Mack Garrison 6/11/24 Mack Garrison 6/11/24

Takeover Tuesday with Alina Marsh

An interview with Alina March: a kid-lit illustrator based in upstate New York passionate about colors and all things round and cute.

Interviewer: Matea Losenegger

Read time: 5min

Matea:

Hi Alina! Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in our series. Can you please introduce yourself and your work?

Alina:

Of course! My name is Alina Marsh and I’m a children’s book illustrator. I'm 23 years old and I live in upstate New York. Though I am in the early stages of my artistic journey, one thing I know for certain about my work is that it’ll always be fun and silly.

Matea:

What sparked your interest in art and illustration?

Alina:

I've always had an interest in art ever since I was a kid. Anything that has to do with the act of creating something from your imagination or expressing yourself in a way artistically is something that I've always been drawn to. Before I decided to learn to draw I considered myself a writer. As a child, I filled so many composition notebooks with fantasy stories and fan-fictions of characters (guilty as charged). I wanted to design my own characters for the stories that I wrote so I decided to learn how to draw. I realized drawing was pretty fun, so I never really stopped

Matea:

On your site you call yourself a kid-literature illustrator. Is there a specific path or different steps an artist must take when pursuing this pocket of the field?

Alina:

I guess you could say there's a difference when it comes to being an illustrator for children's books and children's media I think there's a bigger emphasis on collaborating with agencies compared to the freelance perspective of a general illustrator. There is a bigger benefit when you are working with a company or an organization that can actively be your guide to getting you projects especially if you are exclusively as illustrated not an author as well. Regardless of that, I also think that having a genuine interest and understanding of children's entertainment and media is important.

Matea:

Do you have a dream project or any specific stories you're itching to tell with your artwork?

Alina:

I have so many dreams and so many things! I want to do I just want to do all of the things! I think that's my biggest problem sometimes... I’d love to collaborate with a big company like Disney or Target for a merchandise project. I have such a love for illustrating specifically for physical items and seeing my work being showcased as part of someone’s style or personality.

*Birthday card for the visual arts department at State University of New York at Fredonia.*

Matea:

I absolutely love the way you utilize light and color. How did you develop your style and what is your process in creating these lovely pieces?

Alina:

Reading and observing art is just as important as actually picking up a pencil and making in my opinion. So many things I've learned about creating art, especially color theory, are simply by reading and understanding the thought process of another (way better) artist than myself. I think that there's a certain sort of patience and discipline that comes with learning light and color because it's such a complicated topic to study, but I do think that having that eagerness to learn is going to be just as important as actually practicing drawing every day. In terms of my process, I wouldn't necessarily say I go on intuition, but it's more of I go on the silly little feeling in my heart, cue the cheesiness! If something makes my heart flutter then I want to paint it! I am very much attracted to artwork that fills me with dopamine, which is why I love cute things and colorful things.

Matea:

From digital to gouache, watercolor, colored pencil and clay you work with an impressive variety of mediums. How do you decide which medium you want to use and is it project specific?

Alina:

It depends on what I'm itching to grab for. Although I tend to use digital as my main form of producing art, I don't want to be tied down to a specific medium just because I tend to get bored easily or I can sometimes get burnt out if I use the same media for too long. I do tend to gravitate towards digital a little bit more just because of the portability and the convenience of it, and I typically use it for larger products or illustrations that I plan on creating products or printing out just because I feel like I can get in the nitty-gritty details. Traditional media is where I can let loose and have fun.

*Draw in your style challenge for women.*

Matea:

Are there any mediums or styles you'd still like to explore?

Alina

I'd love to try animation. In my freshman year of college, I majored in animation and illustration but switched to just visual arts because I wanted to focus on illustration specifically. At the time, I was intimidated by the process of animation and I didn't think I had the attention span to keep up with it. But I'd still like to try and learn some of the basics again. I’d also love to try 3D modeling. it's a concept I still can't wrap my head around but I would love to make 3D models of cute little characters someday, and maybe make my own toys!

Matea:

The passion for your art really shines through in your work. How do you stay motivated to create and do you have strategies for combating burnout?

Alina:

I don't have a definite answer for this because I'm still trying to figure that out myself. I do think that your mind and your body are super connected so if you're not mentally feeling well then you're probably not going to be producing or creating art that you like, if you're even making art at all at that moment. I don't necessarily believe in motivation because if you rely on a will that you know comes and goes at random then you're just going to be wasting time. I think that if you are consistently working on placing yourself in a state of mind where you feel healthy enough to perform, that passion for making art will just come along with it if it’s something you genuinely enjoy. Sometimes I think it can be blocked when we aren't feeling well either physically or mentally. With burnout, I have a silly analogy, if you keep burning your toast, maybe try using a different kind of bread, get it?

Matea:

Are there any projects you're excited to share?

Alina:

I think that documenting your process and your thoughts is such a great way to connect with people and also to understand yourself, so I do want to work on filming more videos and perhaps invest some creative energy in a YouTube channel in the future this year. And while I'm still working on my professional portfolio, I want to focus on making art that gets me excited to work on it.

Matea:

Any final advice or takeaways?

Alina:

I don't think I would have gotten anywhere in my artistic journey if it weren't for having a community around me, and I think that's more crucial than ever in this day and age. I can think back to when I was in middle school, asking for critiques and advice on DeviantART, and just the fact that people were willing to look at my art and answer my questions was enough to give me the courage to continue creating. I think that understanding that when people are giving advice or critiquing your art, it's nothing that you should take personally. It should be something you should see from more of a professional point of view and learn to be better at your craft rather than feeling put down about your art. You should be willing to always seek help regardless of what stage you're in, I think it's always important to have someone share their perspective or give you guidance in any sort of way because I don't think you can do anything alone. Art will always be a team effort even if it's something that's that has independent is painting a picture.

Mack Garrison 5/28/24 Mack Garrison 5/28/24

Takeover Tuesday with Hamnah Rizwan

An interview with Hamnah Rizwan: a freelance artist and illustrator from Virginia.

Interviewer: Bella Alfonsi

Read time: 5min

Bella:

Thanks so much for taking the time to join us for this series. Can you please introduce yourself?

Hamnah:

Hello! Thank you so much for this opportunity. I’m Hamnah Rizwan, a 21 year old freelance artist/illustrator from Virginia, USA. I am part Hispanic and Filipino from my mom’s side and Pakistani from my dad’s side. I love all things fantasy (The Lord of the Rings is my favorite), spending time around horses, and I hold a Master’s in software engineering from Virginia Tech.

Bella:

How did you discover art and storytelling as a child?

Hamnah:

A lot of the credit goes to my parents. I grew up as a homeschooler which was a wonderful experience that allowed me to grow creatively and focus on what interested me, which was art. My parents encouraged my siblings & I to read about so many different topics and dig into what interested us, which really broadened my imagination. I can remember a couple major points in my life that really inspired me to get where I am today. The first moment was when I was around 9 yrs old and gifted a sketchbook and pencil/pastels set by my parents. This made me feel like such a professional “artist” and I spent all my time watching tutorials and figuring out how to use all these tools. I filled up a couple sketchbooks in no time.

The second moment was when I watched and read the Lord of the Rings for the first time around 10 yrs old. I remember feeling so many emotions after watching the films which included shedding a few tears. This was when I realized how powerful stories can be. I thought about how just one person’s piece of art could be so meaningful and touch so many people’s lives. I also watched all the behind-the-scenes footage for the films which got me excited to learn about concept artwork and design.

These experiences sparked my interest in all types of art including filmmaking, stop motion animation, graphic design, photography, and illustration. I created videos with my sister, animated stop motion Lego shorts that took months to create, and continued filling up sketchbooks of my own fantasy places. I collected every “The Art of” books I could find, my favorite being “The Art of How To Train Your Dragon.” I got my first Wacom Bamboo tablet around 12, and that’s when I knew illustration was the direction I wanted to get into. I loved the traditional work of artists like Tony DiTerlizzi and was drawn to incorporate that style into my digital work. Although I am technically self-taught, I don’t consider myself to be since all my skills have been gained through studying and learning from other artists through self-paced courses, books, tutorials, etc.

*Character illustrations as part of a commission Hamnah worked on.*

Bella:

How has being exposed to multiple different cultures influenced you and/or your work?

Hamnah:

Growing up, I was fortunate to have been introduced to many cultures and ideas. I am part Hispanic and Filipina from my mom’s side and Pakistani from my dad’s side. I grew up around all four of my grandparents living nearby and was constantly surrounded by many different languages, foods, stories, and SO many beautiful colors and patterns. This has had such a great influence on my art and creativity.

Bella:

I love your illustrations for children's books. Is that kind of work something you want to continue to focus on or are you interested in other types of projects?

Hamnah:

Yes! I would love to continue to work with more authors and publishers in the illustration field and this is my main focus. I have a particular love for projects that involve whimsical, fantasy themes and animals as well as projects that highlight cultures across the world.

Bella:

Do you have a dream project or client you want to work with?

Hamnah:

Outside of illustration, I have always wanted to be involved in an animated production (preferably fantasy related) as a visual development artist. I’ve always been fascinated by the pre-production stages of films from character design to set/prop design. This would definitely be an ideal project for me. So, if there are any studios out there, I’m here and ready to jump on board!

Bella:

Do you have any advice for someone trying to "find their style?"

Hamnah:

I honestly am still trying to find mine. I understand the struggle with the almost infinite void of art inspo on Instagram and Pinterest. I try to think about what type of illustrations excite me most. Having a consistent style is important for your own branding and making your work recognizable, but it takes time and exploration. To help figure it out, I think it’s important to think about the type of story/theme/mood you are trying to portray in your work and what type of illustration comes easy to you.

*A spooky illustration for a Haunted House cover.*

Bella:

What programs do you use to illustrate?

Hamnah

I have experience using different types of programs, but my main workflow is using Photoshop paired with my Huion Kamvas 13. Photoshop is such a robust software with so many capabilities and I’ve managed to collect many wonderful brush packs from artists that I love to use. I also have experience with Procreate and Corel Draw which are both great alternatives.

Bella:

How do you stay motivated? What gets you out of a creative rut?

Hamnah:

One of my favorite quotes about creativity is by Jack London where he says: “You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” Feeling unmotivated is completely normal and experienced by all of us every now and then. I work full-time in IT along with other projects aside from art, and it can be difficult to juggle it all and find time to create. When this happens, I remind myself of London’s quote and try my best to get out of that rut as soon as possible instead of letting the procrastination win.

I’ve been reading about different ways to do this and a helpful method I’ve found in the last couple months is utilizing our “limbic brain.” This is the part of our brain responsible for creativity, ideas/imagery, and activates dreaming when we sleep. Activating this part of our mind involves doing some sort of physical movements or an activity that allows us to think with images like reading. This is probably why we often hear about artists “taking a walk in the neighborhood” to help cure their creative block. I typically try to catch up on a book that I’m reading, exercise, or journal to keep ideas flowing.

Another strategy that helps is making it easy for yourself to create. Most of the concept work for my personal and client work is done in a sketchbook that I carry around. Once I’m happy with it I’ll import the sketch and clean it up digitally with all my tools. The idea of having to draw in a clean, quiet space with all the tablets/laptops/etc. and at a specific time can become a form of procrastination. I try to carry around my sketchbook and squeeze in time to draw throughout the day.

Bella:

Is there something you've worked on that stands out as a favorite to you?

Hamnah:

There have been multiple projects that have stood out to me. One was a promotional illustrational I created for an organization that provides educational resources for children of the Wayuu tribe in Colombia. It was an incredible experience learning more about the culture of the Wayuu people which is primarily governed by women. My artwork was even presented to the leader of the tribe who said she loved it! Another wonderful project I’m currently working on is a picture book for a therapeutic horse-riding center for children with special needs. I am a crazy horse lover and the opportunity to create illustrations and a story about all the beautiful horses for their students is so rewarding and fun.

Bella:

Any final advice or exciting things coming up you'd like to share?

Hamnah:

There is a quote I love by Richard Bach where he says: “Argue for your limitations and sure enough their yours.” It is very easy to create fears and perceived barriers in our minds that block us from reaching our full potential creatively. There will never be a perfect moment to create something, which is why today is! I am a strong believer that art and storytelling have a power that helps us think, stirs our emotions, and opens our minds. I’m looking forward to working on more meaningful projects in the new year. Thank you so much for having me!

Mack Garrison 9/12/23 Mack Garrison 9/12/23

Takeover Tuesday with Tom Van Deusen

An interview with Tom Van Deusen an animator and visual designer living in New York City.

Interviewer: Matea Losenegger

Read time: 5min

Matea:

Hey Tom! Thanks for lending your time. Can you please tell us a little about yourself?

Tom:

Thank you! I'm a visual designer and animator based out of New York City. I like to write and draw comics too. I have a cat named Spooky. I'm currently a Senior Motion Designer at a large media company. My favorite color is #CD9704..

Matea:

What is your background and how did you wind up in the motion design world?

Tom:

I grew up loving to write and draw, glued to the television during the golden age of deranged, socially irresponsible cartoons of the mid-90s. My mom was an art teacher and was fully encouraging of all my creative pursuits. I'll never forgive her. I earned a BFA in 2008 and entered the workforce fabulously ill-suited for a global recession.

Over the subsequent 11 years I worked a lot of interesting jobs, from Network Control Center Technician to Financial Operations Analyst. Very interesting. At night I did freelance illustration and wrote hundreds of pages of comics. I have some books that got published that are really screwing up my SEO.

Anyhoo, at the age of 33 I went back to school for graphic design at the advice of several designer friends who sensed how thoroughly miserable I was. There's a great program they had attended called the Seattle Creative Academy. I learned visual design, UX/UI, packaging and a bit of motion.

I had enough motion footage by graduation to put together a reel. I applied to oodles of jobs and got an offer for a visual design job and a motion design job the same week. It was then that I made the difficult decision to take the one that paid a lot better.

It’s Tom!

Matea:

Do you still use traditional mediums, and do you think it's important for digital artists to flex those more 'tactile' muscles?

Tom:

I was a bit of a luddite in my art-making before going back to school. I drew my comics with a dip pen and Rapidograph. I poo-pooed those who drew on digital tablets, knowing that I was making something physical that will be celebrated by future generations.

Now I'm drawing mostly digitally, and there will be less stuff for my grandchildren to throw into a landfill. I still draw on paper sometimes, but usually just sketches or life drawing. I feel very good about myself when I tap the paper with two fingers to undo before I realize I actually need to use my eraser. My goal is to have my life's work be inaccessible when I stop paying for Creative Cloud.

Matea:

Congratulations on cooking up a spicy new reel! It's a process many of us dread, but yours turned out great. What would you say goes into creating a compelling one?

Tom:

Thank you very much! I've made a lot of stuff over the past years and it was difficult to pare it down and objectively look at it. To make a good reel I'd say takes watching YouTube videos on how to make a good reel. It was also extremely helpful to get feedback from a lot of other, talented motion designers such as yourself. It's hard to tell what's garbage when everything is your precious baby. Sometimes your precious baby is garbage.

Matea:

It was a really cool idea to incorporate footage of NYC in the opening and close. Has living in the city affected your work at all?

Tom:

Thanks! I moved here from Seattle about a year ago to be closer to family and because my job is in Manhattan. I wanted to incorporate some real-life video footage in addition to my animation, and filmed some stuff on my phone. Because I'm in NYC, those shots are footage of NYC.

As far as influence, I love drawing dense urban areas, and there's a lot of that here. I'd love to find a screen printing co-op in the city to print some of those drawings, so if anyone knows of one in the city please let me know!

Matea:

You have such a playful yet striking illustration style. How would you describe your creative voice and what was the process in developing it?

Tom:

That's very kind. I'm definitely a product of alternative comics. That was the "scene" I was in for a very long time. Over the years I simplified my drawings, replacing fussy cross-hatching with flat colors. I also love children's book illustration. Over the years I've been lucky enough to know a lot of talented artists and illustrators, and I'm sure I'm cribbing some of their styles. Or let's just call it osmosis, for legal reasons.

Matea:

In a similar vein, where do you find inspiration?

Tom:

I hate to say the internet, but nowadays there's such easy access to amazing artwork on the internet that I have to say the internet. I hated saying that. I've also gone to a lot of incredible museums and gallery shows in the city, and it's impossible to not be inspired by those. And usually some crazy idea will pop into my head that's funny to me, and it will make me laugh aloud in public. Not sure how or why that happens, but I wish it would stop.

Matea:

If budget and time weren't constraints, what would be your dream project to work on?

Tom:

I'd love to make an animated short based on the comic that I'm working on. It's currently about a duck and an alligator, but will soon include a snake, a mouse and a giraffe. I have a lot written for it but can barely find the time to draw it into a comic. I'm currently drip-feeding it onto my Instagram. The good news is that it's zero budget and nobody cares how long it takes me.

Matea:

Do you have any wisdom for aspiring creatives and what do you wish you had known when you first started out?

Tom:

You have to live a life to do anything creative. Don't fret if you think everyone else has their nose down at their Cintiq while you're drinking White Claws on the beach. You can't make art in a vacuum, and life's short. Enjoy it.

*One of the scene’s from Tom’s recent comic.*

Matea:

Do you have any upcoming projects you're excited to share with the world?

Tom:

I'm actually very excited by that comic I'm working on, even though my productivity doesn't always match that excitement. I'm having fun drawing it, and since it's a personal project that's the important part.

Mack Garrison 8/29/23 Mack Garrison 8/29/23

Takeover Tuesday with Nick Fairbanks

An interview with Nick Fairbanks a freelance illustrator and animator living in Atlanta, Georgia.

Interviewer: Bella Alfonsi

Read time: 5min

Bella:

Nick! Thanks again for joining us for Takeover Tuesday. Can you please give us a lil' intro to let the people know who you are and what you do?

Nick:

Hi! The name’s Nick. I’m a freelance illustrator and animator living in Atlanta, Georgia. I mostly work in the startup and tech world but I’m trying to break into editorial work and children’s books.

Bella:

How'd you get into illustration and animation?

Nick:

I got my degree in documentary filmmaking at Florida State University. I had to learn After Effects and really loved it. I had some intricately animated sequences in a documentary I was working on and it impressed a classmate who had a startup company. He hired me to create an animated explainer for their product and was willing to pay $800 which was a lot for me at the time. I had always drawn things, but as I worked on the animated explainer, I learned about Dribbble and Pinterest and became exposed to the world of tech art. By the time I graduated, I was working for the startup company and had pivoted my career goals towards tech illustration.

Bella:

Your style is unique and I've always been a big fan because it looks like it belongs in a book or magazine. What advice do you have for people trying to "find" their style?

Nick:

It’s incredibly hard to create a style that is truly your own. You don’t have to scroll that far back in my feed to see that the way I draw has changed a lot over the years as my influences have changed. But the art we make will always be influenced by those we look up to and that has to be okay. For me, it’s people like Oliver Jeffers, Vincent Mahe, Tom Hugonaut, Miroslav Sasek, Robinson, Quentin Blake. It’s important to keep in mind that there are two components to style: 1. the way you create art and 2. the stories you tell. Be conscious of what you’re taking from others and what you’re contributing that is your own. Find a balance that allows you to sleep comfortably at night. As far as actionable advice, the most common theme in art is people. So draw a janitor, a politician, a florist etc. Draw lots of people and then ask yourself, what would a car look like that this person would drive? What would their house look like? Build out the world in your style, starting with people.

Bella:

Where do you find inspiration?

Nick:

The most interesting things have some truth in them so I try to pull inspiration from the places I go and people I meet. I always keep a little notebook I can fit in my back pocket and write down the things I see and the thoughts they prompt as they happen.

Bella:

Can you tell us a bit about your website, aportraitof.info?

Nick:

My Grandmother passed in 2021 and while I had plenty of photos, I had only one video. It prompted me to think how nice it would have been to have a long form video of her, and even better if she was answering deep, thought provoking questions. I created A portrait of as a way to do just that. I’ve filmed about a dozen so far and while it’s emotionally rewarding, it is very time consuming. I don’t advertise it much anymore, but if people reach out and want me to do it for their family, I’m always happy to do it. I may pick it back up more seriously in the future, but it's too far removed from my larger goals to warrant dedicating time to.

Bella:

What's the process like for managing your own Etsy shop?

Nick:

I initially wanted to print, pack, and ship all my own work. I sold out of 40 prints in a few days which was really encouraging, but the process was taxing. As of right now, I just offer digital downloads so that people can print them however they want. I’m thinking a lot about passive income, so I’ll keep the store as is for now, but I will be looking into working with a printing company soon who can handle all that for me.

Bella:

How has your random mug drawing series on Instagram been helping you combat creative block? Is there anything else you like to do when you feel stuck?

Nick:

Yeah, it’s been really helpful! I actually draw the first thing I pull from the list. I was spending way too much time thinking about what people would want and it was stifling my ability to create. If I don't want to draw something from that list, I go on long walks and don’t come home until I have something clear in my head.

Bella:

Some of your advice on the gram is to try to "create something every day that makes you want to call your mom and tell her about it." (amazing advice btw). What's something you've worked on recently that made you want to tell your mom about it?

Nick:

My mom is my biggest supporter so she sees most of my work on IG before I get around to telling her about it. That aside, I was excited to tell her about a side project I spun up, creating animated portraits of creatives I interviewed while traveling around Europe and Asia a few months ago. I only shared a small portion of our conversation on social media but she wanted to hear about the whole thing.

Bella:

You've got a pretty big social media following (100k followers WOO)! Any advice for people trying to get noticed and share their work on social media?

Nick:

For context, I’ve been sharing my art on IG for 9 years. 8 months ago, I had a following of 5,000 or so. The cityscapes went sort of viral and propelled my following to what it is now, and I’ve been hovering around 100 for the last 3 months. So the bulk of followers came in about 4 months. But here’s what I’ve learned:

1. People love to travel. My cityscapes remind people of where they’ve been or where they want to go. People are always sharing it or tagging their friends. Anything that has to do with travel is going to increase your chances of it performing well.

2. People love to love. Create content around relationships or love. If you can strike that chord, reminding people of someone they love, or loved, it will perform well.

3. Elevate your work with animation. It doesn’t have to be anything major. Most of the animation I incorporate is really subtle and simple to execute. But it performs better on average than a static post.

4. It has to be either really strong stylistically, or really strong conceptually.

Look at something you’ve made and ask yourself, “Why would a stranger care about this or want to share it with their friend?”

Bella:

Anything you're looking forward to working on/doing in the future?

Nick:

I’m ALMOST done with a Skillshare course on how to draw my cityscapes [Update it’s live!]. I’ve been talking about it for months and should be publishing it in the next 2-3 weeks. After that, I’ll be working on my website and try to make a real career out of freelancing.

Mack Garrison 8/14/23 Mack Garrison 8/14/23

Takeover Tuesday with Jardley Jean-Louis

An interview with Jardley Jean-Louis an NYC born multi-disciplinary artist living and working in Queens.

Interviewer: Matea Losenegger

Read time: 5min

Matea:

Hey Jardley! Thanks for lending us your time. Can you please introduce yourself?

Jardley:

Hey! I’m Jardley Jean-Louis, I’m an NYC born multi-disciplinary artist living and working in Queens. I work in illustration, animation and film and center my work on depicting stillness, education, and under-represented identities and subjects.

Matea:

What inspired you to become an artist and how did you get into the motion design space?

Jardley:

It’s funny, I’ve been an artist since I was a kid and was going to say nothing inspired me because this is how it’s been forever. But I have a memory of being really young and there being a boy who was a really great artist in the class, me aspiring to be that good and taking him on as my mentor. So, that kid and my perseverance to get really good.

In terms of motion design, I think in the back of my head while I was pursuing just art, I wanted to get into the animation space. As a kid that meant the goal of having my own show on Nickelodeon and a film for Disney when I grew up, and later and more concretely, learning more about motion design as an Illustrator’s Assistant for a one-person animation studio while in college. That was my first art job. While my role there was to produce character/background design, the CD also invited me into the depths of script-writing, storyboarding, and animating background characters. Getting that well-rounded experience and seeing the final animation which felt like magic to me, was enough to start me on my own journey of honing my animation skills and looking for my own clients.

Matea:

How would you describe your artistic style and what are some key themes and messages that you explore in your work?

Jardley:

My work is very character driven and intent on building a mood especially with lights and shadows. I also without intending to, use a lot of deep rich colors. I work digitally these days, but my work has been described as painterly - which is great to hear because my foundation is in traditional painting and drawing. So, that’s unintentionally translated.

The key themes and messages I explore in my work are quiet life moments that speak to the reality of life, education, and under-represented identities and subjects.

Matea:

Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you come up with new ideas and what techniques do you use to bring them to life?

Jardley:

On both client and personal work - the creative process is dictated by the brief or idea and what mood and feeling the work is trying to convey. On client projects I’m zero-ing in on the themes and message the client has shared with me and the key words in the script that define each scene. On personal projects, I have an idea and I’m looking to draw it out through thinking of what type of composition and lighting accentuates it.

An exercise I do is dump every idea (including a ridiculous idea) onto my notebook. I believe that writing every single idea, not criticizing it, and therefore dismissing it, frees your mind to be more creative and find its way to a strong concept. If you’re constantly cutting an idea off at its legs, you won’t feel safe enough to explore and trust you’ll find an idea.

I then work through concepts by sketching them out and writing questions I have for myself. I find the notes especially stimulating.

I also review my long list of Flickr reference images and spend a lot of time on Behance looking for inspo.

Matea:

How different is your approach to client work vs your personal projects?

Jardley:

Well with client work it involves more pre-production than I do in my personal projects. That involves deciphering the script or brief and providing tangible materials such as moodboards, sketches, style frames or mockups, and storyboard animatics. In my own work I do less of that - the tangible materials. I’m typically holding an idea and composition in my head. I’ll look at a ton of reference images and then go straight into creating it in photoshop or after effects when the pieces feel right. For both, I also am finding the color scheme while I’m working - most times I have an idea of colors, but it’s not settled until I’m working on it.

However, since my recent solo exhibition, I’ve started to see the reason for sketches in my own personal projects. It helps to remind you of what the composition is meaning to be and by having it out on the paper, you’re able to see if it’s working or not rather than just going straight to final. Finding out the imagined concept didn’t work bit me in the ass one or twice on this solo.

Matea:

Huge congratulations on your recent solo exhibition "Joy - This Place I Land." What was that experience like and are you interested in working on more gallery work?

Jardley:

Thank you! The experience was incredible, I’m glad. I was selected as a ARTWorks Fellow for Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning’s 10 month residency and the solo exhibition came from that.

So it was a 10 month process of figuring out what scenes best represented my theme: what does joy and thriving look like in everyday life. Especially being Black.

Originally I had 6 pieces + an animation I planned, but upon revisiting the gallery space and seeing how much space I had, I added 2 more illustrations. Getting to show what joy is for me, which is really just love in life moments and witnessing how much it resonated with folks meant a lot to me.

I’m not really interested in becoming a gallery artist. I’ll have my work in shows here and there as long as it makes sense to me. Same for residencies. I’m not actively pursuing either. I view it as avenues that are available to me as a creative. Never just confined to one avenue.

Matea:

I know it's difficult to choose, but do you have a favorite piece in the show and what makes it stand out in your mind?

Jardley:

I have two pieces that stand out for me. “Heritage” for its family ties, warmth and sense of just belonging and “To Be With Friends.” for all the love, lightness, and thriving I continually want for my life.

Matea:

Where do you get inspiration? Are there any particular artists or movements that have impacted your work?

Jardley:

I get inspired everywhere. Walking around and looking at things, overhearing conversations, being with people, looking at the work of fellow creatives, taking in my apartment, processing my life, tv shows/films.

Artists that heavily impact my work are Rebecca Mock and Katharine Lam. Particularly for creating a mood and for their use of lighting. Also Pat Perry, for the still and simple moments of life.

Matea:

How do you stay motivated to create your own work in addition to client projects? Do you have any tips for burnout?

Jardley:

I won’t say that I consistently create my own work and do so alongside client projects successfully. I don’t have a routine. Sometimes it happens that it’s a particularly slow time so I have room for my own work, or there’s an idea I want to get out, or mentally I’m in a space to put the work in and things just flow then. I try to honor where I’m at. I guess I stay motivated because producing client work isn’t my end goal for my career. I want the ratio to skew wherein majority of the time, the work I’m producing is mine. It’s what I’m known for and it’s how I make a living. I still plan on working with clients, but I think my voice and creative project being the end goal is more fulfilling.

For burnout, my tip is to honor it as best you can. When I was a permalancer, that meant speaking up that I was taking some mental health days for myself. When I’ve been working non-stop on client work that means taking as much time as I can in between client work. If I’m on deadline, but am already burnt out and a concept isn’t coming or my brain is frying, I try to take chunks of time during the day to just chill out. Honor it as best you can.

Matea:

Any upcoming projects you're excited about?

Jardley:

I recently wrapped up an animation where I was the illustrator on it which I’m excited to see in its final. It’s about the stained foundation of America.

I have a personal short film animation that I’m currently researching and world-building on on the early years of the AIDS epidemic and Haitians.

On the client front, I’m available!

Mack Garrison 4/17/23 Mack Garrison 4/17/23

Takeover Tuesday Reece Parker

An interview with Reece Parker: self-taught Animation Director and illustrator.

Q&A with Reece Parker.

Read time: 5min

Matea Losenegger:

Hi Reece! Thank you for contributing your time to our Tuesday Takeover series. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your work?

Reece Parker:

Of course! Thanks for having me. I'm Reece, self-taught Animation Director and illustrator. Subscriber to the famed philosophy "fake it til you make it'. My work leans hand drawn with dark color palettes, but I dive into briefs that range the full spectrum of 2D - and love it all. The more corporate, the more bright and poppy. The more Reece, the more scribbly and dark. 2 sides to one coin really.

Outside of work, I'm a husband and dad to 3 beautiful and intelligent children (Not sure if they actually have my DNA). I also grew up skateboarding religiously, which persists as the foundation of my own personal culture. Fail, start again, fall, get up, on and on. These things influence my work consistently.

Matea Losenegger:

You've been well known in this industry for a while now. How much has motion design changed since you started and what are your thoughts on its future?

Reece Parker:

I discovered and jumped into the industry in early 2016. It was a breeding ground of beautiful and inspired work, from every direction you looked. It was perfect for myself (and young artists like me), with an ambition to join the ranks of those considered great in our field. It was a beautiful time looking back. Empty bank account mind you - but a bursting industry and one that accepted me almost right away.

In 2023, it's still full of beautiful work, but you might have to dig a bit deeper to find it. Industry expanding, client deliverables following suit. But close-knit community might be shrinking a bit. That might be my own small perspective as I become more and more my own island. Or, maybe that's the natural progression of things. This industry is fascinating and beautiful, but maybe less curated and served up on a platter. It has certainly been a shifting landscape for the past several months.

Technology is doing its best to shake up working artists at the current point in time. We will see how that progresses, but I for one stand firmly in the "not worried...yet" camp. It's funny, I was just chatting with a legacy artist in our industry, whose work was among the first of which I was exposed to, about how we might be affected and the validity of our industry moving forward. We all share commonalities but have different perspectives.

To summarize my thoughts on that convo:

Real clients that deserve our protection are the ones that value our input and collaboration. Skillsets might be outsourced, but tastes and ideas are best formulated as a team and in collaboration with clients - relationships. This is something that isn't replaced by technology and is actually the most valuable. For clients that wish for cheaper, easier, faster, and shittier - those clients might flock to AI. Great! Let them. They also have to know exactly what it is they want, how many times have you encountered a client with that certainty..? Taste, ideas, expertise, and collaboration stand as powerful pillars in our industry - despite the tools.

I may eat my words, but Im comfortable with that if it comes in the future. Screens are king, and content is not decreasing in demand.

Matea Losenegger:

As an expert in cel, what makes a compelling animation or character movement?

Reece Parker:

I found myself thinking about this the other day in-depth...by myself.

I think that answer might not be so obvious, animation is diverse - and styles range. Once you have an understanding of timing, you can manipulate it, exaggerate it, work in and out of many softwares, and it be equally beautiful completely realistic, or totally unique.

I think what makes great animation is great design. Strong posing. That's how I see it lately.

For cel or characters specifically, understanding how the body moves and how to position it in your animation. Action is formed first in our brains, and that is limited by our comprehension of how a character might react in reality. Then it can be manipulated or stylized appropriately per the creative, but the foundation is based in reality. Our level of comprehension of that reality "makes or breaks" our shots.

Matea Losenegger:

How did you develop your distinct visual style and how do you keep your ideas fresh?

Reece Parker:

My style is an exercise in evolving over time. I started in this industry with what I thought "motion graphics" was, that being clean vector shapes bopping around. Turns out I had only been exposed to a small (but impressive) corner of motion design at that time. I'm glad I was so short-sided, because the foundation of After Effects forward workflows really balanced my lifetime experience of drawing by hand. When the right time for me to be more artistically driven came along (rather than driven purely by survival) I found my hand-drawn roots ready for me to tap right in. That mixed with a new breadth of knowledge of a whole other form of artistry, more graphic and math driven. The combination of the 2 is really where my style lives. My preference might be to scribble on everything, but that's realistically not the right solution for everything - I understand that. My evolution through this industry has allowed me to deliver on "different" expertise' under the 2D umbrella with confidence and vision indiscriminately.

*Still from* Trifilm’s short for Microsoft.

Matea Losenegger:

In a similar vein, do you have any tips on how to combat burnout?

Reece Parker:

Burnout! The dreaded burnout. There's no one size fits all solution here. I have had small symptoms of burnout that I have powered through and left in the dust. Other times it has been more all-consuming. Depending on its severity, my first course is to identify it and try to trace it back to its inception. Might have been a lost pitch that I loved that has a lasting effect I wasn't considering. Could be anything! If It's correctly identified, it's a more seamless path through the tunnel and out the other side. If it's being ignored or unacknowledged, how can we realistically work through it? For me it's not always as simple as "take some time off", my work lives and breaths in my head - on and off the clock. "Taking time" off is only beneficial if I've overcome what's affecting me first.

Matea Losenegger:

On your site you say that "from time to time, I will join a project as an animator or illustrator- if the shoe fits." What about a project entices you into those roles?

Reece Parker:

Working in multiple capacities with clients allows me to be more particular about what I take on. It might be as simple as an awesome brief, don't get me wrong - I love this stuff. If there's something that seems challenging and interesting, then great. Or, It might be a legacy client that has supported me from the start, maybe they are in a bind, or maybe they only see me fitting the job. Great, let's knock it out. Relationships above my own ego, and I'm not in the business of burning those that have been there for me.

That being said, what I find most compelling in my current project landscape are projects that mix leadership and artistry. If I can take one shot, while directing the rest of the shots with an awesome team - I'm very stoked. Put simply, I've found that mix of responsibilities really suits my skillset, and the more I've done it the more clear that has become.

*Shot from the TIMELORD spot for Battleaxe.*

Matea Losenegger:

When pitching for projects, how do you make sure yours stand out in a sea of other amazing studios and artists?

Reece Parker:

I've been pitching like mad! Sometimes we snatch it, sometimes it blows away. It's the nature of the beast. Luckily I'm not completely reliant on pitching, so it's less depressing to be kicked aside. I don't consider myself wholly unique, I just try to be proud of what I present to clients. If I'm not proud of it, I know that there was more I could have poured into it. If I'm proud of it but it goes another way, then I wasn't the artist for the creative. It's really that simple. Stiff competition at the top of the mountain, really really stiff. But Im proud to be considered in those conversations so frequently now. Learning and absorbing all I can.

Matea Losenegger:

What's it like working for a studio like Hornet? What does it mean to be repped by a studio vs working for them as a staff member or freelancer?

Reece Parker:

They are great collaborators, and supportive. We are more intimately collaborative now, more open, and more frequent communication on and off jobs. I'm really excited to be partnered with them and excited about what the future brings.

Outside of that, I work as I always have. My independence is unshakably important to me, so I made sure that was clear in our negotiations. They were and have been supportive through and through.

Being "repped" means that Hornet (in my case, there are many reps) packages up my work and sells it through to their contacts and clients. If there are jobs that come in that feel like they fit my capabilities, they will poke me to see If I'm free and interested. If so, they pair me up with them in their communication and presentation to clients. From there, I champion the vision and creative treatment of the project. Client presentations, team building and expectations, project style and execution, etc. They help me resource the job, schedule it, budget it, communicate with clients, all the things that can be not so-fun solo.

Hornet's reach is as wide as it gets. They also serve a tier of client that Reece Parker as a solo act doesn't reach. They act as my team if we win the project together.

If I win a project solo, and want to bring them in, I also have that ability. Take some of the load off of my plate. But I also have the freedom to tackle it myself, as I have been doing comfortably for many years. Depends on the context rather than one size fits all.

Staff - Im not sure! I've never been staff anywhere but Taco Bell and Costco. Staff artists are there to support jobs that are being directed, and are assigned and scheduled according to their skillset. Hornet also has strong staff artists, that are super super helpful when building out teams in tandem with freelancers or if we can't resource freelance talent for whatever reason.

Freelance - freelancing has a bit more commonality with being repped, and with being staff. You are poked to join a project that is being directed, to fill a need on that production line. That project ends and you join the next team and next project. Instead of jumping to other people's creatives, I find myself more often owning the creative, and trying to source great talent to join me.

Matea Losenegger:

As someone who is revered for their work, is there anything you would like people to know about you outside of your art?

Reece Parker:

The work may be revered, but I don't think Im special. I think the path I've carved may be at least partially unique but also serves as proof of concept for those willing to do the same. LOVE what you do, and keep working at it as a consequence.

Outside of work, I love life. I love my family to death. Wife, kids, parents, siblings, and friends alike. I've been really fortunate, I try to be considerate of that. I love overthinking, analyzing things with Kiara, building things with my dad, and teasing and dancing with my kids. I try to be carefree when it's beneficial to be, and take things seriously that ask for it. It's served me well in life.

I'm a product of independence, my path throughout my life is proof of that. Skateboarding is an individual activity, it's no coincidence that I have remained solo in my eventual career. But I'm not here without the influence and help of so many others. Indirectly or directly from those close to me. Shout out those folks! Much love.

Matea Losenegger:

What does the rest of 2023 look like for you? Are there any projects you're excited about?

Reece Parker:

Some interesting things! I am nearing the end of building out a new warehouse studio. Sort of a dream come true, but so is my current studio honestly. The new endeavor is symbolic of where the business is going, and I wouldn't have invested in it if the business hadn't earned it.

That's something I've really been contemplating. When I was commissioning my shipping container conversion in late 2019, I remember really carefully considering the financial implications of the commitment - mostly just full of anxiety and fear. But I did it because that was what the business deserved at the time. I had those same feelings and reservations about buying my first iMac, as a replacement workstation for my original MacBook that my wife secretly saved for and bought for me to start my career.

It seems so small now in comparison, but those memories serve as a strong example of my commitment to investing back into myself and the business when the time is right. You can feel it, and it's always scary. But the clear lesson is to invest in yourself.

Projects and new things are hush-hush for now, but yes I am excited, and will share more soon! Thanks, Dashers!

Mack Garrison 4/10/23 Mack Garrison 4/10/23

Takeover Tuesday Tory Van Wey

An interview with Tory Van Wey: Senior Brand Designer & Illustrator at deel.

Q&A with Tory Van Wey.

Read time: 5min

Mack Garrison:

Thanks for participating in the Tuesday Takeover, Tory! For those that are unfamiliar with you and your work, tell us a bit about yourself and how you found your way into the creative space.

Tory Van Wey:

Thank you! I'm Tory, and I'm a designer and illustrator based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. I have been drawing pictures professionally for 10 years, both freelance and in-house and I am currently a Senior Brand Designer/Illustrator at Deel - a global hiring and HR platform.

Mack Garrison:

Your work is very illustrative but also has a very graphic design feel to it. How did you develop this style over the years?

Tory Van Wey:

This was a natural consequence of being both an illustrator and trained as a traditional graphic designer as well as the influence of my history as a letterpress printer. Over the years I have pivoted my career to focus almost exclusively on illustration and illustration systems, but my history as a graphic designer and printer always informs the way that I approach a project. Most of my work is built using simple geometric shapes stacked on top of one another to create more complex objects. This lends a graphic quality that is hard to achieve with hand drawing. Combine that with my everlasting respect for designers like Marian Bantjes and Saul Bass and love of graphic structure, and I'll likely always be straddling the line between designer/illustrator.

*Some of the work Tory has illustrated for deel.*

Mack Garrison:

One of the harder aspects of being a designer in a corporate space is pushing creative boundaries. How have you navigated that? Avoided burnout?

Tory Van Wey:

This is a hard balancing act as the diversity of companies hiring creatives means that there are endless philosophies and attitudes about how design fits within the corporate ecosystem, so the creative experience can vary wildly. I am personally selective about who I work for because my skillset is not a perfect fit for every "Brand Designer" role and over the years I have learned to be honest about what I am looking for in a role, and to not hesitate to say if I don't think it's a good fit. This has certainly cost me jobs, but saved my sanity. I also try to bring creativity into corporate creative in unexpected ways. Perhaps there is a vibrant color pairing that feels a bit more contemporary, or I can learn a new technique that I can apply to a project that would otherwise be on the dull side. If I am pushing my own creative boundaries, or learning a new tool, then I am generally happy.

Mack Garrison:

Who are some of the creatives you've looked up to over the years for inspiration?

Tory Van Wey:

I often look to music and children's books for inspiring design. Carson Ellis and Edward Gorey were very inspiring to me in my early career when I focused on work that had more of a hand made quality to it. I also love poster artist Dan McCarthy and have a healthy collection of his prints. Lately I have really been appreciating the work of MUTI, a design studio out of Cape Town.

*Some editorial and marketing illustrations from Tory.*

Mack Garrison:

It's hard to choose a favorite project, but do you have one that particularly sticks out to you?

Tory Van Wey:

I had a great time designing this Trippy Tropical shirt for a local SF company called Betabrand. It was a really fun synthesis of my interest in botany, and psychedelic creative freedom!

Mack Garrison:

Looking back at your career, what advice would you give to the next generation of illustrators making their way into the space? Anything you would do differently or think is really important to know?

Tory Van Wey:

My biggest piece of advice would be to produce the kind of work that you want to create commercially, even if you need to do it on your own time. People hire you based off of what they have already seen from you, not what they think you might be able to create. That means you need to push yourself creatively on your own time (or perhaps pro bono for friends) to explore the kinds of styles you want to get paid for later on. I would also tell a new designer to not sweat it if they haven't found their voice yet. There's a lot of pressure to find your voice as an illustrator, and I think it's valid, but there's also a lot of room and opportunity for illustrators that are more flexible and can produce work in a range of styles. I might even suggest it's more enjoyable.

*Trippy Tropical shirt for a local SF company called Betabrand.*

Mack Garrison:

What do you think the future holds for designers and illustrators? Should we (creatives) be nervous or excited about these new A.I. tools?

Tory Van Wey:

I'm as curious as you are about this! I think the industry might become more specialized as illustrators niche down into areas like product/iconography or editorial or motion. We also might see a more global talent pool as remote and contract work become standard and there are fewer limitations in hiring designers abroad. As far as AI, I think it will likely be a new tool that designers will have at their disposal but I'm not personally too worried about it taking over a creatives' role quite yet. After playing around with most of the AI generators, it's apparent to me that a lot of work goes into creating the right prompt to generate an accurate image and often I could have simply drawn it out faster. I'm curious to see where it goes and how AI is incorporated into our daily lives in an ethical way that compensates creatives, and minimizes bias.

Mack Garrison:

Outside of being an illustrator and designer, what are some of your hobbies?

Tory Van Wey:

When I'm not drawing for money you can find me putzing around the garden like an old lady, attempting to learn a new skill (currently taking a School of Motion course!) or herding my two kids up a hiking trail.

Mack Garrison:

Last but not least, anything you'd like to leave our audience with?

Tory Van Wey:

It's a unique privilege to make a living as a creative. Let's appreciate the folks that came before us that paved the way for our skills to be valued, and the folks that continue to advocate for creatives today. And let's not take ourselves too seriously. I think us creatives can get wrapped up in the idea of our own legacy. Do good work, live a thoughtful life, and don't be a jerk.

Mack Garrison 3/6/23 Mack Garrison 3/6/23

Takeover Tuesday with Katie Trayte

An interview with Katie Trayte: an illustrator based in Washington, D.C as well as the Creative Director at Duke & Duck.

Q&A with Sarah Chokali.

Read time: 5min

Bella Alfonsi:

Hey, Katie! Thanks so much for being a part of Takeover Tuesday. For those who are unfamiliar with you or your work, please tell us about you and what you do!

Katie Trayte:

Thank you so much for inviting me to participate! I love your Takeover Tuesday series.

My name is Katie Trayte and I’m an illustrator based in Washington, D.C as well as the Creative Director at Duke & Duck.

Bella Alfonsi:

Do you have any formal training or are you completely self taught?

Katie Trayte:

I graduated from SCAD with an Illustration degree, but I am fairly self-taught when it comes to animation. I started out of school as an apparel graphic designer for Hollister. So if I made it here, you can too! I always felt a pull towards animation and storytelling, but never really saw where I could fit into the compartmentalized pipelines of feature and tv. When I found the world of motion design I was, in a word, obsessed. I was also what the French call, "Les incompetents". My love of the work made it easy to find motivation in closing my knowledge gap. It was an area where my illustration and graphic design passions could both thrive, and I was so drawn to the experimental styles and trend-setting approaches happening in the field.

*Shot from Sony’s | Barbra Streisand project that Katie Art Directed.*

Bella Alfonsi:

You have an impressive resume of clients, like Sony, Nestle, and Discovery Channel, just to name a few! What advice do you have for freelancers first starting out who dream of working with clients like these?

Katie Trayte:

I have spent most of my career in-house. From that experience, I would say there’s a huge benefit to being part of a company or studio to get access to those partnerships. Especially if you’re still finding your style and the idea of exploring a lot of different visual directions appeals to you. In-house is also a great place to get a master class on business and sales. Confidence in these skills can help you to feel more empowered to establish and foster relationships with your dream clients as a freelancer.

Bella Alfonsi:

What steps did you take to go from illustrator/designer to Art Director? Do you prefer doing one more than the other?

Katie Trayte:

I jumped from graphic designer in ‘the outside world’ to an AD at Demo Duck. Not having much motion design experience behind me at that moment was… different, but a lot of the skills that had led me to advance in design roles were still very applicable despite the shift between industries. Effective communication, articulation of ideas, and management skills all help take you from making great art to leading great art. I have such a strategy brain that I’d say art director is the role for me. I love being client-facing and problem-solving along the way during a project. I still get to do a fair amount of hands-on work in an AD role, so it’s a win-win!

*Style Frame from Duke & Duck’s project for Nestlé that Katie designed and Art Directed.*

Bella Alfonsi:

Do you have any advice for someone trying to become a director themselves?

Katie Trayte:

Start by demanding excellence from yourself in your area of production. If you’re producing high-quality work in your role, you’ll be trusted to own more and more of the pipeline. Hone your voice, always concept from a unique angle, and keep learning about areas of production that may be outside your expertise. Most importantly- develop your people skills! Effective negotiation, collaboration, and communication help to win the respect of your client and your team. At the director level, more often than not, your people skills are going to be what makes or breaks the success of a project.

Bella Alfonsi:

Tell us a bit about the piece, Be Aware. What was it like working with Barbra Streisand? How did the unique painterly approach come to be?

Katie Trayte:

Be Aware was such a dream to work on. Barbra Streisand was much more involved in the review and development of the project than I was expecting, which was a really fun surprise. I even have a first pass of my storyboards that came back to us with her handwritten notes on them! Treasure. She and Sony were both great clients.

Since moving to DC I’ve become friends with Elyse Kelly, who is an independent director and founder of Neon Zoo. I admire her work so much, and when she asked me to join the project I was excited about the opportunity to shadow her directorial expertise. The painterly approach came out of a lot of style development with Elyse. We wanted a look that matched the song- sweeping, emotive, and sensitive to the subject matter. I did initial sketch boards in a gestural, loose hand and that treatment felt like a natural marriage to the song lyrics. Elyse’s body of work is very painterly, so her talented animation team was very equipped to bring the look to life.

I love to paint, but most of my work up to Be Aware has had to be very graphic-driven. It felt like I got to really be myself with this style and say, “Don’t bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!”

Bella Alfonsi:

When you find yourself in a creative rut, how do you get out of it?

Katie Trayte:

Working remotely, (like I do now), or working freelance can make a creative rut feel like a creative canyon. An impossible abyss of creative failure from which you will never escape! On my own, I have never had a great solution for these difficult patches other than to take it easy on myself and let time pass, knowing that I’ll move beyond it. As a team, we’ve started a lot of open dialogue about overcoming ruts and are committing to more open avenues of collaboration this year. We’re working to let go of any self-inflicted shame associated with being stuck by reaching out to each other to talk through blocks, hurdles, or low points before they get too far. We’re having a lot of success. Working remotely, you're much more prone to anxiety and self-doubt that can make you retreat inwards. We’re all being intentional about training ourselves out of this habit through communication and feeling safe to be vulnerable with each other.

*Shot from Duke & Duck’s “Plos” brand video Katie designed and directed.*

Bella Alfonsi:

What or who inspires you?

Katie Trayte:

Both in my personal time and inside Duke & Duck we’re making more of a commitment to developing children’s IP. We’re even starting a sister brand for kid’s content called Double Scoop Studio! About a year ago, we discovered how much talent there was on our team for telling character-driven episodic content and have wanted to give that talent an outlet. That’s been a big inspiration to me- having this group of people come together that are committed to starting this new ambitious journey. I love working with my team to help find the special stories we have within us. Working together to grow these ideas, with a lot of laughter and joy along the way, feels like magic.

Currently, I’m really inspired by any kids media that takes more of a motion design direction to its animation approach or offers a new style in the space. Hey Duggee, Wide Load Vacay, City Island, StoryBots, and City of Ghosts are all great examples.

Bella Alfonsi:

Any final takeaways?

Katie Trayte:

I think I’ve said it all. Thank you so much, Dash team, for hosting these interviews and for always finding great ways to bring our community together!

Mack Garrison 2/27/23 Mack Garrison 2/27/23

Takeover Tuesday with Sarah Chokali

An interview with Sarah Chokali: a passionate and multidisciplined motion designer based in Brooklyn, New York. I was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, and have had a lifelong interest in the power of visual storytelling.

Q&A with Sarah Chokali.

Read time: 5min

Mack Garrison:

Thanks for participating in our Tuesday Takeover series, Sarah. For folks not familiar with you or your work, could you give us an introduction and a little background on how you got into the creative space?

Sarah Chokali:

Thank you for having me in the Tuesday Takeovers alongside inspirational artists I’ve admired.

I'm Sarah Chokali, a passionate and multidisciplined motion designer based in Brooklyn, New York. I was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, and have had a lifelong interest in the power of visual storytelling.

Growing up in a challenging environment sparked my creativity and my love for art at a young age. I've always been fascinated by the way that visual expression can create a connection between people.

I’ve started my career as a graphic designer around 2014. However, my passion for animation led me to discover the world of motion design. Since then, I've been on an ongoing journey to learn more about using motion to communicate and bring ideas to life. I aim to create impactful visual experiences, and I’m not tied to one design discipline. I am working on experimenting with different techniques.

Currently, I’m working with the dream team at Grandarmy at their office in New York City.

Mack Garrison:

You've got an entertaining portfolio in a variety of styles! Do you have a preferred medium you like more than others?

Sarah Chokali:

That's a great question. I'm a bit of a medium maverick. I don't believe in playing by the rules and sticking to just one medium. To me, the magic happens when different mediums come together to create something truly unique and unexpected as long as there is a clear contrast, whether in values, shapes, textures, and/or colors.

Having said that, After Effects is like my home base, the central hub where all my creative ideas come together. It's where I can bring all these different assets and techniques together.

*Opening shot from Sarah Chokali’s demo reel.*

Mack Garrison:

Some would say that 3d motion design work and illustration work are on opposite sides of the creative spectrum. How does one approach influence the other?

Sarah Chokali:

It's true, 3D motion design and illustration can appear to be on opposite sides of the creative spectrum. But for me, it's less about the differences between the two and more about the different processes that go into each.

I think of it like this - sometimes, I sketch an illustration on my iPad using my pen on the screen, then I'll bring those sketches into Adobe Illustrator and use the pen tool with my mouse to refine the lines. Both steps are part of creating an illustration, but they require different approaches.

The same goes for 3D motion design. During the process of building abstract shapes and bringing them to life in 3D whether using simulations of keyframes, it can be very different from the traditional illustration process. Both methods bring me joy and excitement; by combining different techniques in one place, a new style can be born.

The switch between different mediums is challenging. It didn’t come easily to me, especially when I’m fighting that resistance to using my comfort tools instead experimenting with new techniques. It takes time, practice, and dedication to combine different techniques. I had to sacrifice a lot of my social life and even some sleep in order to learn 3D, but my drive to create unique visuals kept me motivated.

I don’t recommend the combination unless you have enough energy and time. Nothing is more important than our health.

Mack Garrison:

Great answer! I really love your character work; both illustrative and the 3d versions. Where does the inspiration for each come from?

Sarah Chokali:

It’s flattering to know that you find it this way; thanks a lot.

My inspiration for the characters comes from my desire to challenge gender norms and celebrate femininity. Growing up in an environment where being a woman was seen as a sin and with limited representation, I've always been drawn to creating strong female characters. I find joy in bringing these characters to life, both through my traditional illustrations and through my 3D animations. I consciously and subconsciously find it as a way to give a voice to those who may have felt suppressed in the past and to provide a positive representation of women in my work.

*Character from Sarah’s “Parallel Project.”*

Mack Garrison:

What’s an ideal project for you, and is there a brand you would love to work with?

Sarah Chokali:

Since I’m currently not a freelancer, I’d say what makes a great project to me is the project where I need to push out my limits and seek to create unique visuals for it.

Mack Garrison:

It's always hard to choose a "favorite" project, but is there one piece that really sticks out to you?

Sarah Chokali:

Ah, that’s so tough, especially given that the most interesting projects are still in production. But I just started a new passion project where I share a breathing exercise for the social media scroller. This project is dedicated to creating animated content that offers a peaceful refuge for the mind. Also, it is gonna be an exercise for me as a motion creator.

Mack Garrison:

Can’t wait to see it! I know you're a big advocate for women in tech. What are some initiatives you're currently working on?

Sarah Chokali:

It has always been a pleasure and great responsibility to advocate time and efforts to help unrepresented groups. I’m involved with Code Lab initiative in Baghdad, which focuses on creating the first AI hub in Iraq by organizing bootcamps and workshops. However, I’m temporarily not as active as I used to be when I was present in Baghdad. My goal is to create impactful content that serves to inspire or represent oppressed voices, especially women in my country.

Mack Garrison:

How has growing up in Iraq shaped your professional career?

Sarah Chokali:

With every challenge comes a new opportunity to learn and develop. Living in Iraq was like living life in a difficult mode. Not only I experienced economic sanctions, two wars, and a civil war that cost me to lose friends and family members. But I also experienced living in a society where women are titled to be only good wives and caring mothers. While I was lucky to have supportive parents, the environment was unfair to women. Women’s freedom and independence are far away from being a reality.

I was vocal about my rights as a human being to work and choose my path. My desire to make an impact and work passionately as a creator was unrealistic to dream of in the environment I lived in.

But I was curious about animation creation. When my uncle’s house got a computer, I stayed there playing with MS paint and was fascinated by that software. Yup! I imagined I could create things frame by frame with that software.

It’s more like my motion design career helped me get independence. Additionally, when I paid for my work, I’d save 75% of it to invest in optimizing my work process to overcome the challenges I was facing.

My background has shaped me into a more determined and resilient individual, always seeking to learn and grow in my craft.

Sarah Chokali — *Sarah is one of Iraq’s Influential Women In Tech - click the image to see the article!*

Mack Garrison:

Any final takeaways for our audience?

Sarah Chokali:

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my story with motion design.

With motion design being a rapidly expanding field, it's truly an exciting time to be a part of this industry. Accessibility to resources has never been easier, and if creativity gives purpose to your life, then listening to your intuition, overcoming obstacles, and putting in hard work can lead to fulfilling that purpose.

However, keeping up with the constant advancements in technology and technique can be intimidating, which is why it's crucial to prioritize rest. This includes taking breaks from social media and focusing on physical and mental health. Social media platforms are designed to consume as much of our attention as possible, making it even more important to reduce the time spent scrolling and redirect that energy toward what truly matters. It sounds easy but we all know that many of us find it challenging to limit the impact of social media on our energy.

Mack Garrison 2/9/23 Mack Garrison 2/9/23

Takeover Tuesday with Juan Jose Diaz

An interview with Juan Jose Diaz: a Colombian Visual Artist that loves to give life to things with animation.

Q&A with Juan Jose Diaz.

Read time: 5min

Bella Alfonsi:

Hey, JJ! Thanks for taking over a Tuesday with us. Tell us who you are and what you create!

JJ:

Hey Dash Team; thank you so much for having me at Takeover Tuesday. I am Juan Jose Diaz or JJ! I am a Colombian Visual Artist that loves to give life to things with animation; I love to draw and experiment with timing, creating compelling visuals that communicate ideas.

Bella Alfonsi:

What made you make the move from Colombia to the US?

JJ:

I got pretty lucky because my uncle applied for a visa for my family. It took 14 years, but we finally made it, hehe, and the first time I traveled outside Colombia was to migrate to the US.

*Transistor Studios - Valentine’s Day Post*

Bella Alfonsi:

How has growing up in Colombia influenced you and your work?

JJ:

Oh, it has given me a lot of curiosity and allowed me to learn from artistic referents that use art to talk about serious social issues and reflect on different aspects of being human.

So I always look forward to applying that "idea first over the technique" approach.

*Loop referencing the iconic comic "Akira,"*

Bella Alfonsi:

Do you have any formal training or are you completely self taught?

JJ:

Yes, in 3D, I studied a 2-year program in 3D animation at night while I was studying Visual arts in college, a 5-year program that I did not finish because we had to migrate. But! of course, I have taken a bunch of online classes and read a bunch of books to improve my practice.

But at a distance, I go back to just wanting to draw, in whatever form that takes.

Bella Alfonsi:

Looking at your portfolio, it appears you are a cel animation wizard. Is this your favorite method of animation?

JJ:

Yes, after a couple of years dealing with the crashing of 3D software, I started to find it easier at the beginning to translate my ideas with drawings without having to be a generalist expert in 3D to model, texture, rig, render, etc.

Bella Alfonsi:

What’s your workflow like when cel animating?

JJ:

First, thumbnails, where all the crazy ideas appear, tiny drawings trying out different compositions, thinking a lot on the negative space. Then translate that into some rough keyframes, and to find out the right timing, I do a bunch of tests just moving balls around (Everything is on the 12 principles); once that is done: time to do more rough frames, then the tie-down and finally the long process of cleaning so I get comfortable with a nice podcast or music and just work. I feel this is the time when animation gets closer to meditation.

Bella Alfonsi:

You’ve worked on a bunch of fun projects over the years, do you have a favorite?

JJ:

For a client, it will be the project for Baqsimi that I did with Ataboy Studios. I got to animate a dynamic scene and used my 3D background to block out the camera and reference the movement to translate that into drawings.

And a personal one will be the appropriation that I did of one of the Akira pages when in 2020, with all the racial issues going on in the US, I contributed with a loop reinterpreting Akira and the fight for human rights.

*Project for Baqsimi which helps patients with diabetes.*

Bella Alfonsi:

Who are some artists that you look up to and/or inspire you to create what you do?

JJ:

Sebacuri because his career amazed me, he has been able to develop a bunch of new skills seeing him going from being another motion designer to an illustrator with his own voice and making a living from that. And jonathan_djob_nkondo, because he is a master of timing, the way he works, those keyframes are definitely an artistic statement.

Bella Alfonsi:

What are you most proud of in your career thus far?

Rohan McDonald:

Being in a place I never imagined, not even two years ago, having met incredible people along the way, and having a career that supports my hobbies between extreme sports and travel.

*Short animated piece for the LA Galaxy soccer team.*

Bella Alfonsi:

Any advice/final takeaways?

Rohan McDonald:

Life is an incredible ride full of surprises. You will never know where you will be in 10 years, so keep learning about everything, not just art; keep making mistakes and make sure you take care of YOURSELF!

Mack Garrison 2/6/23 Mack Garrison 2/6/23

Takeover Tuesday Rohan McDonald

Dash animator, Bella Alfonsi interviewed animator, illustrator, and director, Rohan McDonald and we’ve got the scoop on it all!

Q&A with Rohan McDonald.

Read time: 5min

Bella Alfonsi:

Rohan! Thanks so much for being a part of our Tuesday Takeover series. For those who are unfamiliar with you or your work, please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do!

Rohan McDonald:

Thank you all for having me!

I’m an animator, illustrator, and director based in Boston, MA, USA. I create work from a 2D hand drawn perspective, primarily focusing on cel animation. I also love working with printed media and reading independent and self published comics. Beyond that, I enjoy rock climbing with my fiance, tinkering with music production and composition (occasionally), and repeatedly watching the Lord of the Rings behind the scenes documentaries.

Bella Alfonsi:

What inspired you to get into the motion design world?

Rohan McDonald:

I didn’t really understand that motion design was an option for me until sophomore year of college. I went to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) thinking I would be some combination of a painter and editorial illustrator. It became apparent rather quickly that I wasn’t a painter, at least in a fine art setting. In my first few years of school I felt like I had something to prove, so every piece would be about trying to impress people or show off. My painting professor at the time even went so far as to say “Rohan, you’re a really nice guy, but this is terrible.” After that righteous burn, I reconsidered what I was interested in, and came to the conclusion that I just love drawing. So I signed up for Intro to hand drawn animation, which was entirely on paper and entirely about drawing. I loved film and TV and also did some theater as a kid, so it was the perfect combination of acting, drawing, and film for me.

After that class, I wanted more digital animation skills. That’s when I got a crash course in photoshop, After Effects, and how to bring your hand-drawn paper work into digital space. The work we watched in that class brought me closer and closer to motion design as a future career. I would talk to professors outside of class about how to achieve certain looks I was going for and what to watch. So I sought out things like “Late Night Work Club,” where I saw films from artists like Nicolas Menard, Charles Huettner, and Alex Grigg. Then people like Sophie Koko Gate, Caitlin McCarthy and “Parallel Teeth,” appeared on my radar. All of these artists showed me that there was a really intriguing mix of graphic design, print media aesthetics, and cel animation to experiment with. I remember just feeling excited to get out into that world, even just to make commercial work, because I could play.

I then cold emailed every studio/agency in Chicago that created work in the motion design space. I sent over a short 30s reel in search of an internship, a part time job, anything really. I got a fair amount of responses! At the time that was surprising, but the Chicago motion design community is really small, tight knit, and welcoming.

I ended up at Demo Duck as an intern. After my internship, I worked part time at Demo Duck until I graduated. Then Demo Duck hired me full time as a junior art director! I spent the next 3 and a half years at Demo Duck and learned so much on the job, eventually being promoted to Art Director. It was like going to grad school, but without the debt. I really got to put in the time and see Demo Duck grow as a company, in addition to seeing the industry grow and thrive.

*“Thanks for Asking” project with Demo Duck*

Bella Alfonsi:

Do you have any kind of formal training or are you completely self taught?

Rohan McDonald:

This is a hard one. I definitely have formal training in cel animation and some in drawing overall. But when it comes to graphic design, and digital animation, I learned through a mix of more general SAIC courses, YouTube tutorials, and asking people how they did things. In addition to my own painstaking trial and error. However, I owe a lot to my SAIC professors Joel Benjamin, Shelley Dodson, Matt Marsden, and Jim Trainor, who taught me how to think about film and motion media overall.

When it comes to more soft skills (client communication, organization, timelines + budgeting) and motion design specific stuff, I really learned through immersion. Through Demo duck, I got to go to conferences like Blend and Comotion, in addition to working with amazing freelancers like Zak Tietjen, Milton and Valeria from Notreal, and Martiniano Garcia Cornejo from Fu Imagery (to name a few). I also got to work with the best in house team of producers, art directors, creative directors, and writers, all of whom taught me so much and supported my independent work and my career growth. It was a working experience that really spoiled me in the best way, and gave me lifelong friendships.

Bella Alfonsi:

As someone who does both animation and illustration/design, do you prefer to do one over the other and why?

Rohan McDonald:

It really depends! I go through waves. Sometimes I’m really tired of animation and sometimes I’m tired of design.

It also depends on the style I’m working with. For certain styles, I like doing more design and illustration rather than motion, and for other styles I like taking more ownership of the entire pipeline. It also depends on the structure of the project: Am I going through an agency, through another director/studio, or is it direct to client? That being said, I love the pre-pro development side of things. And that’s often times a design + motion test kind of process.

But at a distance, I go back to just wanting to draw, in whatever form that takes.

Bella Alfonsi:

Animating by hand is a great way to fully understand the principles of animation and have complete control over what you’re creating. Do you think it’s important that all animators know how to do it the good ol’ fashioned way (by hand)?

Rohan McDonald:

Another hard one! Before I answer this fully, I have a hot take: not all of the 12 traditional animation principles have to be your bible (side note: the “Appeal” principle really frustrates me and feels like an unhelpful and subjective Richard Williams-ism). I know, I know, controversial.

I think animation now is so diverse, experimental, and often times technology driven, to the point where you can accomplish a lot in motion design without having the hand drawn animation background. That being said, you need to know how to think about animation and understand why something might not be working. That’s where an awareness of traditional animation principles comes into play.

So let’s say your simple mograph match cut transition is looking abrupt and startling. Having awareness of traditional animation ideas like anticipation, follow through, and timing will help you tweak that speed graph or adjust the distance between those keyframes to smooth it out. So no, I don’t think people need to know how to hand-draw animation, but knowing the thinking behind the old ways will make you a strong animation warrior.

Bella Alfonsi:

I’m sure it’s hard to pick, but do you have a favorite project you’ve worked on?

Rohan McDonald:

I’ve gotten to be part of a lot of great projects in the past few years. One that stands out to me is a project from early 2021, which was a really simple but “vibey” music video for Liam Kazar’s song “Nothing To You.” I had a lot of freedom and I didn’t plan a lot of things out. And interestingly enough, it wasn’t a cel animated project. I just jumped into After Effects with a few rough designs and created tons of loops. Working with that type of improvisation is really fun and low pressure. I’m excited to do more of that in my personal work.

*Frame from Liam Kazar’s song “Nothing To You” music video.*

Bella Alfonsi:

Your portfolio is full of so many different art styles-from simple shapes with minimal color to more illustrative with lots of bright colors-do you have a favorite style to work in?

Rohan McDonald:

It’s been hard for me to focus on any particular style, or set of tools to work with. I love trying out a style and then trying to add something new, or just explore how I do it specifically. That being said, I usually start off with a line-based pen sketch, so I tend to gravitate towards a line-based illustrative style.

I think there’s a frustrating notion that you have to “find your style” to get work or be noticed as an illustrator and animator. And to some extent that is true. But I have another hot take here: having a style doesn’t have to mean doing the same type of thing over and over again. It can be finding out how your specific perspective translates to different mediums, color palettes, and tools. While algorithms love consistency, oftentimes you can recognize someone’s creative voice no matter what medium they’re in, as long as they’ve experimented and cultivated that voice (which I still struggle with sometimes).

Bella Alfonsi:

What’s the workflow like for a freelance director? Are there any big challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Rohan McDonald:

I’ve been part time freelancing for a while, but 2022 was my first year as a full time freelancer, so there were a ton of challenges!

To be honest, my biggest challenges have been messaging/making sure people understand my offerings while balancing direction projects vs. projects with more specific roles (i.e. cel animator, AE animator, storyboard artist, illustrator). I think this is where my previous point about style becomes relevant. I do a lot of different things, and so I have a lot of different types of projects come along, so I have to plan my time in a way that allows me to flex all those different muscles effectively. Without that stylistic focus, sometimes my freelance workflow has to be re-thought and adapted. And that’s rewarding, but difficult!

Bella Alfonsi:

“Rooms” is a really fun piece and I love the unique take on connecting mental space with physical space. I see that it’s also been featured on Motionographer, Aeon Magazine, Good Moves, and on Vimeo’s Staff Pick (congrats!!). Can you tell us a bit more about this one and how it came to be?

Rohan McDonald:

Thank you! “Rooms” started out as a series of risograph printed artbooks that I created with my college roommates Lucas Reif and Austin White, who are both amazing designers and collaborators. They had been working through “ShelfShelf,” a small publishing collective. I don’t remember who had the idea to interview people about their spaces, but we all ran with it and conducted our own interviews with family and friends. Lucas and Austin handled the type design, layout, and printing. Then I did all the illustration, and helped with file set up and assembly. We really love the way they turned out and I thought there was a film in there as well. The illustrations were so fun to draw and I thought it would be even more fun to make them move. This was around 2018.

Cut to the pandemic and everyone is experiencing some awareness of physical space and mental space. Everyone remembers how it felt. I used that time to truly investigate how this film could work and what narratives I could find in common between interviewees. I combed through all of our audio, and what started off as a ten minute film was edited down to around two minutes (dodged a bullet there).

The biggest production challenge was creating a workflow that didn’t feel stale or forced. I was working full time at home and it was difficult to find the intrigue and joy in creative work sometimes, especially when going from one screen to another. So I decided to do two things differently: Use rough animator on my iPad for all the rough animation, and delve into Animate CC, a software I hadn’t used a ton at that point. Rough animator allowed me to work more spontaneously and Animate CC gave me clean lines and quick fills that I could apply subtle effects to in AE. Changing up my process really worked out this time around, and Rooms came together with the help of two additional animators (Sofia Diaz, Dena Springer) and a sound designer/composer (Limes and Cherries).

I’m very happy I took my time with it, and I learned a lot. Although I’m glad my girlfriend at the time (now fiancé) pushed me to finish it.

Bella Alfonsi:

Any advice/final takeaways?

Rohan McDonald:

There are always multiple ways to do something, especially in animation. Not everyone needs the perfect AE script or the latest plugin to make things work. Just explore and find the way that you like to do things! And I’m also still trying to figure out how I do things. That will be a lifelong pursuit!

Mack Garrison 1/9/23 Mack Garrison 1/9/23

Takeover Tuesday Diogo Rosa

An interview with Diogo Rosa: Portuguese graphic designer and creative director.

Q&A with Diogo Rosa.

Read time: 5min

Mack Garrison:

Thanks for participating in our Tuesday Takeover, Diogo. For those that are unfamiliar with you and your work, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Diogo Rosa:

I am a Portuguese graphic designer and creative director who collects a vast and varied amount of ambitions and passions. I love cinema, design, art, food and I recently discovered that I like to travel more than I thought I would.

The idea of being able to experience other cultures and other realities beyond my own is something that fascinates me.

I have been working as a freelancer for the past 7 years now, which allows me to travel while I work. I started my career while I was still in the second year of my design degree at the University of Aveiro. Since then I have worked with numerous brands, studios, and companies. I have had the privilege of working on significant projects that effectively and actively want to create a positive impact on people and society.

*Snapshot from Diogo’s “Spice Trade” project.*

Mack Garrison:

You have a wonderful blend of whimsical characters to more graphic looks. How did you develop such a wide range of styles?

Diogo Rosa:

I'm not fascinated by the idea of doing the same thing over and over again, some people say that sometimes my head can be a little chaotic and complex, but in my opinion, it's just a wide range of ideas coming at the same time, and a huge desire to put them all into practice. I get bored easily, so I find tools to ensure that doesn't happen. That ended up defining a little bit of what I do professionally. I'm always pushing my limits to learn and do new and different things, and when that happens I want to see that reflected in my work.

*Character from Diogo’s “O Rosa” project..*

Mack Garrison:

What are your favorite types of projects to work on?

Diogo Rosa:

Those that allow me to tell stories. Since I was a kid I always loved the idea of storytelling. These stories can be found in many different forms: in movies, visual identities, logos, posters, illustrations... the list is endless.

Mack Garrison:

It's always hard to choose one piece, but is there a project that you're especially proud of?

Diogo Rosa:

By the time I finish a project, it is not difficult to choose, however, this decision is ephemeral. Since progress is my central goal, I strive to make the next piece better than the last. They all tell different stories and represent different contexts. By this I mean, that right now my piece could be one, but tomorrow it could be another. But, if I had to choose only one, it would be the one I did not do in a professional context, but as an escape from everyday routine, almost like an illustrated diary of my ambitions, anxieties, and desires. This project would be "O Rosa".

Mack Garrison:

How did you initially get into design and illustration? Who were the folks that inspired you?

Diogo Rosa:

I remember my parents saying that I wanted to be a chef when I was a kid, yet every time they looked at me, I was drawing, painting, or building something. I don't see it so much as a premeditated choice, but something that happened naturally and organically. Ignoring the cliche, I assume that everything that surrounds me is a reason for inspiration. However, my most recent passion for traveling around the world has acted as a base for many of my new projects.

Mack Garrison:

Could you tell us a bit about your process? How do you try to tackle creative problems?

Diogo Rosa:

There isn't usually a consistent and uniform line of creation for me. I like to adapt to the clients and the project itself. Everyone and every project require different ways of thinking, and it doesn't help me to have something very rigidly structured. Don get me wrong, the structure is always there, however, for the initial phase, where the creative part is a huge portion of the equation, I like to have a more flexible and fluid process.

But there is something I always do before I start designing. I open my notebook or a blank artboard in adobe illustrator and start putting all my ideas there, from the craziest to the most basic and simple. And in the middle of all these experiments, there is always something that can work as a base or structure for the project.

About the creative problem, well... we all procrastinate, we all have moments where we feel uncreative, and in those moments the only thing that helps (at least for me) is to just keep pushing.

Mack Garrison:

What are some of the tools you use to create your work?

Diogo Rosa:

Throughout my career, I have lost count of the number of tools I have used to create projects, and the number keeps growing, every day we have new tools to respond to new needs, and I make the effort to learn them. Whether these tools are digital or analog. Right now I use Adobe Creative Suite, however, I believe we just need to be creative and stop thinking we need to use X & Y tools to create something magical.

Mack Garrison:

As a successful freelancer, any advice you'd like to give to the next generation of artists?

Diogo Rosa

Thanks for calling me successful, but I still have so much to learn and to grow, and maybe that's what I can share. To not stop growing and learning. No one knows everything, even when we think we do.

It is so easy nowadays to create, share and learn. This easiness brings with it a higher level of competition. With more people doing it, the more saturated the market becomes. Nevertheless, there are audiences for everyone.

My advice is not to waste time with doubts. It was something that I struggled with for a very long time, with so many ideas running through my head, plus all the doubts about which one I should do... It's not worth wasting time on second thoughts, but rather gaining time on doing what is on your mind.

Mack Garrison:

Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

Diogo Rosa:

Work on your dreams and yourselves. Keep trying to keep yourself fulfilled and happy. And above all, if we help others to achieve their goals, others will help us to achieve ours. We don't have to drag other people down to feel empowered. Be ambitious and humble at the same time.

Mack Garrison:

Thanks so much for the great chat, Diogo! And for the folks reading this, make sure to check out Diogo’s Behance linked here.

Mack Garrison 1/2/23 Mack Garrison 1/2/23

Takeover Tuesday Andy Evans

An interview with Andy Evans: an independent Motion Designer with a strong focus on 3D & Art Direction.

Q&A with Andy Evans.

Read time: 2min

Mack Garrison:

Thanks for participating in our Tuesday Takeover, Andy. For those that are unfamiliar with you and your work, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Andy Evans:

Hey, thanks for inviting me to this! I’m Andy Evans, a freelance motion designer based in Reading, UK. I went freelance a month before the pandemic struck which was beautifully timed but I’ve been busy ever since. These days my work has transitioned over from 2D to 3D projects but I still call myself a generalist.

Mack Garrison:

Your 3d work is so fun! How did you initially get into the animation space?

Andy Evans:

Thanks! I’ve always been into drawing from a young age and I grew up watching Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon in the 90s. Fast forward 20 years and I started to grow an interest in graphic design. I went on to study this in which one of the modules was motion graphics. At the same time, I discovered Andrew Kramer’s videos on YouTube and it spiralled from there. After graduating, I worked at a few studios and agencies in London surrounded by incredibly talented people who knew 3D inside out. I would always pester them and ask the most basic and mundane questions, but I learnt so much.

*Collection of shots from Andy’s “play” page on his website.*

Mack Garrison:

Are there certain types of projects that you love to work on? What makes a good client?

Andy Evans:

My favourites are always the ones where there’s lots of room for creative freedom. When the client understands the process and enjoys the outcomes, it always ends up becoming such a positive and fun experience.

Mack Garrison:

Tell us a bit about your process, how do you approach a creative challenge?

Andy Evans:

I try and keep as open-minded as possible during the early stages while sticking to the fundamentals of graphic design. I then sketch these ideas out on paper before bringing them into the digital scene. At the same time, depending on deadlines, I need to be considerate of how long things can take as 3D always takes longer than you think! .

Mack Garrison:

I love the "Play" page on your website. How important is play in a creative workflow and how often do you get the chance to mess around?

Andy Evans:

Thanks! I think it’s very important to have some fun. With some projects, there are restrictions on brand guidelines but I always try and bend the rules. On the other hand, projects can be so open that messing around is to be expected! There’s nothing more satisfying than putting your stamp on something.

*Work Andy did for Adele’s performance at Hyde Park.*

Mack Garrison:

It's hard to pick one project as a favorite, but do you have any that stick out as being really fun?

Andy Evans:

I recently was lucky enough to work on the visuals for Adele’s concert at London’s Hyde Park this summer. I was surrounded by so many talented people which made the process so much fun. The energy and enthusiasm from the team were electric!

Mack Garrison:

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to aspiring creatives?

Andy Evans:

Never stop learning! Keep experimenting and try new things. Don’t feel pressured by social media to compare yourself to others. Just be yourself :)

Mack Garrison:

What do you think the future of Motion Design looks like? Anything you're particularly interested in exploring?

Andy Evans

The fast development of A.I. has been seismic in the past year. Every week there seems to be another company that’s flexing its AI muscles which is fascinating to see. I have started dabbling with it for ideas so I’ll continue to explore that.

Mack Garrison:

Any upcoming projects or personal endeavors you're really excited about?

Andy Evans:

I’m currently working on something that involves boring everyday objects but is portrayed in a fun and unexpected way. Watch this space!

Mack Garrison:

Thanks so much for the great chat, Andy! And for the folks reading this, make sure to check out Andy’s site!

Mack Garrison 4/18/22 Mack Garrison 4/18/22

Takeover Tuesday with Marta Azaña

An interview with Marta Azaña: a freelance 2D animator and motion designer..

Q&A with Marta Azaña.

Read time: 5min

Mack Garrison:

Hey, Marta! Thanks so much for participating in our Tuesday Takeover series. For those unfamiliar with you or your work, let's start with an introduction - who are you and what do you create?

Marta Azaña:

Hi! Thanks so much for having me at Takeover Tuesday. I’m Marta Azaña and I’m a freelance 2D animator based in the South West of England. I’m a big fan of bright and retro-y colours and I tend to apply these to my animations, usually pretty abstract and sometimes featuring typography or characters (and bikes!).

Mack Garrison:

How did you originally get into the motion design space? Did you have formal training or were you self taught?

Marta Azaña:

I have grown up in a creative family - Before retiring, my dad directed TV commercials and both my mum and dad are also photographers. I remember going to the sets with my dad practically my whole life and I wanted to be a filmmaker too! But I also loved graphic design and illustration. I studied Media in uni, eventually specialising in video editing. To improve my videos, I started to watch a lot of After Effects tutorials on Youtube to create nice looking intros, title sequences, etc. And that’s when I discovered that motion graphics was a thing and it was actually what I wanted to do as a career.

I didn’t study anything related to motion graphics in uni so I’m mostly self taught (I did take an After Effects and Cinema 4D course eventually). Then did two motion design internships in Madrid, Spain.

*Biker study from a broader collection of .gifs*

Mack Garrison:

I saw you moved to Bristol from Madrid, what was the reason for the move?

Marta Azaña:

When I finished uni in Madrid in 2013 it was recession times and the youth unemployment at that moment was around 55% (the worst year!). After two internships no one hired me and it was suuuper hard to get a junior role so I started to get a bit frustrated and I felt like I wanted a change of scenery for a little while. I also thought it would be a good opportunity to improve my portfolio. I had friends in the UK so I went to live with them while looking for motion graphics & animation jobs. I ended up in Bristol where I did….. another internship! haha this one at least was the most productive one, I learned a lot of animation stuff thanks to my good friend Matt Wilson who also was incredible patient with me & my English. After that internship I got a full time job at Bait Studio in Cardiff (where I lived for a few months) and, after that, at Hungry Sandwich in Leeds (this time remotely). I have been a full time freelancer since 2018.

Mack Garrison:

What's the animation scene like in Bristol, UK? Are most of your clients in the UK or do you find yourself working more internationally?

Marta Azaña:

When I moved to the UK in 2014 I didn’t know anything about Bristol. Maybe I had heard the one thing or two when I lived in Spain but I moved there blindly which is kind of what I wanted. I instantly fell in love with the city and I was so surprised by how big the animation and creative scene in general was. There were a lot of animation studios and this was 8 years ago… the population has pretty much doubled up since so you can imagine the number of freelancers and studios these days (still quite impressive considering Bristol’s population in 2022 is 700k!).

When I started freelancing I worked with Bristol studios mostly. Nowadays I work with UK and international clients.

Mack Garrison:

It seems like everyone is moving freelance these days. What's something you wish you knew before making that decision yourself?

Marta Azaña:

When I started freelancing I used to feel a lot of anxiety when I finished a gig and while I was waiting for the next one to happen, even though I had been earning more money than I would do if I worked full time. It might have only been a couple of days wait haha but I felt really nervous and I often ended up accepting whatever came next, even if it wasn’t really interesting, just because I wanted to see myself busy. 5 years later I can see there’s definitely plenty of freelance jobs and I feel way more relaxed about not having bookings. In fact, I take way more time off than before and I use it to work on personal projects or just spend more time outdoors, riding my bike and being away from my computer.

I also used to feel guilty about not posting enough personal animations on social media while I didn’t have any client work on. Seems like when you’re a freelancer there’s a lot of pressure to always do something that feels productive or work related and constantly share it with the world, but at least in my case, I found that pressure pretty counterproductive. I love to work on my own animations and experiment when I have time off, but it’s ok not to feel in the mood for it. I find that when I’m in the mood I enjoy it sooo much more, there’s no point to force ourselves in to it.

Mack Garrison:

What's been your favorite part of freelancing?

Marta Azaña:

As cliche it might sound, I love having a better balance between work and life and also the variety of projects and clients I’ve got to work with. In my opinion, one of the most rewarding things is when you work with a client for the first time and they want to hire you for a second, third time, etc. You don’t really get to experience that while working full time.

Mack Garrison:

Have you found any tips or tricks to landing clients?

Marta Azaña:

When I went full time freelance, I reached out to some studios to get my first projects and since then, the word of mouth has worked very well. My advice would be to enjoy every project as much as possible, even if it’s a small one - The more motivation, the better the results and the communication with the client, which could lead to more future potential projects. Also keeping in touch with lots of different freelancers through social media, platforms like Discord or attending to events (I’ve enjoyed going to Blend and OFFF and I’ve met a few people that way too).

Mack Garrison:

Your portfolio looks great and I'm sure it's hard to just choose one, but do you have a favorite project you could tell us about?

Marta Azaña:

here are so many I’ve enjoyed working on, but the 36 Days of Type 2018 I got to do with Meghan Spurlock meant a lot professionally and personally. Also during the pandemic I got to work on some animated scenes for a documentary called “Meat me halfway” with a Bristol studio called Yoke. That was pretty different to everything I’ve done so far and I realised I would love to do more animations for documentaries or short journalistic pieces.

Mack Garrison:

I'm sure there are a lot of animators who look up to you, so I'm curious, who are some motion designers you've always looked up to?

Marta Azaña:

There are sooo many! As I mentioned above, when I was a student I spent A LOT of time on Youtube and Vimeo (good times!) watching tutorials and looking for inspiration and the first person I remember coming across was Jorge Canedo when he shared the projects he did at Vancouver Film School. When above I said “that’s when I discovered that motion graphics was a thing and it was actually what I wanted to do as a career” what I really meant is that Jorge made me want to be an animator haha. I felt soo inspired and since then, the other people that have made me feel the same way have been Andrew Vucko, Yukai Du, Jordan Scott, Bee Grandinetti or Will Rose.

Mack Garrison:

Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our audience?

Marta Azaña:

To anyone who wants to make a career as a motion designer, I’d say keep experimenting and learning, but NEVER feel pressured by social media or compare yourself to others, the main goal should always be to enjoy. When you enjoy and stay motivated, everything else finds its way.

Thank you for this opportunity to show and talk about my work!

Mack Garrison 3/28/22 Mack Garrison 3/28/22

Takeover Tuesday with Caibei Cai

An interview with Caibei Cai: designer and animator who lives in Shenzhen, China.

Q&A with Caibei Cai

Read time: 3min

Mack Garrison:

Hi, Caibei! Let's start at the beginning: how did you start your career in animation?

Caibei Cai:

I studied animation during my undergraduate, and after I received MA Animation degree from Royal College of Art, I started working as a freelancer. I have made some advertisements, music videos and visual designs, sometimes I also curate programs for the animation weeks.

Mack Garrison:

What's the animation scene like in Shenzhen? Is it a pretty big community?

Caibei Cai:

Shenzhen is a city with many Internet companies, animation is usually used for the APP or games. Normally, they would like to choose conservative artistic styles to cater to the public taste. So it is quite difficult to get a suitable project for me.

Mack Garrison:

Do you mainly work with local clients or do you collaborate internationally?

Caibei Cai:

I often collaborate with some agencies in Shanghai and Beijing. I haven’t worked with foreign agencies before, and I’m willing to try it.

Mack Garrison:

Your style is very unique! The textural and organic approach provides a really tactile feel in a digital space. How did you develop this approach?

Caibei Cai:

Thank you! Seeing can mean touching the texture of a thing as people can see roughness and smoothness. Our eyes can feel the coarse edge of the paper, the smooth silk or the sticky oil bottle. So what I trying to do is invite the audience to touch my film through their eyes. But not passively following the storyline or fully understanding the meaning of the film. For me, the film is like a body, you could feel its’ breath, skin, hair instead of dissecting it’s muscle or organ inside.

Mack Garrison:

Could you tell us a little bit about your process? How do you come up with ideas for a project?

Caibei Cai:

I am very interested in people’s emotions, especially anxiety. Half Asleep talks about a silent relationship, Pining is the unobtainable feeling and the clocks in my room stops is about the insomnia experience. In the pre-production of Half Asleep, I created a linear story, but I only kept the emotion and removed every specific plot. It is similar to the force triggers tactile, you can’t see the actual force but you could feel the physical changing. As for me, the story plot is similar to the force, which let the audience could feel the changing emotion, so I tried to hide the plot but only left the emotion in the film. Besides, Havelock Ellis mentioned that Touch is the most irrational and emotional in the five senses. So showing the tactile could also enhance the emotional expression in the film.

Mack Garrison:

I noticed you've received Vimeo Staff Picks for Half Asleep, Pining, and The Clock in my Room Stops; congrats! Do you have a favorite of those three? Why or why not?

Caibei Cai:

I don’t have the favourite one, because I always looking forward to my next film, and I’ve just finished an animation short film called Silver Cave, which is about the hunt, domestication and desire.

Mack Garrison:

How long does it typically take to make this style of animation? Is coming up with the idea the hardest part of bringing your vision to life?

Caibei Cai:

Most of my animation is drawn frame by frame, drawing on paper allows me to touch every frame in the film. But it is really time-consuming. I would like to share the working process of Half Asleep. First, I drew all the movement on the paper with charcoal or soft pastel...

*I projected the animation on fabric and recorded it.*

*Finally, I printed the frames out and re-coloured them.*

*And when I made the logo intro for the BlackFin Production, I drew the frame by colour pencils, and then scan the frames, finally printed it on the waterslide transparent paper.*

Mack Garrison:

What's your proudest professional moment so far?

Caibei Cai:

Probably is the moment I got a tattoo of 1920 X 1080 on my arm.

Mack Garrison:

Any advice you'd like to give the next generation of animators?

Caibei Cai:

Eat well, sleep well, play well, and draw well!

Mack Garrison 3/22/22 Mack Garrison 3/22/22

Takeover Tuesday with Nol Honig

An interview with Nol Honig: director, designer and animator who lives in New York City.

Q&A with Nol Honig

Read time: 5min

Mack Garrison:

Hey, Nol! Thanks so much for taking the time to hop on a Tuesday Takeover; I've been a big fan of yours for a while. For those who are not familiar with you or your work, could you tell us about yourself?

Nol Honig:

Hi Mack - thanks for the kind words, and for inviting me to participate in this excellent series! Really glad to be here and in the company of so many others I admire.

My name is Nol and I’m a director, designer and animator who lives in New York City. I’ve been freelancing as a motion designer since the late 1990s, which makes me OG. At this point I’d say that I’m best-known for photo-driven, mixed-media “collage” animation, as well as for teaching After Effects Kickstart at School of Motion. Hello everyone!

Mack Garrison:

How did your career begin? Did you always know you wanted to be in the motion world or did it take a little more luck than that?.

Nol Honig:

It took a lot of luck!

My parents were both very artistic, and encouraged me to be creative from early on. So right there, that’s extremely lucky. I was really into drawing and painting and all the usual stuff, but when I was seven years old Star Wars came out and after that I became fascinated with visual effects, stop motion, photography, and optical trickery. For me, that’s pretty much where it all started. I was also pretty lucky to have an older brother who got seriously into ‘home computing’ in the early 80s, and so I grew up feeling comfortable around computers ahead of a lot of other kids of my generation.

As a teenager I really wanted to be an indie filmmaker like Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee, or the Coen Brothers, so after making a lot of 16mm films in college I applied to NYU for an MFA like all of those guys. And I was lucky to get in. When I was there I was really drawn to editing and post production, and volunteered to cut my thesis film on the film department’s first ‘non-linear’ (aka, computer) editing system — an AVID, which the department had just gotten that semester. Spending a few months working on a film project on a computer, and having to learn new software, was a big turning point for me.

I graduated in 1996 and while working in film production, I found myself much more interested in learning the newest software from Adobe called After Effects that had come out in the last year or so. I know it sounds obvious now, but at the time After Effects was the missing piece of the puzzle that allowed me to combine my love of filmmaking, design, animation, storytelling, staying indoors, and technology together in a way that just clicked for me. Still, there was no coherent motion design community at that time, and I worked in various production and post-production roles for many years — including directing a number of music videos for indie bands like Guided By Voices and Apples In Stereo.

My entryway into full time motion freelancing also happened as a result of luck. Somehow I had talked my way into working as an editor for a company that was producing commercials for then Senator John Kerry, who was running for President at the time. And after a few days I convinced them that I should be making commercials for them in After Effects, and not AVID. I made a ton of spots for the campaign that way, and even though John Kerry lost, I became a one-man freelance graphics department for this company. Fast forward many years, and that’s how I wound up as a lead animator for President Obama’s team in 2012.

*Fireside History with Michael Beschloss*

Mack Garrison:

You've got a really impressive resume of clients: Golden Wolf, Elastic, Buck, Pentagram, Hornet, Block & Tackle, PepRally, Ranger & Fox, Gretel, and let's not forget winning a Martin Scorsese Post Production Award! Tell us a little about that.

Nol Honig:

Well, the Martin Scorsese Post Production Award was something I won for my thesis film at NYU — specifically for the editing. I didn’t get to meet the great man, but as part of the award I was required to write him a letter of thanks. Not much of a story there. I believe the award was $300.

But yeah, in terms of studios … I’m super lucky to have worked with so many excellent teams over the years. As a senior freelancer, I appreciate great producers so much. They work tirelessly to make everything run smoothly, and often don’t get much credit or attention. For people entering the industry, remember: Creative Directors inspire, but Producers hire. Be nice to them, be honest about your calendar and the way you estimate your time, and always make sure to credit everyone on the team if you post about your work — including the producers.

Mack Garrison:

You're a creator and a teacher. What led you to the education side of motion design. Do you prefer one more than the other?

Nol Honig:

I wouldn’t say I prefer teaching over animating, but I will say that being a good teacher is much harder than being a good animator. At least for me. People are more complex than keyframes.

Honestly, I got into it by accident. In 2000 a friend recommended me for a job teaching a class called “Broadcast Design” at Parsons School of Design. I got hired on the spot because I knew After Effects, even though I had no prior teaching experience. But in the end I taught at Parsons for 18 years and in 2017 I won a Distinguished Teaching Award for my contributions to the school. And I’m still in touch with a number of very talented people who I first met as students and are now working in all corners of the industry.

Even better, I had the great luck to team up with School of Motion in 2017 to create their foundation class After Effects Kickstart. I am so proud of that class, and couldn’t be happier that I partnered with such great people.

Mack Garrison:

I see you also do some writing as well. How important is it for creative to be able to write in your opinion? Any tips or tricks to being a better writer?

Nol Honig:

Being a good writer is very important, in my opinion. It helps me make good first impressions over email with people who want to hire me. It helps me win pitches for new work. And it helps me promote that work.

My advice is to remember that writing and editing are separate tasks. Both are necessary, but write first and then edit second if you can help it. And don’t skip the editing part.

Mack Garrison:

Tell us a bit about "The Drawing Room." Where does the name come from and why not just go by Nol Honig?

Nol Honig:

Traditionally, a drawing room is where the owner of a house, perhaps with a guest, could ‘withdraw’ for more privacy. For me, that’s where I want to work. In that private, relaxed space, maybe with a friend.

But the reason I don’t work under my own name is just mostly for tax reasons, as boring as that sounds.

Mack Garrison:

Looking ahead, what do you think the future of Motion Design looks like?

Nol Honig:

Laser-guided keyframes.

Mack Garrison:

Any final takeaways?

Nol Honig:

Generally — figure out what works best for you, and then work in that direction. If you want to be a better designer, find sources of visual inspiration outside of motion design. If you want to be a better animator, observe the world intentionally.

Also ... if everyone is doing X, do Y. But that’s just me.

Guest User 3/8/22 Guest User 3/8/22

Takeover Tuesday with Allen Laseter

An interview with Allen Laseter: an animator, designer, and director making stuff for brands and studios around the world.

Q&A with Allen Laseter

Read time: 5min

Mack Garrison:

Allen! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us for this week's Tuesday Takeover. For those who are not familiar with you or your work, could you give us a little intro and creative background?

Allen Laseter:

Thanks for having me. I am an animator/illustrator type, now working as Creative Director along with my wife and business partner Lindsey Laseter for our very newly formed studio, Lasso.

My background is really more in the live action world. I went to a small art school in Nashville where I still live and work and studied film, concentrating mostly on directing and cinematography, but the school was small and scrappy enough that you really were able to learn how to do everything, which in retrospect was a massive bonus.

My dream at that time was to make narrative films as a director, but when I graduated, reality set in and I started my career freelancing around town working on sets, editing, occasionally “directing” tiny commercials for local businesses, and trying my best to make non-commercial short films and other weird projects with friends.

I was doing this for a couple years until my friend who was really into After Effects and an all around technical wizard passed on a motion graphics type of job to me that he was not able to take on. The school I’d gone to didn’t have any sort of motion or even VFX program, but I’d picked up some After Effects tips from him and had made some stuff for fun just poking around on my own time. I decided to take on the project with my incredibly limited knowledge, and realized quickly how little ill-equipped I was. However, I was forced to learn a lot on the project very quickly, and by the end, I realized that I really liked working this way and wanted to seek out more of this kind of work.

This was still in the first half of the 2010’s when Vimeo had what felt like a really thriving and active motion community, and I was lucky enough to, over time, fall into a network and gradually improve my skills and find work until I had worked out a pretty nice freelance groove, working with various studios around the country as a remote animator, and occasional designer. I kept working on my chops until I began to pursue directing, and eventually got the crazy idea to form a studio!

Mack Garrison:

You've worked on a lot of fun projects over the years, but I'd love to know which have been some of your personal favorites.

Allen Laseter:

The first one that comes to mind is the first project I did for Ted-Ed on the topic of the Hedonic Treadmill framed around the scenario of Winning the Lottery and how it affects your happiness long term. I think this was the first time I had the opportunity to create a project from scratch, aside from the script which was supplied to me, and really approach a client project with a director’s mindset, in terms of really shaping how the overall piece would feel to an audience. It was also by far the longest thing I’d made, being over 4 minutes long. I think this project in particular gave me a big boost in my freelance career.

*TED-Ed: Will winning the lottery make you happier?*

Another memorable one for me was a short spot I did for Lagunitas as part of their “Mumblephone” series. The task was to take a voice mail that had been left on the company's customer feedback phone line and create an animation to it. That was basically the entire brief and I was allowed to do just about anything I wanted, which is rare and one of my favorite things. It was one of the early times where I got to really be adventurous and imaginative as well as really focus on a narrative for a client project.

Mack Garrison:

A lot of folks look up to you as a creative leader so I'd love to know who you look up to?

Allen Laseter:

That’s a really nice thought! This may sound like a cop out, but I look up to tons of people, from people who I know well to some I’ve never even met, and I hate to leave anyone out, so I will purposefully keep this short and limit it to our niche of the industry and name Zac Dixon and Sam Cowden who founded IV Studio here in Nashville. I look up to them for their rare mix of creativity and business ambition. They manage to seemingly keep their studio insanely busy with both client and self initiated projects alike and are extremely successful in both areas which is a huge inspiration to me.

Mack Garrison:

Our industry has been growing like crazy and we have more freelancers than we've ever had before. Any words of wisdom you could share with the next generation of creators? Things you wished you knew as a freelancer?

Allen Laseter:

When you get stuck or run into a problem that you can’t figure out on your own, tell someone quickly instead of burning time trying in vain to figure it out yourself for the sake of your ego. This was a big temptation early in my career and it never worked out well.

Be nice to people, even if they annoy you. It’s still a pretty small field. This will help from a business perspective and from a human perspective.

Hire a cpa.

Mack Garrison:

You and your wife Lindsey recently started a new studio called Lasso which is so exciting! What was the reason for the transition from freelancer to studio owner?

Allen Laseter:

Before Lindsey and I officially decided to start building our studio, I had personally been at a point for a while where I felt like I was ready to move on to something new, but wasn’t sure what. I had been freelancing for a while and enjoyed it but the thing I always craved was more influence over the entire process. I tried going the director route for a little bit and worked with a few different reps, but ultimately nothing ever really worked out all that well.

I was already feeling this in early 2020 and the biggest push in this direction came in March when the pandemic took over everything and we locked down and began to figure out how to work in the same space while raising our daughter and learning how to balance all the new things that stemmed from that. We also just happened to be beginning to collaborate on a project together for the first time ever, even though we were still independent freelancers. These experiences made us realize that, while we had to learn a new way of communicating (and are still learning it) we actually worked pretty well together and that our skill sets overlap very nicely and allow us to do work that we think is unique from a lot that is out there.

*Some thumbnails from Allen’s portfolio*

Mack Garrison:

What are you hoping to accomplish in the studio space that you weren't able to do as a freelancer?

Allen Laseter:

The main things for me are having more control over what work I take on, more influence over the end result of the work, higher quality/bigger scope projects that become possible when leading teams (as opposed to just working by myself which I’ve often done in the past) and finally, focusing more on actual directing skills, which was kind of my original goal back in film school, just in a different environment.

Mack Garrison:

What do you think the future holds for our industry? Anything in particular you're excited about or things that worry you?

Allen Laseter:

As things become more and more digital, I think that will create more and more opportunity for our kind of work. In particular, I’m excited about what this means for brand identities as this is the main focus for our studio, Lasso. In an increasingly digital space, it’s less and less necessary for a brand’s visual identity to be thought of as static first. It’s interesting to think of a brand in terms of its potential to be a changing and dynamic thing, which is what we are trying to do at Lasso.

On the other hand, and from a more zoomed out perspective, I worry about the increasing percentage of our lives that are spent in the digital realm and I think we should all go outside way more!.

Mack Garrison:

Last but not least, any new projects or creative endeavors we should be on the lookout for?

Allen Laseter:

Lasso will finally be launching a portfolio in mid-March, so keep an eye out for that!

Guest User 2/21/22 Guest User 2/21/22

Takeover Tuesday with Kai Kundler

An interview with Kai Kundler, a Berlin born, Frankfurt based Motion Designer and Art Director.

Q&A with Kai Kundler

Read time: 5min

Madison Caprara:

Hi, Kai! Why don’t you start us off with an introduction to yourself? What originally drew you to the creative industry and how did you find yourself where you are today?

Kai Kundler:

Hey! My name is Kai and I am a Motion Designer and Art Director currently based in Frankfurt, Germany. I also love drawing, and I try to bring it into my work as much as possible, whether in personal projects or in my creative daily life. Right now I work a lot for the automotive and motorsport sector.

My creative career began quite conventionally: as a child, I loved to draw and return continually after breaks. The love of drawing evolved into a general lust for art, which led to graffiti and, eventually, design..

Madison Caprara:

I’m not sure I’ve asked this question in previous Takeover Tuesday interviews, but I’m curious. What is it about motion design that you love? Can you remember what the original draw of it was for you personally?

Kai Kundler:

My intention was never to become a motion designer, but like many others, I grew into it. Since I was a kid, I have been a big fan of cartoons and Disney Classics. From a young age, this moved and influenced me. My four-year-old heart was broken by the Mufasa Scene in The Lion King. However, my passion for motion design has grown over the years. I wanted to be an illustrator at first, but then I switched to a more traditional digital designer focus until I discovered my passion for motion design. I was hooked after trying more 2d and 3d animation and knew this is what I wanted to do. I still enjoy creating and watching anything that moves on the screen. I've always been curious about new things and love experimenting with them.

Madison Caprara:

You’re based in Frankfurt, correct? How’s the creative industry? Do you find yourself working more with home-based or international clients? Has the pandemic affected workflow much?

Kai Kundler:

In general, I believe that the creative community is a very open and straightforward one. You run into each other at festivals, talks, and award ceremonies. You usually know each other from a variety of settings or share friends, acquaintances, or coworkers. When you don't know each other, then you will surely meet at a later point in time. It makes little difference whether you live in Frankfurt, Berlin, London, or New York. I have also had the honor of working only with open-minded and easy-going people in this business.

The creative industry has always been a fast-paced one. This was also obvious during the pandemic: it was one of the first industries to be severely impacted, and it was also one of the first to recover and pick up again. Frankfurt has always had a strong international connection as a result of its proximity to financial clients and trade fair events. In general, I work with both international and national clients. Due to the fact that big network agencies are also based here, there is always a strong exchange with other international hotspots.

Of course, the pandemic has changed a lot of our lives. Working from home requires agencies and studios to become even more digital and adaptable. People are used to collaborating in a single location. You sit across from each other or are in meeting rooms. You have offered your support when you have noticed that colleagues need help. We have all worked with teams, slack, dropbox or whatever before. However, in the office, we had many more opportunities to communicate spontaneously or keep up. Now you have to be more active to know what your colleagues are doing, to exchange thoughts, or to see how they are doing.

Madison Caprara:

How do you think the German design industry compares to that of the U.S.?

Kai Kundler:

In general, I believe the design industries in Germany and the United States are similar, but there are differences in influences. Shared influences enable an exchange in Europe, whether it's the German Bauhaus, the rich art history, or the nearby influence of Swiss Design, De Stijl from the Netherlands, Russian constructivism, or even the strong cultural and art history from France or the UK.

It is always dependent on the project or the client. In other words, Germany can appear formal and impersonal at times. This is already present in the German language, as we have a polite and a more personal form of address. This is less prominent in English, making it appear much more relaxed and simple. Until now, it has frequently been the case in Germany that the safer, formal option was chosen over trying something new. But you can also sense a shift here; this is becoming softer, and there is a lot more experimentation going on, both in national and international projects.

The US market appears to be considerably faster-paced and more zeitgeisty. Furthermore, one must not overlook the sheer magnitude of power, technology, and money emanating from Silicon Valley. The global impact is still incredible, and it is still unique in the world.

Madison Caprara:

Where do you go to for inspiration when you find it lacking and how do you maintain your creative edge?

Kai Kundler:

It's important to get inspiration from art, music, photography, architecture and other art forms as well as the motion design scene. When confronted with a blocking barrier, however, the most effective response is to do nothing. Devoting one's time and energy to other activities may be beneficial if circumstances and time allow. Another project, or simply sleeping on it for the night, sports, a walk, or other forms of distraction are always helpful. After that, you can return to the topic with a clearer head.

A walk through the city works best for me. I love to walk through the city and streets and like the vibes of the city. It is very inspiring for me to be connected to the streets. I'm also looking forward to traveling more, and I'm also a big fan of creative challenges like Inktober. Forcing yourself to be a little creative every day exercises your creative muscles and often leads to surprisingly good results.

Madison Caprara:

Do you have an all-time favorite client or project you’ve worked on?

Kai Kundler:

It's tough for me to claim that one particular client was exceptional, because it would imply that other customers weren't as excellent. It is always very dependent on the project and the briefing. But I had a lot of joy working on projects for technological firms like DJI and, as previously mentioned, the automobile sector. In Germany, you just can't get around it. Just as important for me are personal projects or commissions.

Madison Caprara:

What are some up-and-coming media that you’re really interested in diving into in the future?

Kai Kundler:

There is a lot going on right now, such as the Metaverse, NFTs, and AI-based tools. New technological devices, such as Apple's maybe mixed reality device, can also give the entire industry a boost and change entire work processes. I always try to stay curious and try new things, but this has the side effect of increasing my pile of shame with plugins, software or learning new things. To my disadvantage, I like to be an early adopter, so I always have a lot of things I want to try out. However, this also means that I am rarely bored.

Madison Caprara:

I see that you studied at The RheinMain University. How valuable was your time and education to your career? And is there anything that you felt that you experienced or learned at university that you wouldn’t have been able to learn from anywhere else?

Kai Kundler:

The most significant benefit of this time was the opportunity to experiment. At first, I was given a lot of flexibility and was able to devote myself to a wide range of disciplines. This was the only way for me to discover and strengthen my inner love for motion design, 2d, 3d, and everything that moves on the screen.

That, I believe, is the most important thing a university can give you in a creative field. It is critical to be taught how to sit down and learn on your own. Motion design can be a very technical profession, and new tools are constantly being developed to help you achieve an even better result faster and more efficiently than before.

Madison Caprara:

Now, I’ve heard time and time again how personal projects outside of client work are important for mental health upkeep and furthering your skills as a creative. What is your stance on passion projects? Have you had the time recently?

Kai Kundler:

Personal projects are extremely important. Only here can you completely loosen up and experiment with new things. You can devote yourself to skills and things that are pushed aside in your day-to-day job here as well. You can learn and practice new skills. And once you're comfortable with what you've learned, you can apply it to your job or to your clients. You lay your own foundation here. I try to work on personal projects on a regular basis, and right now I'm focusing on typography and analog drawing.

Madison Caprara:

Aside from creating them for enjoyment, what are some things that you feel you gain from taking the initiative to do your own work?

Kai Kundler:

You begin to fine tune your skills, try new things, but you also strengthen what you already have. This boosts your self-esteem and allows you to recognize your own worth. What you quickly forget is that personal projects are the only way to get started in the creative industry. I can't tell you how many hours I spent as a kid drawing on my paper and having a good time. That is exactly what you should maintain and continue to do later on.

Madison Caprara:

Are you working on anything exciting we should be keeping our eyes open for in the near future?

Kai Kundler:

I'm currently working on a number of projects that I'm not allowed to share or that are still in their early stages. But I make an effort to be active and to create new and exciting things. As a result, it is always exciting.

Madison Caprara:

Is there anything in particular that you would like to end this interview on?

Kai Kundler:

I am sure we will come out of the pandemic stronger than before, having learned a lot about ourselves and appreciating life much more day to day. So keep moving, educate yourself, and stay creative. Also never watch Disney Classics with me because I will cry my eyes out.

Thanks for having me!

Guest User 2/15/22 Guest User 2/15/22

Takeover Tuesday with Linda Miletich

An interview with Linda Miletich, an illustrator and digital marketing manager based in Oberpullendorf, Austria.

Q&A with Linda Miletich

Read time: 5min

Madison Caprara:

Hi, Linda! Why don’t we start with a bit of insight into who you are and what it is you do.

Linda Miletich:

Hey there, I’m Linda! Currently I’m enjoying my rather traditional life in the Austrian countryside. That’s also where I found my ideal work-life-balance. Or maybe “work-work-life-balance“ is more accurate: I recently started as a Digital Marketing Manager but I am also an Illustrator and I love the combination. I realized that when your talents and skills are in the creative spectrum there’s so many fields you can bring them into. And I’ve always wanted to cultivate all my interests. Since I’m a very analytical person and super interested in psychology I started to get into conception, brand strategy and marketing. Focusing entirely on illustration wasn’t an option for me since I don’t really like working from home and building mainly virtual contacts (you have to do that if you want to be an illustrator in the middle of nowhere with no real creative community around). I wanted to dive into the real world and spend less time on instagram and my phone. So in my illustration time I focus on a few commissions that really fascinate and inspire me and of course I work on my own projects too.

Madison Caprara:

I see that you studied communication design in school. Could you break that down for us, what exactly is communication design?

Linda Miletich:

Communication design sounds a little cryptic but I think it’s the perfect term for what you learn in design school. There is always a message that has to be conveyed, something you want to show, tell or explain to your audience. Or there might be a way you want to make your audience feel. In communication design you get into the space between the sender (client) and a receiver (target audience) of information and you do all the work so that the receiver takes away the right message. For that you have to dig into a topic, understand it, take it apart and put it together in a way the receiver would understand. You have to develop a concept and your approach to the challenge. That’s what you learn in the course – and of course the many tools that help you visualize and send your message: photography, illustration, text, film, graphic design, sound and interactive media.

Madison Caprara:

How did you pivot into illustration and how have you utilized the skills you learned with your education to further your creative career?

Linda Miletich:

Love that question! I wouldn’t say “pivot“, I’d say I “boomerang-ed“ back to illustration. Drawing is how it all started. As a kid I loved watching anime and every time I played Super Mario I was so fascinated by the fact that you can create a whole new world from your imagination: the stories you can tell, the things you can invent. In design school I focused on brand strategy and design because at the time I thought that illustration was just not foreseeable or reliable enough as a career path for me.

But I also learned that your own happiness and your success is not about choosing what the majority of people does or what is perceived as “safe“. Your safest option is recognizing your own talents and building on them. You owe that to yourself. So I returned to illustration and art, it’s really where I feel most at home and alive at the same time. I think my education in strategy and conception helps me to double check if what I plan and what I draw communicates the right message. But I do get carried away too and find myself in a creative free flow sometimes – that’s often when the best ideas happen. I definitely believe in intuition!

Madison Caprara:

What are the range of projects you’ve worked on? Do you have a favorite?

Linda Miletich:

So far I’ve illustrated wine labels, icons and illustrations for websites, tattoos, cover art for musicians and I am currently working on my own book project. My favorite project is probably my new series “Lenny’s Adventures“. The main character is a little boy. He symbolizes the vulnerable inner child within each and every one of us and I like visualizing the struggles of life with him.

Madison Caprara:

I see that you’ve done a bit of cover art for different musicians and playlists. Tell us more about that!

Linda Miletich:

Sure! I was asked if I wanted to participate in building up the playlist brand Chill Better Daily. The musical focus is instrumental chill vibes and my two partners already had the idea of animal characters as a base for the branding. I developed the five characters and the imaginary world they live in as a base and location for the sceneries and covers along with the overall corporate design, typography and color scheme for the brand. Chill Better Daily releases EPs and singles with different musicians from all over the world. My time at Chill Better Daily has come to an end since I had to re-evaluate my creative capacities but I am super excited where the journey will go for the music and the cover art in the future!

Madison Caprara:

How has living in Austria affected your work?

Linda Miletich:

Well, I don’t think that living in Austria has any particular influence on my work but I create art from a perspective of a young woman living in Central Europe. I think that defines my experiences and therefore my art.

Madison Caprara:

Now, along with the title of “Illustrator” and “designer,” you also are skilled in brand strategy. How do you define the role(s) of a brand strategist? What personal skills does a strategist need to be successful?

Linda Miletich:

Brand strategy is really where every design discipline comes together. As a strategist you have to supervise every little aspect of communication and make sure that the overall result fits the goals of the brand. You are responsible for the brand positioning, the corporate design, brand tonality and everything that builds the identity of a brand. For that you have to like thinking, diving deeper into customer’s brains, understanding them, analyzing their behavior. When building a brand it’s really about bringing together the following things: What do people want? What is economically and ecologically responsible? What is viable for the company? What is feasible? So you have to be ready for complex challenges!

Madison Caprara:

How does it tie in with the work in which you are physically creating?

Linda Miletich:

Apart from a conceptual approach there is not much connection for me and that is wonderful. I love creating with my hands and switching off my brain for a while when I draw. That’s also where ideas find me and I don’t go out there searching for them.

Madison Caprara:

Do you think of yourself as a “brand?” If so, how would you say you’re positioning yourself for success?

Linda Miletich:

I would say: not yet. But I am definitely taking the steps to find and develop my own style. I couldn’t lose my own creative identity for of a commission. In fact, I want to be consulted because of my style. And I am planning a “Lenny’s Adventures“ book in the future – I want to bring my own art into the world too because my own ideas define my most authentic creative self. My ideas come from daily struggles and thoughts. I like to look behind the surroundings, routines and behaviors we view as "normal". So when I have to describe my positioning or my motivation to create art I’d say that I like exploring the mysteries of the obvious.

Madison Caprara:

What do you think will be the most exciting design-related trends of 2022?

Linda Miletich:

I hope that we will see a lot of yellow this year again and recently I am noticing more and more retro Disney illustration vibes. I think and hope that we will continue the revival of past decades and complete the aesthetic with „modern“ elements.

Madison Caprara:

What are you passionate about outside of work?

Linda Miletich:

That’s a good one. My biggest passion is building a life that I am genuinely happy with. Work is a part of this but also building meaningful connections with people is extremely important to me. I love spending quality time with my friends and also I focus on growing as a person and becoming my truest self. Soon I will also move into a new home so at the time you mostly find me putting together interior moodboards.

Madison Caprara:

Is there anything, in particular, you would like to end the interview with?

Liz Galian:

I want to say thanks for the opportunity, this was a lot of fun. And to anyone who reads this: You’re awesome and you’re talented. Keep searching for where you belong. And be nice to each other. :) Much love, Linda.

Guest User 2/7/22 Guest User 2/7/22

Takeover Tuesday with Liz Galian

An interview with Liz Galian, a freelance designer and illustrator based in Brooklyn.

Q&A with Liz Galian

Read time: 5min

Madison Caprara:

Hi, Liz! Let’s kick off our chat with an introduction to yourself; who are you, what is it that you do, and how did you find yourself where you are today?

Liz Galian:

Hi Madison! I’m a freelance animator and illustrator based in Brooklyn. These days I find myself doing mostly character design and animation, which is a lot of fun for me. As a kid I really loved drawing portraits, so it’s kind of funny that my career meandered me back to that.

Madison Caprara:

What made you want to pursue animation and design as a career? Was there anything specific you saw or experienced, or was it an interest that gradually grew over time?

Liz Galian:

Initially I really just wanted to be an illustrator! My grandfather was an illustrator for a greeting card company and we had his work hanging all over my home growing up. Because of that, I was really privileged to have artistically supportive parents. They encouraged me to go to art school from a very young age, which is so rare. Then, toward the end of my college career I took an animation class on a whim and completely fell in love with it. From there, the more I learned about the motion graphics industry, the more I felt at home there! It’s such an amazing intersection between illustration, design, and animation — and because of that, I get to do the two things I love most without having to choose.

Madison Caprara:

How would you go about describing your signature style or “look”?

Liz Galian:

I’ve always been drawn to really bright, warm colors. These days the style that comes most naturally to me is 2D, graphic, and whimsical. I think a lot of that has to do with how fast projects move in this industry, and the worry that a design will be difficult to animate if it isn’t as simple as possible. I’ve been told that my animating style has a softer flow to it and is usually mistaken as being mostly cel animated (in reality, it’s usually after effects!).

Madison Caprara:

I see that you recently dropped a new reel. It looks great! Are there any particular do's and don't’s that you feel newer creatives and/or students should know before creating and sending a reel out?

Liz Galian:

Thanks so much! The thing I love about reels is that it gets to be a documentation of a few years of your life and your work, where you get to see how much you’ve grown. Every time I post a new reel, it feels like a little celebration. I would say the biggest piece of advice to someone just starting out, is to use their reel as an opportunity to curate what they’re most proud of and experiment with how you can best showcase it. There aren’t any hard and fast rules for what music to use, what aspect ratio it needs to be in, how fast the cuts are, etc. I would say just keep it under a minute and fifteen seconds, and don’t steal other people’s work (obviously) — but beyond that, make it your own and have fun with it!.

Madison Caprara:

What kinds of projects are you currently working on and which has been your favorite so far?

Liz Galian:

My last big project was my reel, so now I’m taking a breather before I dive back into personal projects. This year I want to put more of an emphasis on the illustration side of my art practice, which I think takes a bit of a back seat to the animation side in my day-to-day life. I’ve been working on a deck of Tarot cards in my free time, so I think that might become the first side project I get serious about finishing!

My favorite project I’ve done so far is actually a smaller one I did with Mailchimp in 2020. I had the space to explore a new workflow I hadn’t used before, where I made draft animations in after effects and then traced over them in photoshop. This let me figure out the beats of each animation really quickly, and then invest most of my time in really playing with the line quality I could get out of the really gorgeous photoshop brushes Mailchimp uses. Usually when I cel animate, I do the entire project in one program and had never really given myself permission to mix AE animation with cel animation. That project showed me that every project calls for a new way of execution, and that there’s really no wrong way to get things done.

Madison Caprara:

We’re coming up on two years of living in this pandemic-ruled world–which is crazy to me. Has your life (and work) changed drastically in that period of time?

Liz Galian:

Definitely, but for the better I think! I was already doing a little bit of remote freelancing before the pandemic, mostly when I was art directing with an all-female studio in South Africa called Batch. At the time I remember wishing that more studios were open to working with people remotely, as a lot of studios and artists I really admired and wanted to work with were on the other side of the US. The new work-from-home norm over the past two years has made it possible for me to make new relationships with amazing people I never would have been able to work with, which I’m so thankful for.

The pandemic also made me take a hard look at how little I prioritized my personal life and my health. I started exercising and spending more time with my friends and family, saying no to jobs that asked for too much, and giving myself more grace when I was tired or burnt out. Its caused a big shift in me as a person. Unexpectedly, I think my work has also gotten better because of it.

Madison Caprara:

What practices did you implement to keep your sanity?

Liz Galian:

I’m really into puzzles, so that’s kept me sane! I try to do a little sudoku or a crossword every day, though those have taken a back seat lately to Wordle. I’m also a big book worm, so not having to travel to work every day gives me time to have my coffee and read a chapter or two before I start work in the morning. My favorite thing I’ve read so far during the pandemic is “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud. It weirdly helped me learn a lot about pacing in storytelling and all of the visual ways that you can communicate it. I highly recommend it for anyone who animates (or is into comics!)

Madison Caprara:

In your opinion, for someone aspiring to be an animator, how much knowledge outside of animating is required? Can someone who has more of a fine art background make it, or is a higher technical knowledge needed early on?

Liz Galian:

I’m biased because I went into art school not knowing what Adobe was, how to open photoshop, or how animation worked at all. I think like anything, animation is a skill that comes with years of practice, and if you decide to put the hours in, no matter where you start and what background you come from, you’ll get good at it. Nobody is inherently highly skilled at anything on their first try, so the only barrier anyone can face at a skill they want is whether or not they want it badly enough to keep practicing. The internet has endless resources and the animation community is really welcoming and helpful!

Madison Caprara:

On the flip side, what about those more traditional art skills? For someone who wants to be an animator, how important is it for them to have drawing skills?

Liz Galian:

I think it depends on the kind of animation you want to do. If you’re interested in cel animation, drawing is a skill you might want to invest time in. If you’re interesting in more traditional mograph-y styles and after effects heavy animation, I don’t think having drawing skills is necessary.

There are so many animators who aren’t illustrators, and they still make amazing work! A lot of studios have animators and illustrators on separate teams, so the animators are receiving the artwork that’s already been made and animating from there. There are so many pockets in this industry with different needs, so not having drawing skills isn’t a make-or-break for your career. On the flip side though, if you want to start drawing there are so many resources online that can help. School of Motion, Skillshare, and Youtube are full of classes and tutorials that will give you tips and tricks. In pre-pandemic days, most local colleges and community arts centers offered life drawing classes (usually low commitment weekend ones for fun!), so if you have that as an available resource I’d recommend giving that a shot as well!

Madison Caprara:

Where do you go for inspiration when you find yourself in a creative rut?

Liz Galian:

When I’m feeling a little creatively lost or when I’m burnt out, I go for a walk through The Met. It’s so big that I’m convinced that there are corners of it that I haven’t walked through yet, and I can always find a collection in there that I haven’t seen yet that will spark an idea. It’s also just really calming and meditative to spend a quiet afternoon there with no expectations and see what catches your eye naturally.

Madison Caprara:

Is there anything, in particular, you would like to end the interview with?

Liz Galian:

I feel like a lot of what we’ve been talking about how and where best to start if you want to be an animator. When I was starting out, I wish that someone had told me to be braver and reach out to people who’s work I admired and ask more questions. People in this industry are so incredibly kind and generous with their advice and with their time, and everyone wants to see everyone else succeed. So I’d encourage students and people just starting their career to ask questions, be open to learning new things, and remember that everything comes in time!