanding my artistic expression involved integrating my technical skills with emerging technologies such as NFTs and blockchain. This fusion not only innovated my work but also broadened the horizons of what could be achieved with origami and digital art.

As I continued to produce and share more content, client engagements increased, affirming that visibility and persistence were essential to growing my freelance career. Each folded corner of paper and animation frame represents a piece of art and a step in an evolving journey of creativity and discovery.

Reach out to Ross here - Linkedin.

Click for a fantastic Disney Piece.

Watch more here

As Ross is such an inspiration in animation, I will show his work each week in a unique feature every Tuesday in June where people can see some of his fantastic animation.