This week, I've been suffering a sore throat, a hacking cough, and a small bout of discouragement. I've been taking dayquil for the cold, but the discouragement may need more of a perspective checkup...
I was super-encouraged by the first few weeks of these new classes, finding rapid growth as new ideas and techniques enable me to jump into some potential that had been lying dormant. But now it may be starting to plateau a bit, and the reality of long years of disciplined practice becomes more apparent. This is simply the reality of drawing, or building any skill, so it shouldn't be a deterrent. You start with some level of gift or talent, but then you must invest it and grow it through the hard work of cultivation. When I see an amazing artist like James Jean or Glen Keane, it doesn't mean "they have it and I don't," but just that they've taken what they had and have already made progress on the long road of development. I find myself standing at the beginning of that road, and the only way towards progress is one measured step after another. The daunting thing is that as I learn more, and struggle at each new stage, my depth of appreciation and ability to recognize excellence is growing. So the more I come to understand what makes Glen Keane so amazing, for example, the longer "the road" becomes. As a follower of Christ, this should be a familiar dilemma for me, though in that case, the road is infinite! What makes endurance possible is grace, knowing that God accepts me where I am, and is himself at work to bring me along to where he'd like me to be.
Perhaps along with the cough syrup, a dose of grace will help on this artistic journey as well. However long the journey takes, the only way I'll survive is by appreciating each step for what it is, and realizing that as an artist, I'll always have a spot on God's refrigerator, not because I'm really really good, but because I'm his child.
February 28, 2007
February 21, 2007
atmosphere of admiration
I am so impressed by what I've seen of the animation community so far. There's a wonderful "atmosphere of admiration" - artists working alongside each other, all striving to improve wherever they're at and encouraging one another in the process, and communally looking to respected artists for inspiration, education, and innovation.
Whether it's for a famous dead artist, an obscure illustrator, or the top contemporary names in animation, there's a pervasive sense of respect for the artists who have worked hard to produce great stuff. People in the industry seem to know the artists by name, even when their work is part of a film made by hundreds, and they recognize them for their unique style, ability, and contributions. Though it's the drawings that we interact with and admire, the work is never detached from the individual who created it.
What's great is that the admiration is all-inclusive, it's not about who is "the best." The more great artists the better! Different artists work in different media (animation, comics, illustration, fine art) with different styles and different strengths, and each one can be appreciated for their unique strengths and contributions. Each discovery of a new artist is another reason to get excited!! The only limiting factor of course, is the size of your bookshelf (and budget).
So far people also seem very willing to help and to share expertise. Perhaps they realize (as I've been coming to realize), that "self-taught artist" is something of a myth, and they're eager to pass on help, knowing the abundance of help they must have received to get where they are today.
I'm sure there's a dark side to the animation world (as in all human interaction), but I like what I've seen so far!
Whether it's for a famous dead artist, an obscure illustrator, or the top contemporary names in animation, there's a pervasive sense of respect for the artists who have worked hard to produce great stuff. People in the industry seem to know the artists by name, even when their work is part of a film made by hundreds, and they recognize them for their unique style, ability, and contributions. Though it's the drawings that we interact with and admire, the work is never detached from the individual who created it.
What's great is that the admiration is all-inclusive, it's not about who is "the best." The more great artists the better! Different artists work in different media (animation, comics, illustration, fine art) with different styles and different strengths, and each one can be appreciated for their unique strengths and contributions. Each discovery of a new artist is another reason to get excited!! The only limiting factor of course, is the size of your bookshelf (and budget).
So far people also seem very willing to help and to share expertise. Perhaps they realize (as I've been coming to realize), that "self-taught artist" is something of a myth, and they're eager to pass on help, knowing the abundance of help they must have received to get where they are today.
I'm sure there's a dark side to the animation world (as in all human interaction), but I like what I've seen so far!
February 20, 2007
Work is hard
By the skin of my teeth, I finished up my first big illustration project today. It only took one deadline extension, two all-nighters, and several panic attacks to bring it to completion, but it's done!
Learned some valuable time management lessons -- on the positive side, for once I actually estimated the amount of time it would take with almost perfect accuracy. On the negative side, I glossed over the fact that I didn't actually have that much time available... But I guess it is good to face my fear of freelance overbusy-ness early on, and see how to constructively work through it and survive.
Fortunately, this project was worth the trouble! Seven fun illustrations, and abundant opportunities to practice what I've been learning about perspective, figure construction, dynamic poses, and composition, along some great experience in photoshop painting and visual research. Unfortunately, everything is on non-disclosure agreement, so I can't show anyone (hence the vague descriptions). It was a great learning experience though and a HUGE jumpstart to my confidence in drawing.
Learned some valuable time management lessons -- on the positive side, for once I actually estimated the amount of time it would take with almost perfect accuracy. On the negative side, I glossed over the fact that I didn't actually have that much time available... But I guess it is good to face my fear of freelance overbusy-ness early on, and see how to constructively work through it and survive.
Fortunately, this project was worth the trouble! Seven fun illustrations, and abundant opportunities to practice what I've been learning about perspective, figure construction, dynamic poses, and composition, along some great experience in photoshop painting and visual research. Unfortunately, everything is on non-disclosure agreement, so I can't show anyone (hence the vague descriptions). It was a great learning experience though and a HUGE jumpstart to my confidence in drawing.
February 7, 2007
A time to embrace...
I am so excited!
After a few years of having artistic development on the backburner, it seems the time has been coming to embrace it once again.
Recent months have brought some amazing opportunities... from a chance encounter with the extremely generous Paul Felix at Disney, to more extended exposure to the enthusiastic teaching of Mike Matessi at his Entertainment Art Academy. With help from experienced artists like these, I'm finally learning to see that my work needs work, and specifically what areas to improve upon. It's been really inspiring! I'm fortunate to start with some good raw talent, which through experience has been able to get me this far... but like any skill, it needs cultivation through discipline, diligence, and the direction of someone who knows things I don't!
So this year I've started taking some drawing classes, back to the basics of perspective and the figure, and it's been helping so much!! In some ways I feel like I've been learning to draw for the first time, not just in markmaking skills, but in learning to see with the eyes and understanding of a draftsman. With it has come a deeper sense of appreciation, both for the work of other artists who have excelled in their craft, and for the work of the Creator and all the care, detail, and design he has poured into this world.
Alongside the classes, I'm starting out in some new directions work-wise, and learning to survive as a freelance artist. Who knows where this will lead, but already it's been a great challenge to grow from, for business and organization as much as for art. Tomorrow I'm starting up my first major illustration job and I get paid to practice the skills I've been learning in class!!
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm pretty excited.
After a few years of having artistic development on the backburner, it seems the time has been coming to embrace it once again.
Recent months have brought some amazing opportunities... from a chance encounter with the extremely generous Paul Felix at Disney, to more extended exposure to the enthusiastic teaching of Mike Matessi at his Entertainment Art Academy. With help from experienced artists like these, I'm finally learning to see that my work needs work, and specifically what areas to improve upon. It's been really inspiring! I'm fortunate to start with some good raw talent, which through experience has been able to get me this far... but like any skill, it needs cultivation through discipline, diligence, and the direction of someone who knows things I don't!
"The artist is nothing without the gift,
but the gift is nothing without work."
- Emile Zola
but the gift is nothing without work."
- Emile Zola
So this year I've started taking some drawing classes, back to the basics of perspective and the figure, and it's been helping so much!! In some ways I feel like I've been learning to draw for the first time, not just in markmaking skills, but in learning to see with the eyes and understanding of a draftsman. With it has come a deeper sense of appreciation, both for the work of other artists who have excelled in their craft, and for the work of the Creator and all the care, detail, and design he has poured into this world.
Alongside the classes, I'm starting out in some new directions work-wise, and learning to survive as a freelance artist. Who knows where this will lead, but already it's been a great challenge to grow from, for business and organization as much as for art. Tomorrow I'm starting up my first major illustration job and I get paid to practice the skills I've been learning in class!!
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm pretty excited.
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