Interview with David Enciso Via Vancouver Animation       

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What brought you to the Vancouver Animation Industry?

I studied grade 11 here in Vancouver and when it came time to choosing a career path I always wanted to work in the entertainment industry as an artist. Canada just seemed like the best choice as these industries were slowly booming back then and thankfully I wasn't wrong. Plus, besides the weather, what's not to love about this city?

Why did you switch from being an Animator to a Concept Artist?

I was always more interested in drawing and painting more than anything when it came to art. As much as I loved creating emotion and "acting" through the movement of a character. As the animation industry shifted from 2D to 3D I soon realized that my core skill would be better used if I went back to the roots and just let my imagination go with pencil and paper. Although these days most of the work I do is Digital (Photoshop and Wacom tablet). I love creating new characters and worlds and then seeing them come to life through the work of skilled animators. It is a very rewarding career to say the least.

Would you consider that being a Concept Artist is more difficult than an Animator?

I believe that both positions have their challenges. I did animation for quite some time and I know that "easy" is never a term I would use for this kind of work. I think the biggest challenges in 3D animation these days comes from a technical perspective, learning how to make the software do what you have in your mind. In concepting, the challenges are not necessarily technical. There's a pressure to always be creative, to always create something fresh, something new. something that most people haven't seen. Sometimes it's hard to compare concept art and animation (even though they are strongly linked together) but I'd say that you should do whatever you enjoy more and embrace the challenges and always push to do your best work. But, no I don't think concepting is more difficult, I just think it's a different process.

You have been working in the Film, Games and TV Industry. Which one is your favourite and why?

I have had awesome experiences in all 3 fields. However, I would have to say the Games industry is the one that has been most fun so far. The process of generating concepts for Games has been very enjoyable. There's a lot of creative freedom and, to a certain extent, it seems like there's a lot to explore in this industry. That being said, I would still love to be part of a creative art team in the film industry in the future.

How's the life of a Concept Artist at a Gaming Studio?

Mine is pretty awesome. I come in the morning normally have 1 or 2 meetings with the team where we keep up to date with all the different departments of the development team. Then, the fun starts as I love to sit at my desk, put my headphones on listen to the Howard Stern show while I let my imagination run wild as I get to create new worlds and characters that will eventually entertain millions of people out there. Sometimes there are other fun tasks which involve creating covers, logos and titles which keeps the job new and fresh. I try not to stress at work, I happen to work at one of the top Game developers in Canada and the company has an amazing philosophy of balancing work and personal life. There's very little pressure which translates into a better product overall. I'm very happy with my job and could not ask for a better situation right now.

In your opinion, what is the best thing it could happen to a Concept Artist and their career?

I think achieving a lead role, having the opportunity to teach and recruit new talent and the possibility to become an art director in a big project are always goals that should be kept in mind as a concept artist. Knowing that you can pass up your knowledge and experience to a new generation and seeing where they take that wisdom as you age should be very rewarding.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

For any aspiring artist out there my advice is to NEVER give up. If you have a dream go and do everything within your power to achieve it. It will make you a happy person, you will enjoy waking up every morning and doing something you love. If you don't have a job opportunity then CREATE one. I was told a few times that "I wasn't ready" or that "it was going to be very difficult" and that "I shouldn't even try and just go the safe way and do something else" If you have the talent and the passion you will eventually get discovered, but make sure you tell the world you are out there.

Artist Bio:

Born in Mexico in 1980, always had a passion for drawing and painting. In 1998 I went to the University of the Americas in Puebla Mexico where I studied Fine arts and Graphic design for 2 years. Against all odds, I moved to Canada by myself in 2000 to study film, Art and Animation. I got a diploma in the Digital Animation Masters program from the Center for digital imaging and sound, a commercial animation diploma from Vanarts and a Game Art and Design diploma from The Art institute of Vancouver (yes, that's a lot of schooling, I could have been a doctor!). I got my first job at Next Level Games as a junior concept artist. I then went on to work at Rainmaker where I had the chance to work in the film Garfield a tail of two kitties, I had an opportunity to work at Nerdcorps as a senior designer on an animated series called Stormhawks and destiny brought me back in 2006 to Next Level Games where I have been extremely happy working ever since. I worked on SpiderMan Friend or Foe (Xbox 360, Ps@ and Wii), Had an Art director job on a Wii ware title called Jungle Speed and I was a concept artist for the new Punch Out!! game coming to the Wii this May. I am currently working on another amazing title but I'm not allowed to talk about it yet.


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