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Disney Character Designer answers your questions about Concept Art, Character Design for Animation, Digital Painting & Illustration.
Disney Storyboard Artist and Director Natalie Nourigat describes her book I Moved To Los Angeles To Work In Animation as “part Autobio Comic and part ‘How-To’ guide.’” It’s hilarious, emotional, beautifully illustrated and I now consider it required reading for every aspiring Animation professional. Today, Natalie joins me for a lesson inspired by her book: 4 […]
The post 4 Ways Animation Artists Can Mentally Prepare For The Move To Los Angeles: With Natalie Nourigat :: VSP #3 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Hello, my friends! Chris Oatley here with a few time-sensitive ArtCast Announcements! In this recording, I’ll provide updates on: Dream Machine my new Social Media course for Artists. My upcoming presentation at Artistacon 2019 (plus a discount code). …and what to expect as we begin re-branding The ArtCast! Here we go! Listen To The Announcement: […]
The post [Announcement] The Future Of The ArtCast, Artistacon & Dream Machine! appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
These days, whenever I ask my industry colleagues where they’re finding work, the answer is almost always one of two things: Industry connections or Social Media. …but, despite the proliferation of Social Media success stories within the Entertainment Industries, many of us are still afraid of Social Media. …and if we’re not afraid, we’re often […]
The post 11 Social Media Habits That Hurt Your Art Career (And How To Break Them) :: ArtCast #115 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
How long did it take you to learn the “Happy Birthday” song? …and how long would it take you to learn to sing a pitch-perfect, note-for-note, Broadway power ballad? Years, right? Because style takes time. …and how many wrong notes would you produce in private before you gained the confidence to perform live? Millions. Process […]
The post 4 Keys To A Long and Healthy Illustration Career :: ArtCast #114 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
How would you prepare for a career in a mysterious industry like Theme Park Design where information about job requirements and current projects are almost impossible to find? …and what would you do if you were stuck in a desert (literal and creative) with little more than a stack of comics, a Disney Imagineering book […]
The post Theme Parks Concept Artist Chris Bradley On Building A Dream Career :: ArtCast #112 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Disney Toy Designer Zach Gracia continues his story today on The Oatley Academy ArtCast! In part one of this series, Zach told the story of how he challenged his family’s expectations to pursue an artistic career, struggled through art school and avoided debt by working multiple jobs (including some uncomfortable internships). …and when he finally […]
The post Disney Toy Designer Zach Gracia On Why You Probably Haven’t Failed Enough (Part 2) :: ArtCast #111 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
So you trashed your last project and started over… …and then again. …and then again. …is that because you just aren’t meant to be an artist? …or is it simply because you’re ambitious? So you spent your weekend sleeping instead of drawing… Is that lazy? …or healthy? Are you blocked? …or just solving the wrong […]
The post How To Fail Like A Professional Artist (…and Find Inspiration In The Process) :: ArtCast #109 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
What is the difference between drawing and design? When working for a studio, does your personal aesthetic matter? Are you thoroughly exploring your story ideas or are you stopping too soon? What do Pixar’s Coco and The Shining have in common? And how can you get out of your own head and bring more freedom […]
The post Visual Development Mythbusting :: ArtCast #108 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Can distractions help you become a more focused artist? Why does speed seem like such a waste of time? Do you draw in “The Beginner Style?” …and how can you avoid the most common drawing mistakes? Life Drawing Expert Stan Prokopenko joins me today on The Oatley Academy ArtCast… Listen To The Episode: [ download […]
The post How Distractions Help You Become A More Focused Artist (With Life Drawing Expert Stan Prokopenko) :: ArtCast #107 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
The term “Concept Art,” brings to mind a specific kind of imagery. …but isn’t that a problem…? What if the struggle of learning Perspective Drawing simply isn’t worth it…? How can an animated TV show be deeply autobiographical for it’s creator and still have huge, mainstream appeal? Maybe what other people think of your art matters less […]
The post Books That Will Change Your Creative Process (Best Of 2017) :: ArtCast #106 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
This month, Sarah Marino (Color Supervisor at Nickelodeon), Jenn Ely (Production Designer for House Special, Visual Development Artist for Dreamworks) and I are teaching a new online workshop called First Flight: How To Create Your New Career In Visual Development. I invited them both to join me here on The ArtCast to promote First Flight and talk about how they achieved such significant success in their animation careers… Episode Highlights […]
The post Creative Bravery: Why Animation Pros Sarah Marino and Jenn Ely Thrive In A Challenging Industry :: ArtCast #102 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Creative community is vital for kidlit illustrators and authors. In this episode, guest co-host Manelle Oliphant and I talk about: How to get the most helpful feedback from your Critique Group. Keeping criticism positive with the “Critique Sandwich” technique. Digital vs. physical meetups. How Critique Groups deepened our understanding of the children’s publishing industry. How your […]
The post Launching Your Kidlit Career (Part 2): Critique Groups :: Stories Unbound #13 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
If you’re a children’s book creator feeling daunted by the industry and disconnected from your community, conferences could be your solution! Join me (Shawna) and our guest co-host Manelle Oliphant for a conversation about: Why Conferences are crucial for newbies and offer new opportunities for seasoned pros. How Conferences can help you find your niche […]
The post Launching Your Kidlit Career (Part 1): Conferences :: Stories Unbound #12 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
In part one, Claire Keane (Disney, Penguin Random House), Jenn Ely (Laika, Google, Dreamworks), Brian McDonald (Pixar, Disney, Industrial Light & Magic) and I announced that we will be teaching at The Story Design Conference from September 28th – October 2nd, 2016 in the awe-inspiring city of Rome, Italy! (Note: The conference was moved from May to September.) In celebration of our announcement, we decided […]
The post Claire Keane, Jenn Ely & Brian McDonald on Art, Fear & Finding Your Calling (Part 2) :: ArtCast #93 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
This is the transcript for the podcast episode Claire Keane, Jenn Ely & Brian McDonald on Art, Fear & Finding Your Calling (Part 2) :: ArtCast #93. To listen to the podcast click here. Chris: Chris Oatley’s Artcast, episode 93, “Art, Fear, & Finding Your Calling – A Conversation with Claire Keane, Brian McDonald, and Jenn Ely, […]
The post [Transcript] Claire Keane, Jenn Ely & Brian McDonald on Art, Fear & Finding Your Calling (Part 2) :: ArtCast #93 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Claire Keane (Disney, Penguin Random House), Jenn Ely (Laika, Google, Dreamworks) and Brian McDonald (Pixar, Disney, Industrial Light & Magic) and I have created a unique conference designed to help you become the great visual storyteller you are meant to be. In May of 2016, our Story Design Conference will take place in the awe-inspiring city of Rome, Italy. […]
The post Claire Keane, Jenn Ely & Brian McDonald on Art, Fear & Finding Your Calling (Part 1) :: ArtCast #92 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
This is the transcript for the podcast episode Claire Keane, Jenn Ely & Brian McDonald on Art, Fear & Finding Your Calling (Part 1) :: ArtCast #92. To listen to the podcast click here. Chris: Chris Oatley’s Artcast, episode 92 – Art, Fear, and Finding Your Calling: A Conversation with Claire Keane, Jenn Ely, and Brian McDonald, […]
The post [Transcript] Claire Keane, Jenn Ely & Brian McDonald on Art, Fear & Finding Your Calling (Part 1) :: ArtCast #92 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Many artists are under the misconception that “the portfolio” is a fixed, finish-able thing… This misconception can be particularly restrictive at conventions, job fairs and other recruiting events where you get frequent feedback from industry pros. In this episode we share a strategy that will help you design a physical portfolio that can adapt to the feedback […]
The post Escape From Art Jail #5: Designing An Adaptive Portfolio For Conventions & Recruiting Events appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Pandora’s Box, The Holy Grail, The One Ring, Lightsabers, Reese’s Pieces, The Red Pill, The Ark Of The Covenant, Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, The Flux Capacitor, Thor’s Hammer… Props are essential for creating believable worlds. So why are they often neglected in Visual Development portfolios? In this article, Ejiwa “Edge” Ebenebe – Editorial Assistant for The Oatley Academy – and I share […]
The post From Pandora’s Box To The Holy Grail: Why Prop Design Is Essential For A Competitive Visual Development Portfolio appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
This is the first in a series of quick tips that will help you create a competitive Visual Development portfolio. Today I’ll share three essential steps that are so obvious they’re often ignored. Three Essential Steps To Become A VisDev Artist: Pick a story. Get a pencil and a piece of paper. Develop the story […]
The post Tips For A Competitive Visual Development Portfolio (Part 1): Act Hired Before You Get Hired appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
My friend Debbie has a big BUT. …and it has become a serious problem. Debbie is a creatively-unfulfilled (and slightly depressed) graphic designer. For years, I’ve challenged her to start searching for a new path to greater creative fulfillment by: Starting a personal project. Launching a creative side business. Developing new, professional relationships via social media. […]
The post 21 Butt-Kicking Questions To Help You Stay Focused On Your Creative Dream appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
“You need to be in constant communication with the client to the point that they expect… The worst thing is when someone doesn’t update you. It’s absolutely critical that you communicate with your clients.” – Sean Hodge Even the most successful freelance artists will tell you that bad clients and boring gigs are common roadblocks to a fulfilling […]
The post Why Freelance Artists Fail :: ArtCast #72 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
This is the transcript for the podcast episode Why Freelance Artists Fail :: ArtCast #72To listen to the podcast click here. Chris: Chris Oatley’s Artcast, episode 72 – Why freelance artists fail with special guest Sean Hodge, editor for FreelanceSwitch.com and TutsPlus.com. Part 2! Hello my friends, and welcome to another episode of Chris Oatley’s Artcast, […]
The post [Transcript] Why Freelance Artists Fail :: ArtCast #72 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
“Art is a system. I think as you mature, it’s natural that if you start to pay attention to business, you’ll start to approach that systematically as well.” – Sean Hodge Conducting creative business on the Internet is a relentless test of endurance. The fight for attention in this crowded, noisy market is exhausting and often discouraging. […]
The post Troubleshooting Your Freelance Illustration Career :: ArtCast #71 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
This is the transcript for the podcast episode Troubleshooting Your Freelance Illustration Career :: ArtCast #71. To listen to the podcast click here. Chris: Chris Oatley’s Artcast episode 71 – Troubleshooting Your Freelance Illustration Career, an interview with Sean Hodge, editor for FreelanceSwitch.com and TutsPlus.com, Part 1. Hello my friends, and welcome to another episode of Chris […]
The post [Transcript] Troubleshooting Your Freelance Illustration Career :: ArtCast #71 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Craig Mullins, Iain McCaig and Neville Page got it all wrong… If you want to be a successful concept artist, don’t follow their example. It’s far too risky. If they knew anything about concept art, they would stop producing such ground-breaking/ mind-blowing/ industry-defining work and just stick to slight variations of the familiar… Of course, I’m […]
The post Why Your Concept Art Portfolio Is Being Ignored (Part 2) appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
If I see one more green-tinted, over-textured digital painting of a wrecked spaceship I’m going to… …do absolutely nothing. I won’t tell any of my friends about it. I won’t share it online. …and I certainly won’t buy a book full of similar images. Not because I’ll hate it. …because it won’t make me feel […]
The post Why Your Concept Art Portfolio Is Being Ignored (Part 1) appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
You and I – and pretty much every professional artist in the history of the universe – understand how hard it is to make a living from original work… The pain comes in different ways: The disappointment of boxing up your books after a slow convention. The extended embarrassment of a failed crowdfunding campaign. The […]
The post 5 Costly Mistakes That Will Stop You From Selling Your Art appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
Paper Wings is back! Marvel Animation storyboard artist Justin Copeland joins the team as the newest co-host of the Paper Wings Show. In this podcast episode, Justin explains the necessary steps to creating a professional storyboard portfolio and responds to some great listener questions. Lora‘s “Lofty Thought” segment offers a healthier way to compare your work to others […]
The post Creating A Professional Storyboard Portfolio :: Paper Wings Show #27 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
“If there’s truth behind the art, it will resonate.” -Chris Campbell Most professional artists have been drawing since they first picked up a crayon. As a kid, Chris Campbell drew the occasional doodle but he never took his art seriously. …not until his late twenties, anyway. Abandoning his career as a journalist, Chris enrolled in […]
The post Breaking In At Riot Games & How To Get A Concept Artist Internship: Interview With Chris Campbell :: ArtCast #69 appeared first on ChrisOatley.com.
