Erin Pretorius, ChristiAnimate Emerging Christian Artist
- Dannica Batoon
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
ChristiAnimate Emerging Artist introduces a series of young artists and their creative practices. Through interviews with emerging artists, our new campaign explores their creative processes, influences, experiences, and perspectives on their work. We begin the series with Erin Pretorius, a 2D animator from Gauteng, South Africa.
About the Artist
My name is Erin Pretorius, and I am a Christian animator, illustrator, and motion designer from South Africa. I grew up in the church and have always loved Jesus, but my understanding of His love and His Word has deepened significantly in recent years.
I studied Digital Animation, but after graduating, I found myself taking on freelance projects, working in children's ministry, and serving as a church intern while continuing to pursue creative work. I have also volunteered with Three Train Studios, a Christian startup animation studio, and more recently expanded into motion design to broaden my skills and storytelling opportunities.
My love for animation began with cartoons. While many people around me seemed to grow out of them, I never did. Drawing was always my favorite thing to do, and I wanted to build a career around something that brought me joy, inspiration, and a sense of purpose.
I would describe my artistic style as gentle, story-driven, and emotionally focused. What motivates me most is God's love for creation and the joy of making something new while continuing to grow as an artist.
Erin’s Creative Journey
Like many artists, I have struggled with comparison, self-criticism, and finding my own artistic voice. Over time, however, my work has become more personal and less focused on imitating a single influence. Learning how to navigate social media, self-promotion, and the challenges of finding work in a competitive industry has also been one of the more difficult aspects of the journey.
Some of my biggest inspirations include illustrator Anna Miriam Brown, many animated works such as Over the Garden Wall and Bee and PuppyCat, and most importantly, the Bible. One of the most rewarding parts of my creative journey has been seeing steady growth over the years and learning to view creativity as a gift from God. It has taught me to approach my work with gratitude, knowing that every ability I have comes from Him and ultimately belongs to Him. I would encourage other artists to do the same.
Artworks by Erin Pretorius
One project I am especially proud of is my Twelve Disciples character design series. Character design has never been my strongest area, so creating a large cast of distinct characters challenged me creatively and helped me grow significantly as an artist. It also allowed me to combine my love for illustration, storytelling, and biblical themes into a single project.
My creative process usually begins with gathering references and creating mood boards before moving into sketches, color, and final rendering. For animation and motion design projects, I typically start with a storyboard or brief before refining movement, timing, and final details. Regardless of the medium, I enjoy building a strong foundation before bringing a project to life.
I hope my work encourages people to see something of the gentleness, love, and compassion of Jesus. One project that holds special meaning to me is my Holy Week series because it focuses on the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, which is at the center of my faith.
Faith and Creativity
Being a Christian artist means viewing creativity as an act of worship. I believe that because we are made in the image of a creative God, creating is one of the ways we reflect His character. My faith influences both the subjects I choose and the way I approach my work.
The person of Jesus Himself inspires me. His love, compassion, humility, and gentleness toward others are qualities I continually return to in Scripture. They shape the stories I am drawn to tell and the heart I hope people see reflected in my work.
Christian Animation and Visual Storytelling
I believe animation and visual art are powerful tools because they help people experience stories and ideas in a way that words alone sometimes cannot. They can communicate emotion, create understanding, and bring biblical truths to life in memorable ways. In many ways, visual storytelling can serve a similar purpose to the parables Jesus used to communicate truth.
In today's media landscape, I believe Christian artists have an opportunity to create work that points people toward Truth. I feel particularly drawn to creating visual interpretations of Scripture that draw people into the stories of the Bible.
Looking Ahead
At the moment, I am continuing to expand my biblical character design series and may soon have the opportunity to work on a project similar to BibleProject.
If people remember one thing about me and my work, I hope it is that all glory belongs to God. Any growth, talent, or success I have experienced comes from Him, and I hope my work reflects that truth: "Yet not I, but through Christ in me."
At ChristiAnimate, we work with emerging artists by providing them with a professional platform to showcase their work, build meaningful industry connections, and develop opportunities to thrive in the animation and creative industries. Want to be featured in our website? Please email us at hello@christianimate.com
Explore Erin Pretorius’s animation and illustration work through her online portfolios.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rinpret/
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