Hi, I'm Dave Gau
ABOUT
ME
Hello! I'm Dave Gau, a Richmond, Virginia based motion graphics artist, animator, improviser, facilitator, director and cartoonist.
That's a lot. And I'll be the first to admit that I keep myself working at a challenging pace. But the connecting thread through all that I do is laughter. The art of bringing smiles to the faces of others. From performing comedy on stage to bringing life to a newly animated character or simply chatting with a client. My goal is to connect, whenever possible, through the power of humor. Working independently or as a member of team, as the director of a project, facilitator of an experience or as the getter of coffee, I love what I do.
Please explore this site and take a look at what I've done so far! And then drop me a quick hello and let's start a conversation!
I'VE BEEN CALLED MANY THINGS...
Motion Artist & 3D Animator
I've started graphics departments at companies and launched my own animation & visual effects business that's still running after over 21 years. From logos to characters, explainer videos to original endeavors, I make things move.
Writer / Producer
Limiting my creativity to post production isn't my style. Often I work with clients to create scripts from scratch, and to oversee all elements of productions from concept to delivery.
Applied Improv Trainer & Speaker
As a CSz Worldwide Certified Executive Practitioner, I teach applied improv workshops in team building, innovation, personal presence and much more to businesses, church groups and teams of all sizes.
Cartoonist
Those doodles in my high school notebooks just kept evolving. From my successful strip on the campus of RIT, to a published run in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and several syndication efforts, the cartoon bug never left me.
Talent
I'm frequently on stage performing improv comedy and have been known to act in & direct traditional theatre as well. Plus I can be heard as voice talent for productions or seen on screen for commercials or other productions.
Volunteer
For many years I've worked as a Youth Leader at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, and I absolutely love it. I've also spent time as neighborhood block captain and serving on various theater or community non-profit boards. In my spare time.
WHAT I
DO
My
COMPANIES
COMPANIES I'VE BEEN WITH FROM THE START
Over the years, I've founded or helped launch several endeavors, all still going and featuring something that I absolutely love to do.
Started in 1999 in my northside Richmond home, ShaveFX grew into a fully staffed animation studio in the 2000's and early 20-teens. Operating today with me as the primary animator, building teams of talented artists when needed.
I've been performing ComedySportz with CSzRVA since 1996, becoming a managing partner in 2010. During this time, I have served as Artistic Director for the CSz Richmond Theater, taught workshops and facilitated corporate training.
I'm proud to be co-founder of this non-profit organization. Launched in January 2017, It's the driving force behind CSz Richmond, focusing on improv for educational purposes such as autism, dementia care, and so much more.
How do you grow a hobby into a business endeavor? Dive into the decades of toys in your attic, and start finding the gems in your own neighborhood!
My
STORY
CSz richmond / yes balloon
Artistic Director / President, Board of Directors
As mentioned above in My Companies, I started out performing improv with CSz over 20 years ago and have taken on a leadership role as we've just launched our new non-profit entity.
The frontier project
Animation Director
I worked on this incredible team to help create their media division - writing, directing, animating and editing videos for a wide variety of clients. Every now & then I even got to facilitate workshops for their Frontier Academy.
Dave gau Animations / Shavefx
President & Senior Animator
I took the leap because the long nights at work animating & rendering simply did not sync well with the life of a brand new parent. Working at home was the dream, and that dream grew into Richmond's premier animation studio.
metro video productions
Director of Graphics & Animation
My mullet and I spent the nineties at Metro, where I was hired to start their graphics department from scratch. From the first Quantel Paintbox to the multiple SGI workstations running Maya 3D and so much more, the impact remains.
WWBT NBC12
1996
2012
1999
1990
1989
Production Specialist / Graphic Designer
My time at Channel 12 was gold. I learned so much about the importance of deadlines, how to work as a team, how to be efficient while maintaining quality, and how to always make your team look good.
WHAT THEY SAY
"It has been a pleasure to work with Dave and ShaveFX on animation projects for three different states. He is the consummate professional, has great attention for detail, terrific artistry, and has never let me down. Dave is my #1 choice for any animation project."
Will Goldschmidt
- DBDriven.Net LLC
"Dave Gau is simply one of the most creative and artistic people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. He always has great ideas, and his graphics and animation skills are top-notch. He has a unique, off-the-wall sense of humor, and is lots of fun to work with. He brings his best to every project."
Gene Harris
- Ferguson Enterprises
"Dave Gau is an extremely talented and creative individual. His vision, coaching, and attention have revitalized improvisational theater in Richmond in general and CSz in particular. Dave is well-respected both within and outside the theater community and gets my highest recommendation.".
Greg Smith
- Agile Writers
My
Clients