Every step and decision made when creating concept art pieces to help inspire and guide the visual direction of a film is personal, whether or not the artist knows it. We hit several roadblocks which push us beyond our comfort zone and our box of thinking, and we make new realizations about ourselves, the story, and the characters within the story…
In animation, it is nice to have a healthy competitive spirit, but we should never forget that we must always work as a team, and this aspect of our profession needs to be constantly supported. We are all part of a bigger machine and if one gear doesn't work, the whole machine can suffer…
There may be a certain pressure to choose an artistic path very early on, and that's fine, but I believe it’s quite important not to be tied down to a singular path before exploring others. It's always great to explore different mediums and create various kinds of art when given the opportunity…
Imagination and creativity come from the artist's observation and I think good references are all around us. Things like the ever-changing light and shadows, observing people on the street, and gazing at the sea and mountains. If you feel like you're stuck with an art piece, it's good to get away from your desk for a while and observe your surroundings…
Don’t pressure yourself to draw constantly, take a good break and rest well. I'm always working and always pushing for 100%, and I found myself in a position where I constantly force myself to draw more and more. Eventually, I realized it always makes it worse, that’s why I believe you can't create genuine art when it's forced…
To choose the right artistic path, try lots of things you are interested in first. Nowadays many artists experiment a lot, some do concept art and storyboarding, or do storyboarding and comics at the same time. I think It doesn't have to be one or the other. Look over your personal work, and ask yourself specific questions about what you enjoy the most…
When I work on my own personal projects I come up with an image, some random words, or even just a moment with two characters confronting each other in my head. Then, I develop a whole set of stories and I world-build around it. Sometimes though it's the other way around: I have an idea for a world and then I design the characters that live within it…
I was always inspired by characters in films, games, and comics. I had no idea where this would led me, but I knew that I wanted to draw cool characters with a specific aesthetic. This was my north star, so to speak. Younger artist should ask themselves: what is my north star? What inspires me on a daily basis? This will help you shaping your career path and it will give you the strength to achieve your artistic goals…
The art needs to be “beautiful”, but I think it’s more important to tell the story right than to create just something pretty. A pretty picture is too much about the artist’s own ego and not about the art itself. I want to make sure I get the story across in the best possible way, and I’ll try my best to do that through my art and technique…
Study drawing and learn to draw out of your head. And also consider this – your art is like your personality, everyone is different. Try to find what it is that makes you different and put that into your art. It sounds trite but it really is very important and maybe a little risky…
Don’t forget that doubts and questions are kinda part of the job. Putting your art out there to be judged may often feel that’s you who’s being judged… which is not. But it does feel that way, and you must learn to be resilient and deal with it…
Understanding your strengths and leveraging them is so important, but you also want to be a good team player and build your relationships. The industry is small and artists jump from one studio to another frequently, so people will want to work with you not only for your art but also for who you are…
Don’t worry too much about which is the most ‘viable’ option when you are in school. Just focus on improving your art fundamentals and try to find what you really enjoy. If you enjoy something immensely it’s just that much easier to find the drive to improve…
The movie "Ratatouille" spoke to me deeply. I saw myself in the shoes of Remy as a person that wants to be creative but is stuck in a place that looks down upon it and doesn't allow its development. I could say I was at the edge of the plank about make the jump but I needed a last push, and that was that movie did for me…
When I finished my 3rd semester at art school, I had to go back to Korea to serve in the army for 2 years, but that didn't compromise my desire to sharpen my artistic skills. After I became a private first class in the army, I was allowed to draw and study during my free time, so every day I spent 2 hours studying anatomy..
Know your story and characters very intimately, they play off of each other. If you don't have great characters, people won't connect with or care about your story because there isn't something concrete and relatable they can attach to..
Nature and small creatures are what I like to draw most. They are special to me because it feels like you are seeing a whole world from the outside. It's a slow and calm moment where you can just watch..
As I child I loved to draw monsters, animals and include my friends, family and teachers into funny stories. These little comics always got a big reaction and I love that art has the power to shock or make friends laugh. To me, one of the most stimulating parts of the creative process is imagining the reaction of the public..
I love what I do and my job, however, I struggle a lot with stress and over focusing. Experiencing new things allow me to keep myself positive and sane. Life beyond art does not only give me new places to find happiness but it also gives me reasons to feel inspired to draw again..
I put myself in the shoes of whoever I am going to paint and I try to analyse how I could convey their emotions. I look for references to help me organise my ideas as a chef that picks up some ingredients before start cooking. Then it's all down to work, painting, fixing, painting until you get it right..
Growing up, I had a lot of fun drawing comics with my sister and sharing it with my friends, and I often got in trouble for doodling in class. A lot of people discouraged me from pursuing art. I think I’ve always known in my heart that I would end up doing something creative, so I decided to give my all into being an artist rather than trying to fit in somewhere I know I won’t be happy..
I’m sketching and doodling around a lot. Sometimes a character or story appears in the process, other times I have a specific goal in mind, it varies a lot. In the past I didn't like working digitally, but now I love it. I still do enjoy finishing things up by hand though, there's a great satisfaction in working on paper..
The initial moments are the most exciting and interesting, when you have to push yourself to explore and try to break with all you have done before. You feel like you will evolve a lot and will find a whole new style or technique that would fit great with the project. Then comes that moment of truth..
We are in a time where so many animated shows, games, and short films are being produced. Hence, there are a lot of job opportunities out there and it is completely possible to make a living with a career in the arts. However, the question you must ask yourself is, “Am I willing to do what it takes and put in the practice to get the job I want?
Making a living with your art and creativity is possible. Today the possibilities are limitless, talent counts less than perseverance and you can learn and at any age. The most important thing is to put a lot of effort into your work, because it’s a very competitive environment and not an easy road..
I realized that if I wanted to become a concept artist, I needed much more than just knowing how to draw and paint traditionally. So I started to look for additional online educational opportunities in entertainment design..
We live in a time where information is not so difficult to get. You can find any tutorials on the internet, but getting information does not always lead to an understanding. Professional feedback helps to understand in time that something has gone wrong, or helps to pay attention to some details..
Sometimes it's more of a matter of finding the thing to work on that is important to you. If you do not feel like you are doing the right thing with your talents then it starts to eat away at you and you quickly lose your inspiration. But if you are working on something that you fell you are supposed to be doing then it is hard to lose that inspiration..
Many of my students try to apply a lot of tricks that they take from professional artists they see on the Internet, without really knowing how to use them. I keep telling them: ''You do not have to be a virtuoso technically to be able to tell a good story''. So, focus on the tools you know how to use, and try to tell a story with them..
When I see an artist that I like I try to study and break down their work in my mind. What shapes did they use to draw that figure jumping so convincingly? How were they able to make that person look puzzled with just a few lines? Things like that. I've always believed that a true artist, whether they're a painter, musician, or whatever, never stops studying..
It's a good practice to watch inspiring works from other artists, but it shouldn't be your actual reference material. Do a proper research, whether through photos or observation. If you spend too much time looking at artworks, you are feeding your creative part with already used ingredients, and the results might end up more generic and less original..
I have always had a passion for teaching and feel I can give so much knowledge to artists. It is for this purpose that I started my school and workshops. Many of my dedicated students are fulfilling there intended dreams of working at the big studios, Disney, Dreamworks, Pixar and more. I could not be prouder..
I am an introverted person and I can’t focus on work very well when there's a lot of people around me, so I prefer to work by myself and meet with people in my free time. Of course, you need to develop a strong self discipline and be very careful about your work/life balance, but if you manage to get trough the first year it gets much easier!
I have such a great respect for the people that do animation, for me it has been the most difficult thing I tried. I almost didn't do animation since I graduated, and I have to say that it is somehow a relief. I feel better doing concept art or backgrounds, animation is too difficult and time consuming for me!
I feel like the competition in the industry is pretty wild nowadays, saturated... It might seems funny but I would recommend to not care much about that. Since I don't really care, I feel like I'm more sincere with myself and people can relate to it through my work..
My current style of illustration is based not only on how I draw, but mostly on topics and ideas. I like to take on social related themes, and I try to share my thoughts about the world that surrounds me with my art. I like to illustrate problematic situations and conflicts of a 'not-so-perfect' world, the darker side of life. I'm pretty sensitive on that matter..
I would love to see more mature narratives put to animation, stories more geared towards adults. There’s something to be said about the relatability and universality of animated characters and I don’t think it’s a stretch to see how those concepts could bring something fresh to an older audience..
Your potential is infinite, no matter what other poor lost souls have told you otherwise, it's "just" a matter of patience and building up. Create a situation that will allow you to be autonomous, go towards people, train to become stronger, enjoy what you do and learn from situations around you and from good people..
I love to travel and being freelance allowed me to take as much time as I wanted and could afford, I like to be in control of my life as much as is humanly possible. It makes you work on a variety of projects and disciplines: Illustration, character design, prop design, concept art… I never know what is coming next and that can be exciting!
A young artist needs to mentally prepare themselves to do long hours, even after school. Animation is very hard and tedious, and sometimes deadlines are tight. If you go in the industry prepared for hard work, then thinking this way will make you stronger..
Even though I love the freedom freelancing gives me, it's also a more unstable routine that can affect me in a negative way, making me less productive or even demotivated. Working in-house gives me a solid routine in which I don't worry about going after clients and I'm always surrounded by people. It makes me feel in control of things..
Most of my ideas and designs come from the random doodles I quickly scrawl down at any point throughout the day. Sometimes there could be about 50 tiny characters on a page and I’ll spot one and say “Hey, who’s that weird little dude? Let’s flesh him out some more”..
All artistic paths are difficult. If you are serious and willing to commit, no matter which way you start, you may always later reconsider and be able to change. Heck who knows, one girl went to Gobelins and ended a firefighter. Things are never set in stone.
Drawing is a discipline with many rewards and possible areas of deep focus, some enjoy detailed explorations of patterns and textures, others like world-building. Look into what type of drawing opportunities each field offers, some jobs seem interesting from the outside, but turn out to be dull and tedious..
Don’t think as much about style as you do about substance. That first most exciting part of design, the dreaming and imagining, has little to do with style. Don’t obsess over it, you will develop your own accidentally, and you might not notice it happening..
It's important to be realistic and a delusional at the same time. You have to understand that you are not the best artist ever but your also not the worst. I go through each day thinking "Wow, I'm the shit, I'm a great artist" then i'll go online, look at other artists and think, "I am a huge pile of hot garbage!" Both of those thoughts should keep you continuing to grow and get better..
Do what you really love and your career will find its path. I ended up specializing in character design, my real passion, and what I always show online. Your web page is like the window display in a store: people will not ask you if you sell apples if you only show pears..
A young artist has to consider that there will be long hours and hard work at the drawing desk. Working as a commercial artist means that you will have to draw things that might be not very interesting or aligned with your personal taste and if you are part of a production you have to accept criticism and be open for feedback…
As a teenager my personal goal was to work in the biggest animation studios in Hollywood, but after visiting so many times these studios and talk to some of the best professionals working within it, I must say that I no longer have that ambition. Today my goal is to produce high quality material daily, working with people who value my work and can give me artistic freedom..
Tabling and attending conventions are great, but it can be expensive. With the internet as it stands now, artists can not only connect with other artists, but they can also connect with their fans and potential customers..
I think that hand-drawn animation is the most divided medium of animation so far. There’s the side that want to go back to either the classical style of Disney, or the Renaissance age of 2D animation. There’s the side who are more geared towards the Eastern Style of animation, Anime, Sakuga..
Keep on creating. Listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts and just let go. Don’t spend too much time on other peoples blogs thinking of what you can't do, do what you love. Your work will improve by just drawing every day. Have fun!
Hand drawn animation in the Disney tradition is a very different type of hand drawn character animation. To me, a resurgence may not be seen on the screen for a while, as it requires stories and characters and teams of artists with a lifetime of experience to bring that animation to life..
Creating art is a difficult practice even for the most accomplished of us. It’s impossible to ever reach a point at which we could say we’re finished learning. Frustration is an inevitability if we want to create and this will always be true..
Be always humble. Whatever is our skill level you need to respect other people and their opinion. It's a good thing to listen to criticisms about our job, it makes us better artists, and better human beings too..
I believe our creative potential to be infinite, but only if we are good stewards to our imagination and health. Take time to play and replenish the well of your imagination by keeping your eyes, ears, and heart open to receiving new experiences. Soak it in!
In South Korea, many tend to think that being an artist is a path for being poor, forever. But my mom believed in my passion and artistic skills. I worked hard to prove to her and to myself that it was the right choice and now, no one regrets my decision!
Switch mediums and allow yourself to solve problems with something you’re not familiar with. Chalk, pencil, paint, clay, whatever you don’t usually use, or have no experience with at all. It opens new ways of doing things in your brain, and can spark creativity very quickly..
Every time I think there is a design that I really enjoy I think to myself that is the best design I have ever done. That feeling only last for about a day, but that's what keeps us going and makes us better!
I have a lot of respect for artists who enjoy rendering out the details, the perfect little rim here, the reflection in the windows there. Often, my mind is already thinking about the next painting before finishing the first one. Coming up with ideas has always been the most fun part for me..
All the great artists have one thing in common: an incredible work ethic. They always try to improve, refine and redefine. You need to be curious and willing to develop your workflow so you can remain competitive..
I think there’s pressure as an artist to feel like you should always be doing the best work you’ve ever done but the creative process is fickle. There’s no harm in not drawing sometimes, if you really love art then you’ll never stop having the fire to do it.. but sometimes you just need rest!
Many companies consider artists like lightbulbs you can change once they burned out, but there is also a lot of good guys out there. Finding people you can trust and with who you can build a relationship is key in this industry..
Designing characters for me is not just what the character looks like and is dressed like, but it’s more about the total personality package and how one reacts to a situation..
Just go out, travel whether it's far away or in your neighbourhood, experience things and meet people. Just staying indoors and stuck on your workspace will make your spirit dull and dry..
DRAW DRAW DRAW! It's really the answer! If you want to improve you have to draw anatomy, design, animation, illustration, expression, gesture, everything! The drawing way.. is the only way!
Since I was a child I enjoyed to draw people, monster and animal in a cute style, and today it's the same. Sometime I try to make a character look more dark and harmful, but then people always comment: “It's so cute”! I guess that ''cuteness'' is my trademark!
''Luck'' and ''Talent'' never really play into the equation. There might have been a few things that have happened to artists that appear to be pure luck, but it all comes from caring and developing your craft, and putting countless hours into doing what you love..
My family wanted me to be happy and pursue a career I loved, however it took a lot of convincing in order to show that I would be able to make a decent living doing this. Although I did have my fair share of people saying that It was a bad idea pursuing a career like this..
It’s important to follow the path of what you feel the strongest about, but don’t be afraid that you’ll be stuck there. Professional artists often wear many different hats and change direction throughout the course of their career..
Go with what you are most interested in and enjoy the most. Try not to pick a path that will feel like "work" because it seems "safer", it will definitely affect the work you do if you aren't enjoying it..
One of the big things i’ve learned is trying to keep your voice, whilst also working for a studio and with Executive Producers and Directors. It’s important to have a voice as an artist, whether that’s in your style or your subject matter. What makes you, you and why..
One thing I find reassuring is knowing that everybody, even the greatest pros, deals with art blocks. It helps me to say "Ok, don't panic, keep working"..
My brother is an artist as well, and two years younger than me. When we were growing up, we would draw together constantly and push each other. Iron sharpening iron. I wouldn't be nearly the artist I am today without some live-in competition..
I love lineart. A lot of other illustrators I know don't actually work with a complete black-and-white lineart that they then color in; they'll rather start with large color shapes as one does a painting. My work is so line-based that I need to have a complete lineart just in order to do anything..
Sometimes, I find it almost distracting to look at so much reference and amazing artwork to be inspired because it could be too much. I find meditating really helpful to empty my mind and let my expectation down..
Me and my hubby work great together and it’s always awesome to have a second opinion on things. We are completely portable and will travel around the world with our work. As long as you hit your deadlines with quality work it’s all good!
My mind was constantly distracted by my own creativity making me a very distracted student. All I wanted was to graduate from high school and finally do something that I loved, and what I loved was to make art..
Gathering reference and doing research is such a joy. It’s like paid daydreaming. That’s where my thoughts tend to be the most open and free: at the earliest “imagining” stages..
Since I started working in illustration I haven't put a foot in a studio. Freelance is now the only way to work for me. I'm my own boss and I work about 4 hours a day (all my friends hate me)..
At the age of 14 I become interested in graffiti art. I spent days and nights with my crew mates drawing on paper and then reproducing the artwork on walls. I came in contact with so many emerging artists of my city in those days..
It is so tempting to sell your creativity to the highest bidder, but the cost is often one of diminishing returns in terms of personal artistic expression. Staying true to the reason you started drawing in the first place is every artist's greatest challenge, but if you're not going to fight for that, then what else is there?
In our time, making profit is the most important thing in the animation movie industry, as in the majority of the industries. In this context, the quality is sometimes not as much important as the potential business success, it is unfortunate..
Enjoy yourself. Even if you don't get as much engagement as you would like on social media, as long as you're happy with what you've drawn, and if you continue to be excited to work on it, you're doing well..
The most important thing I have ever learned in art is the importance of contrast. You can apply it in every step of your work. It’s a principle that really made me see art from a deeper perspective and I try to keep it in mind whenever I draw, colour or write something..
Do what you love. You may start animating 3D and eventually realize you like the more traditional approach to animation or start as an illustrator and realize that what you really like is designing websites. Make what makes you happy, because if you do, it will shows up in your work..
The internet has pretty much changed everything. The rate at which artists improve seems tenfold to what is was for the previous generation, it's become so easy to learn, grow and connect with like-minded people. It's quite an exciting time..
I like drawing people! Especially girls. Telling stories is the biggest reason why I know how to draw in the first place and I’ll always value characters over everything else in a story. Expressions, poses, interactions, all that good stuff..
Big, Medium, Small. This is my number one rule, I’ll get it tattooed on my face. It makes every silhouette in your paintings clear, simple and readable. It’s just so amazing how gosh darned simple it is. I live Big Medium Small! Never underestimate it’s power..
Don't expect to get a job for life in animation. Those things don't exist any more and it's very much project to project. Even if I have worked with the same company for a decade, in that time I did work for other studios during project down-time. But then, that also keeps you on your toes, creatively. You never stagnate!
Right out of school I didn't know what kind of artist I wanted to be, but working on different art jobs I learned what I liked and what I didn't like. Sometimes an artist has to try many types of work to know what they really want..
You will constantly find out more about yourself as an artist so don’t worry about your artistic path, just draw and draw as much as you can and the rest will come to you later. I think that it is important to create, no matter what the form is..
I spent one year studying the basics of drawing in an art school, but it was a very competitive environment and I didn't make it to the next year. Only after leaving school I started drawing for fun again. Without grades, I finally started to apply what I had been learning..
Everything is interesting, when you focus on something, a world opens. Great artists often notice things nobody is interested in, and they use it to create beautiful art..
To me, getting the feeling of a project right is the most important first step. In comics in particular I think it’s essential. If you aren’t sure of the style and feeling at the start, it can get muddled over time..
I was 5-years-old when I said I'd like to be an artist. To my surprise, one of my relatives told me that I had actually stated I'd like to be a fairytale book illustrator when I was six. And here I am, still having the same thoughts..
When I was young I was very inspired by the work of Chuck Jones. Nowadays I’m influenced by artists from all walks of life, animators, painters, comic artists, designers. There are things to be learned from studying all types of art..
Push through the struggles and rejection (I've been rejected more times than I've landed jobs), make as many mistakes as possible because they're the biggest lessons you'll receive and surround yourself with amazing people!
Call it your muse, but there are days where creating is fun and immersive and everything feels great and effortless. Other days, working on the exact same project is hard, tedious work, and everything feels wrong about it..
You must not be satisfied with your achievements nor you should dwell on things that you have already accomplished. Move forward. You really need to invest an enormous amount of time to develop your talent, and this doesn't come without doubts..
I've always worked as a freelancer and I love it. It makes me completely independent and gives me a lot of freedom, but it also requires a lot of discipline. it’s not easy to work by yourself all day..
We're definitely drawn to simple shape language with subtlety in detail, like textures or patterns. There’s something about simplicity that can be complex and hard to master. That’s definitely an area of art we want to be better at..
Stop comparing yourself to other artists and be inspired rather than discouraged. Try to maintain a healthy balance of work and life experiences, stay motivated by surrounding yourself with people who share similar interests and goals in improving their art..
Sometimes things come together quite naturally, other times something isn’t working, and it can be tough to figure out what the problem is. I think the hardest part about designing is to have the patience to solve it and really commit to it..
To me creativity is problem-solving at its core, once I know where I am going, rendering is usually quite a nice phase. It is a little bit like day-dreaming, like finding some angry bulls or tea-pot shaped clouds in the sky…
I've learned that nearly everyone is very critical of their own work, it's important to just keep pushing and not drag yourself down with doubt: be open to critique, draw as much as you can!
My dad was always reluctant about sending me to art school but on the night when I called my parents to tell them I got a job after graduation, all I heard on the phone was my mom saying to him: “Why are you smiling? Why are you smiling?” And that was pretty much all I needed to hear..
Before I start a new project I always have a moment of fear that my best work has already been done, that i will never have another good idea. I've learned that this is part of my process..
When I was a child I loved to draw monsters and young heroes. I still love to draw some colorful, fantastic characters today, especially when I can’t come up with new ideas. I don’t know why, but it feels liberating..
You have to go beyond what you already know and stop spending time scrolling on Tumblr. Explore other arts: theatre, contemporary art, dance, fashion, poetry, but also sport and science. Look at people in the streets, observe everyday life!
I feel it’s important to do what you love and avoid trends. Don’t force yourself to do photobashing just because that’s what everyone else is doing. If you like realism, do that, if you like cartoons, do that. If you get good enough at something, people will want to pay you for it..
In Brazil we hear very often that you cannot survive by doing art and that makes us artists really scared. It's a risk I took upon myself to work in this field, but without the help of my parents this would had been much harder..
It’s always difficult to stay true to your ideas, most of the time the final illustration don’t stick to what you had in mind. I’m always changing a lot of things that worked on my mind because sometimes.. they don’t work at all in Photoshop!
Working together makes it all easier. It's not only suggesting ideas or receiving feedback, it's more about the motivation you get when you are included in the working process of others artists..
I hope to see a brighter future for animation in Italy. This would be such a great help for all the young talents we have over here, who wouldn't be forced to always look for opportunities abroad to pursued their artistic ambitions and dreams..
I love artists that are trying to help other artists. Guys like Jake Parker, Stephen Silver or Aaron Blaise share some great videos about how they approach their artistic life that inspire me and at the same time, help me to improve my artistic skills..
I think a lot before sleeping and it's often at this moment that I find my best ideas. Then, I look up for references, photos, artworks and I also write every words I find in relationship with the subject I want to design..
I really enjoy myself when I'm drawing, cleaning, and colouring. But sometimes I get very confused when I have to find a convincing idea or sketch before starting the real drawing. And worst of all, I have trouble determining at which point I'm done with it…
The work of Disney was kind of a revelation to me when I was a child, particularly some of the characters drawn by Marc Davis. They still inspire me to create my own characters today..
My mom is the reason I pursued art as a career. She was the one who signed me up for clubs and told me I should go to Sheridan after high school. She has always loved my passion and I couldn’t have done any of this without her help..
I spent years learning things on my own, buying books, taking some online courses, workshops, learning basically everything I could. I left my fears behind and I start asking people with stronger skills than me for feedback, positive or negative, always searching for ways to improve my art..
You got to do what you love the most, work hard and do the best you can. There are so many opportunities of utilizing your artistic skills, if you want to find your artistic path you just have to keep doing it..
Even if you are really good at what you do, you can't wait around for people to discover how amazing you are, hand you the perfect job and make you rich and happy as you think you deserve to be. You need to get out there and speak to people!
It is essential for me to have a well established base of references before starting any project. Only then my personal interpretation and creativity can take over..
I know I wouldn't be where I'm at without having taken advantage of social media and put my work out there for people to see. Its kind of a necessity if you want to be a successful artist these days…
Right now freelancing has been working just fine for me but I wouldn't mind settling down for a bit with a studio. Juggling several freelance jobs can be stressful and scary at times..
I think different things will work for different people. Some of them work in one consistent style and some don’t, and both can be successful. It’s really up to the artists themselves to find their way..
I wish someone could have told me how to solve this problem when I was young. Some people said that having art-block means that you don’t work hard enough, but it’s totally wrong; having art-block is just a natural thing that could happen to everyone..
A consistent style helps you get noticed but there’s a difference between consistent and stagnant. If you’re incapable of experimentation it can block you out just as much as if you live your life as some renegade art shapeshifter..
Enjoy the ride and have fun! We get so wrapped up on needing to predict our futures (and I am so guilty of this too). Take your time and create what you love, but don’t forget to try new things. You never know what you’ll end up loving if you don’t try it!
When I first get the description of a character, I try to really imagine the personality more than the details. I put myself in their shoes and imagine how I would act and wear, for me the personality always comes first..
The stories I enjoyed the most growing up featured girls or young women as the protagonists. They instilled a belief within me that females are varied persons who each have their own stories to tell. The subscription to a monolithic ideal of a female never appealed to me..
The 80's were such a good decade for animation shows: The Secret of Nimh, Akira, My Neighbour Totoro, Duck Tales, Sherlock Hound, Saint Seiya, Dragon Ball, Moomins were all amazing references for growing up as an artist, both in terms of styles and storytelling..
I always keep in mind the personality and the purpose of the character in the story. I collect reference material and try to look at the real thing if I can. I need to find an expression or pose that can define the character..
I had a complicated childhood and drawing was for me a sort of refuge. My family had some misunderstanding with the fact that I isolated myself to draw, but my mother always encouraged me on my artistic journey, and she greatly influenced me through her particular taste for art and writing..
I need to feel free and I love to work as a freelancer. Schedule my work at my own pace isn't just extremely relaxing for me, but gives me more time to spend with my family..
I want to be doing everything I'm doing now when I'm 100 years old! I want to still be animating, drawing, designing and developing cool stuff for as long as I can…
Thinking that you need to be at a certain level to draw something can really hold you back. Make art that you would want to make professionally, you don't have to wait to animate, make a comic, or do concept art. Opportunities will come..
Just be willing to work hard, there's no cut and dry path to being a successful commercial artist. It's taken many people years and years to get to where they are and that never changes. I don't know of anyone who feels like they've 'arrived' at their ideal artist self..
Designing a character is essentially a problem-solving activity. Finding a solution that is not only effective but also visually attractive it's really the biggest brain teaser to me..
You have to put your work out there and push yourself to keep learning and growing. Work hard and don't lose sight of what you really want..
It all comes down to story. I have to know who the character is before I can start putting stuff down on paper. You really have to become an actor and bring that design/character to life..
Never get too attached to your work or ideas when working with clients. Your favorite idea may be the least favorite for your director. Remember that you are envisioning their ideas, not yours…
I think I owe everything to the artists that i love. I wonder what my drawings would look like If those guys weren’t here to inspire me. They made me understand that art is a great way to live your life and to spend your time. I am so thankful for that…
There is no room for ego, animation is about a lot of things but not having the last word. Synergy and brainstorming is the best way to creativity and to solve problems. It can still take time, it’s still a lot of work sometimes but it’s so much easy than when you work on a project alone…
As a child I always drew the type of women I wished to be. Today when I choose to draw a female character, It's coming from a feminist and self-conscious state of mind to create a character that I can say something through her, or she can tell me something new about myself..
I absolutely love drawing people. They all have a story to tell and you can see it by the way they walk, the way they dress, or the way they try to not notice you drawing them. Every character has a backstory and I want to be able to tell that story through my drawings…
I love the push and pull between the character design and the story you're working on. The story informs your character design, but then you discover things about the character as you're designing them as well which changes how you see the story..
I always loved to create characters and I've been always fascinated by the ones I used to see in games. How much story they can tell only by the way they look! I used to write pages and pages about the character’s story until they almost exist to me..
I love to have no filter and fully express my imagination when I'm designing. Working this way makes me find the inspiration for new projects..
I ask a lot of questions to my clients, almost too many, I want to be sure what they have in mind for their project. You have to realize how free you are, what are the limits, how much of your inner world you can put in that project..
Just draw really. Or do what makes you happy. I'm not sure I'm one who's made a lot of right decisions, but I do know that doing the things that didn't leave me fulfilled led me to doing the things that do…
There’s nothing definitive in art. There’s always room for experimentation, failure, there're turning points in every artistic career, and when you know how to create, you can always shift from one industry to another without making big sacrifices…
I just love to stare at people and see how different they are, how emotions float out over the surface, how their character can be seen in their movements and clothes. I love the lines of the human body..
I love how the Internet allows you to reach so many people, anything that can make you as an artist keeping in touch with your followers is great. It can help to bring so many interesting projects to life that maybe publishers could not dare to risk…
Research is the golden word, I never start a project without researching the subject and after gaining enough understanding, it’s time for brainstorming. I just grab my pencil and paper and start sketching ideas..
Don't reject anything, talk with other artists about their work and try to experiment as much as you can. Only by trying many different things you will understand what is your artistic path..
Usually I prefer to have a specific task. The more specific, the better I feel at fleshing out the essence, but it also happens that I draw something unintentionally that then inspires me to dig deeper. Designing is a chain of associations to me..
Drawing constantly is not the only way to get better. In my opinion, an artist should also observe what's happening around him. Overwork can negatively influence your creativity..
I have learned many useful things from my teachers, classmates and from other artists, but the most important one is to believe in yourself, be self-critic, work hard and never stop learning..
Just start making small sketches, nothing really fancy, just draw.. something, anything. Don't try to draw something pretty or perfect, just scribble whatever is on your mind..
The most important thing is to be able to be critical of yourself. Be open to show your artwork to other people, their first impression is always very important…
Sometimes you learn more by speaking with people than to practice your drawing. I definitely think that becoming an artist is a subtle mix of learning from your practice and from the culture around you…
In South Korea educational fervor and expectations are really high and going to a good university is a big thing. I was fine with that, I studied really hard and made it into a good university but.. I wasn’t happy. I realized that people should do what they really want to do, and I decided to change my path..