Collection

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Making wee little steps!

I hope the prior post was informative! I definitely appreciate all the help I've recieved to get to this point and feel it is important to continue supporting other upcoming artists, it is how we continue to push the boundaries of what we create as well as inspire others!

Happy Halloween weekend everyone! I got the fun chance to see Nickelodeon's Halloween party, amazing how the artists and employees there got so into creating a fun house! Gotta love how into the Halloween spirit us creatives get! Thanks to a wonderful employee there for the chance!


I also got to see a bit of the inside of Disney's Animation Studio, on a brief visit through a network I made at SIGGRAPH, I still can't thank him enough for his time and advice! It was inspiring to see there too, and great to get more of a direction on how to reach that seemingly out of reach beginning position. I hope one day to walk back into the doors.

 Gnomon had a wonderful discussion on Composition by concept artists from Blue Canvas. Then soon after another Sketch Theatre. Each of these drawings were 20 minutes each.




Industry advice to land a position

Slowly, but I suppose quickly, I'm making steps to land a position out here. I would love to be helping on an upcoming production with all of the wonderful creative minds!

Networking and visiting studios is so inspirational, and after some wonderful advice from a Disney artist I met at SIGGRAPH I'm aiming to improve and redo my demo reel to reach the caliber necessary to land the Disney Talent Development position or where ever else!

Some advice I got from him, and from other SIGGRAPH attending artists.

Model from art that is appealing and inspiring. He told me, sure we can draw but those concept artist can really draw and it shows you have a great aesthetic eye! It shows you can model from someone elses concept, and make sure to show their concept as comparison (of course crediting it and most likely asking them to use it before hand, they appreciate that). Of course if you have something you think is strong don't be afraid to use that either.

Having textured items is not entirely necessary when you're applying as a modeler but good if you can and want to texture it, show its polyflow of course and maybe an action pose of a character.

For environments give it character, make it seemed lived in, what era is it? who lives in that space, age or gender? what are their hobbies?

And above all as a general statement, know your strengths and focus, tailor your reel to that. Otherwise your reel will be over saturated with so many specialties and they wont know what you're applying for. If you have a reel like that, (I sure do ;o), you can use it as a supplementary piece to display your other skills, but make your specialty one first. Make it easy for them to put you on the yes pile!

If you want to create work for a vfx house, make it realistic as can be, animation studio appealing and full of character.

As for the intro, it doesn't have to be anything fancy schmancy, just a nice title card with your name, number, site, email and specialty. Repeat it at the end.

Best things to do, keep trying, be persistent, productive and confident. You may not be where you want to be at a certain moment but keep trying and being positive, and you'll reach that dream!

Well, that's about it for the moment, if you have any questions feel free to ask!
Happy creating!
~Brittany

Saturday, October 15, 2011

New home in LA! - Begining of a new chapter:

Long time no blog! Good news is I've made the big move to Los Angeles successfully driving cross country from Pittsburgh to LA in four days and found a lovely apartment within a few after arriving! Now I'm finally settled and with internet to post!

I've been on the job hunt and still am, hoping to make a break into a studio here. I did luckily receive a freelance bit for a doctor who does hair transplants. So that's a good start within the first two weeks! Hopefully the next few prove even better!

Portfolio review was a wonderful finale to my three years. It was touching, exciting and very bittersweet. Out of a very small graduating group, I won the best of show for Media Arts and Animation, a wonderful honor. When I went to receive it on stage it was such a tickling feeling seeing the faculty and fellow students clapping, making me realize I have a lot of people to thank for a great learning experience. It seems so long and yet so fast. I look forward to seeing more of my friends from AiP to make it out here too! I'm sure the ones that were planning on it will do great!


 Physical Frogasuar model!


The trip out was lovely, as I have only seen small bits of the US, this was definitely a treat. I really loved the drive through the Rockies in Colorado, and being able to see the sky full of stars! Arriving in LA, I like the scenery (we came through the mountains), it has a touch of Greek characteristics. It is also wonderful being around so much artistic/creative places. I attended a life drawing event at the Gnomen school and saw a gallery opening for Neville Page. Drove by a few of the studios, first one I saw being Disney's Animation building upon arriving in LA!

Some of the Gnomen Life Drawing sketches, both were 20 minute poses.