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IA: Who are your favorite artists, classical and digital?
JN: Personally, I'm a big fan of cartoon and caricature artists, in particular Gerald Scarfe, Ronald Searle and Bill Watterson. However, there are many 3D artists making work that really rocks my boat. I'm a big fan of Fred Bastide, Greg Petchkovsky, Pascale Blanché, and Neil Blevins.
IA: Do you think there's still a place for art in commercial work?
JN: Yes, it's an interpretation of a brief that makes it art. We always try to throw in a few extras to a piece just to make it more "arty." Plenty of advertising directors are so saturated with their campaign and under such tight reins by their client they find it difficult to think outside the box and make an image that stands out from the crowd.
Plenty of our work is delivered strictly to brief but when we can get a solid run and given a bit of time to play, I do feel that some of our work stands up as art for art sake. Obviously we can't work for free, and from the business side of things, I'm always trying to cover our time spent with the budget. But sometimes it's worth putting in a little extra to add that extra bit, both for exposure and reputation sake. Especially if the original concept was strong in the first place, and the client wants us to roll with it.
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A: What would your advice be to someone who wants to start a career as a CG Artist?
JN: Oh, tricky question. Everyone is different and has different expectations. I used to teach character animation and there have been plenty of students I've gone on to work with afterwards. Aside from the obvious, "Practice, practice, practice" and, "Constantly expose your work to seek critique," one piece of advice that a lot of them said stuck with them was that they should stay fit and in shape at all times.
If you want to be able to deliver your best work day after day, you need to keep fit. Sitting in front of a computer all day places a tremendous strain on your body, regardless of what non-computer people say. There are times when I'd look up at the clock and realize I hadn't moved for 7 hours straight and that is dangerous. My body is literally crying out for help, yet somehow I've pushed it into the background while I was getting a task done. It's bad for you and I just don't believe that anyone can succeed in this industry without a solid and regular exercise regime in place.
For example, in our studio we have an artist who is an Australian representative rock climber and another guy who has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I do actually consider these things when seeking new artists to hire. Personally, I am strict about my own exercise and try (however difficult it is) to minimize my daily screen time as much as possible. I'm not a super athlete or anything, I just make a conscious effort to regularly get away from the computer and move around. I truly believe it really helps my work. The old story of the hare and the tortoise is very valid in that respect. Your career is life long, so make your road smoother by treating your body with respect.
Links
Studio : www.promotionstudios.com
Collaborative www.redcartel.com.au
Video Collaborative www.syncarella.com
Kajimba production blog www.kajimba.com
James Neale is a Jury in IT'S ART Challenge, "The Control Of Nature", and sponsor the Challenge with free Syncarella Licences for the winners of the 3D Section
See Also :
The Making of the Lighthouse by ProMotion
Project Focus : Slimers by ProMotion
IA: Who are your favorite artists, classical and digital?
A: What would your advice be to someone who wants to start a career as a CG Artist?