Branden Bauer is a highly versatile and accomplished creative professional, a proverbial "swiss army knife" artist with a career spanning over 15 years.
After graduating from the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, he embarked on a career driven by a desire to inspire others through powerful visual storytelling. As a testament to his foundational talent, his work was chosen for the "Best of Ringling" exhibition as a freshman — an honor reserved for only 20 students.
His journey led him to Culver City, CA, where he worked as a Visual Effects Compositor at Baked Studios on high-profile entertainment media. There, he collaborated with industry-leading directors and producers on projects for celebrity clients like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, P!nk, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Soulja Boy, Big Time Rush, Phish, Miami Heat, and Disney Home Video. His work and skill are accredited on IMDb for the film "Seven Days in Utopia," where he served as the Lead Roto/Paint artist.
Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit, Branden founded Ice Dragon Studios in 2011, managing creative projects from concept to delivery. This comprehensive approach is best exemplified by his work with Creative Imaginations Productions on the "Glory Gang" project. For this single client, he developed the branding and logo, built the website and its assets, produced the DVDs with custom menus, and handled all episode editing, visual effects, and audio work. His role extended to the film set, where he served as the on-set Visual Effects Supervisor.
Most recently, Branden expanded his impact beyond commercial creative work by serving as an art teacher at a local middle school. In this role, he became a beloved and influential mentor, sharing his real-world industry expertise and passion for the arts with the next generation. This educational chapter allowed him to give back to the artistic community while inspiring young creatives before returning to pursue new creative ventures.
From Hollywood productions to independent creative ventures and educational mentorship, Branden's work is defined by a meticulous eye for detail and a relentless pursuit of bringing compelling narratives to life.
Career Timeline
Ice Dragon Studios, LLC
Formalized the studio as an LLC, returning to full-time creative work with expanded focus on motion graphics, VFX, and comprehensive creative services.
Art Education
Served as an art teacher at a local middle school, mentoring the next generation of artists and sharing industry expertise.
Creative Imaginations Productions
Trained artists and supervised production workflows at Creative Imaginations Productions, while continuing independent projects and client collaborations across multiple disciplines.
Founded Ice Dragon Studios
Launched full-service creative studio offering branding, web design, motion graphics, VFX, and video production services. Formalized as LLC in 2025.
VFX Compositor, Baked Studios
Worked on projects for Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, P!nk, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, and more. Lead Roto/Paint artist on "Seven Days in Utopia."
Ringling College of Art and Design
BFA in Illustration. Received "Best of Ringling" award as a freshman — an honor given to only 20 students.
The Process
How I Work
Every project follows a structured approach to ensure we deliver exceptional results on time and within scope.
Discovery
We discuss your vision, goals, timeline, and budget. I ask questions to understand not just what you want, but why.
Strategy & Planning
I create a detailed project plan with milestones, deliverables, and review checkpoints. You'll know exactly what to expect.
Creation
The magic happens. I bring concepts to life through design, animation, or effects work — with regular progress updates.
Refinement
Your feedback shapes the final product. We iterate together until every detail is perfect.
Delivery
Final files delivered in all required formats. I remain available for any follow-up support you need.
Skills & Tools
After Effects
Premiere Pro
Photoshop
Illustrator
Nuke
DaVinci Resolve
Mocha Pro
Audition
Figma
Frame.io
Webflow
Procreate