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THE INTERVIEW
Tell me a little bit about yourself, about your life? Where do you go to school? What helped prepare you to become the artist that you are today?
Jed
I'm a middle-class lawyer's son from rural Indiana. My artistic life started when I was a kid; my mom used to lock us out of the house for hours in the summer, and would stay home with the air conditioning on, water coloring. We hated her for that. Indiana summers are hot and sticky. But I guess that was some kind of example to me, seeing her paintings. Also, me and a group of neighborhood kids formed a kind of kicked-out-of-the-house refugee group. If you consider the vandalism and general loitering we did, I guess you could call it a gang. We also played with hypnotism, explosives, voodoo, poison mixing, and weapon making. I had a great childhood.
Jason
I grew up just outside Toronto, Canada. I drew as a kid but was more interested in ice hockey, skateboarding and other sports. I was really active I guess. In high school all I did was play hockey and I was planning on going into aerospace engineering until my friend told me about the animation program at Sheridan College. I ended up focusing on that and studied classical animation for three years there. After my first year there I kind of started to break down emotionally and really struggled to finish. I graduated and worked in Toronto for a bit until I went on a personal spiritual pilgrimage doing full-time volunteer work for the church I joined while in college. I came back to Toronto still not sure if I wanted to get back into the industry and experimented with the idea of going into other fields like engineering or east Asian studies, while working in my buddy's dad's shop fixing women's shoes. I was really bad at it but I think he felt sorry for me. Now I'm at Brigham Young University working on my undergraduate animation degree. I love it here and the environment is so nurturing and the people are amazing. I learn everyday from life and those around me and am dedicated to my craft again.
Tyler
I was born in UT but grew up in Reno NV. My Papa graduated in fine arts so he worked as an illustrator and later on as a graphic designer. So I guess I picked up the art thing from my dad. In high school I was a life guard at a local indoor pool so I just doodled here n there. During that time I first planned on doing architecture, then I moved onto graphic design and finally ended up deciding on doing the computer animation thing. After high school graduation I went to Spain for two years during 2002 -2004. When I got back home I decided to get an education. I looked into a few schools and found that Brigham Young University was doing some fuuun animation stuff so I decided to check it out.
I've been here at BYU since 2005 attempting to figure out how to animate and design. Thanks to the faculty and some great students here I have been able to start to figure things out.
How do you go about designing, and what goes through your mind, from start to end?
Jed
Honestly, my thought process is something like this:
1) I find a story/character that really moves me.
2) Then I stress out and worry if it's a good enough concept to spend three weeks of my life on, when there's tons of homework to do, and art classes, and work so I can pay rent, and a senior project I'm directing. Is it worth it to spend my little free time pursuing this story? Am I just overly romantic and seeing something nobody else will understand? Or am I just desperate for something to put in my portfolio?
3) Then randomly one day, usually after a weekend, the story floods back into my soul, and I HAVE to work on it, all day, days on end. This is my favorite part of my manic-depressive life. I research. I sketch based on that research. I try to get inside my character's head and really understand their true motives and desires. I think about how the shapes of their design communicate their outward and inward characteristics. Are they brave, but really just driven by lack of confidence? Or are they dominating, but deep inside just want the best for people, and under that, they're actually trying to compensate for their own failed life? Then I think, how the heck to I communicate that much complexity in a shape? What shape?
I like to play this game. I walk around all day, looking at people's faces and body shapes, and I think "If I were to cast this person in a film, what kind of character would I cast her as?" In other words, I try to find the type of character that fits with the person's design. This way, I can practice identifying the infinite shapes of human beings, and what kind of impression they give me. For example, I notice a guy has very delicate features, almost birdlike, but also has a chiseled quality to his face. Usually, delicate features say one thing. Sharp chiseled features may say another. Put 'em together and you've got two definite statements about a character, right there in one design. And there's no limit to the number of statements you can make. They can't all be super obvious; some design traits should be subtle, just like people's motives and personality traits have varying degrees of obviousity. (that's not a real word)
Jason
Like any other form of art, I think it's only worth while as long as you have something to say. By that, I don't think that it has to be something altruistic or benevolent or trying to push contemporary social issues but that great artists have within themselves something they need to express. My friend shared with me this quote, "[Artists] are driven to lessen the burden of the unbearable disparity between their conscious and unconscious minds, and so to achieve peace." - David Mamet
Tyler
I used to have the idea that it is important to make a pretty shape(using size, contrast, line quality etc.) and create a character based on that shape. By doing this I was able to make an “appealing” character. I have recently changed the way that I go about designing. I've learned a ton from Jason Kim and Jed Henry about the importance of creating a character based on the story they are in, rather than, creating a character and making a story out of it. By doing this I'm able to focus more on a character's personality and attitude. Artistic and technical aspects of a film or game or whatever it might be, should support the story, and not the opposite.
What are some of the things that you have worked on? (Books, Movies, Games,)
Jed
Well, I'm still a student, so not much, other than some local freelance gigs and junk.
Jason
I started out in Toronto working on various 2-d animated commercials and films, and designing for CG. While I've been down here in Utah I've had the opportunity to work at Avalanche (Disney interactive) on an upcoming Disney Title as well as an in-house project.
Tyler
I'm still pretty young in the design/animation industry so I really haven't done much. Here at BYU the students in the animation program work on short animation films, so I've worked on a few of those. I've done a little bit of the free lance stuff, but nothing big. I think that the biggest, hippest thing that I have worked on so far would be...Hannah Montana mo-cap!!! yah...so I worked over at Avalanche Disney Interactive last year, helping out on several Disney games.
Is there a design you have done that you are most proud of?
Jed
Now this is tricky! I can get really emotionally attached to a design, and love it, and you may look at it and think "meh". But if I were to have to choose... I'd go with my most recent design of Musashibo Benkei. - Not that I think it's gorgeous, or terribly ground-breaking in its design. I do think it's sincere though. The most sincere character I've ever designed. I really got inside this guy's head, and heart, and understood who he is. And then I wept.
Jason
Not really. If I ever like anything that I've designed, it only lasts momentarily and then I start to see all the ways in which I can make it better. I think it's really important to love the process of what you're doing. It's too easy to slip into a self-deprecating, perfectionist mind set and hate what you do while you're doing it. You really do have to love what you do. Recognize the ways in which you need to improve while acknowledging how far you've come and what you're doing right. Stay humble. It's the best way to improve.
Tyler
I can't say there is, I'm still working at that one.
What do you see your self doing for the next ten years?
Jed
Working and working and working until I'm a precise, insightful, consistent designer.
Jason
That's a tough question for me personally. It tends to mess me up when I try to telegraph my career too much. I think for now I just love discovering who I am as an artist, and how I fit into the job market will reveal itself in time.
Tyler
My goal is to acquire a job in the film industry, particularly feature animation. So I see myself doing animation for a while and working my way into the character development side of things.
What are you working on now?
Jed
I'm currently doing matte paintings for a senior film we're doing here at BYU: Kites. Buy it on Blue Ray, kids.
Jason
I'm just working on graduating and getting my degree. Part of that is working on the film we do as a collaborative project here. This year's film is called, "Kites."
Tyler
I'm still in school, planning on graduating in April. I'm working on a short student film titled, “Kites”. Other than that I'm just working on building up my demo reel/ portfolio so I can be prepared for the real world, life after college.
Who do you think are some of the top artists out there?
Jed
I have no idea what's "top". People think some artist is great, but is she really? What makes greatness? It's all so subjective that it makes me dizzy. I do know I admire a lot of people. Marcelo Vignali was my mentor last summer, and I grew to admire him deeply. He's a great artist, of course, but he's also a artist dedicated to self-improvement. His designs, his figure drawings, even his personal life - he taught me a lot about being a strong, competent servant of the Muses. I'm sure that throughout my career, lots of other people will impress me.
Jason
I think there are countless great artists and it's hard to say who's better than who because I don't like to invalidate what any given individual has to say. I also think that there are so many inspirational people in different fields who I would consider to be artists that don't necessarily draw, paint, sculpt or animate. But if we're talking strictly contemporary visual designers I think my favorites are Mark English, Joe Mosier, Glen Keane, Genndy Tartakovsky, and I think some of the most purposeful refined design is the stuff the guys and gals at Pixar are putting out.
Tyler
Some of the top artists...right now I've really been liking: Alice and Martin Provincen, Shane Prigmore, Aurelius Battaglia, Tadahiro Uesugi and Aurelien Predal. These guys are all really guuud!! I tend to “change” my top artists based on what project I'm working on.
Could you talk about your process in coloring your art, as well as the types of tools or media that you use?
Jed
Photoshop is cool. I feel sorry for the ancients who had to draw with blood. I also enjoy watercolor for sketching and illustrating... but not so much for designing. For me, designing is all about getting an idea communicated, and since I was raised in the Photoshop generation, and it's the fastest tool in my arsenal, I use it. Not because it's high or low art, but because it's fast, and the medium's not the point anyway. Ideas are the big deal in my opinion.
Jason
I've really been enjoying learning oils lately. I plan on doing more with it in the near future, but other than that I use Photoshop for its versatility and speed. This is useful when you're trying to express, as quickly as possible, all the stuff in your head.
Tyler
Well, my process is pretty simple. I don't do much detailed intense coloring so mostly I just find the main colors that fit my characters and just block it in. Then if I want more color I'll lay in some more color on top. Ya, not too crazy. I pretty much just use Photoshop to color, sometimes I'll play around with markers.
What part of designing is most fun and easy, and what is most hard?
Jed
Riding the wave of manic energy is easy. Conjuring inspiration when I’m not inspired, that's discipline.
Jason
The easiest part of design for me is that I love to do it. Things just turn out better when you want to do it. The most difficult is that it's really hard to design well. Sometimes my love for drawing and painting can overwhelm and convolute my design, so I have to keep reminding myself what I'm trying to accomplish.
Tyler
The best part of designing for me has been doing some of the initial research and initial sketches. It's nice to sketch, and see my crap turn into decent ideas as I refine my research. Doing those initial sketches along with painting/coloring my designs is also probably the hardest part of design. I tend to struggle with these two things the most but when I overcome this struggle I'm able to feel more at ease and excited about what I did. I think that I need that struggle in order to feel pleased with the results in the end.
What are some of the things that you do to keep yourself creative?
Jed
I like reading stories from all over the place, and from all eras. If it's about the human experience, chances are it'll have the power to inspire me. I also like to look at art books and go to galleries.
Jason
Life experience is the best way to keep yourself inspired. If you really live and love life you'll never be in any shortage of ideas.
Tyler
To stay creative and to not fall back on the same thing over and over, I try to keep my styles diverse. I tend to look at a lot of other artists work to get new ideas and to branch out. I also use a lot of reference. The net is full of resources. I get on Google images or Gettyimages and look up ideas that fit the story and/or character that I'm designing and use it for inspiration. Something else that I haven't done well but I'm attempting to do better at is, to use my own life experiences and stories to help express a character that I'm designing.
What are some of your favorite designs which you have seen?
Jed
I don't really have a favorite. Favorite for what reason? Because it looks good? Or because it was effective? I usually just accept designs if they effectively portray a character. If they don't, then I get angry.
Jason
I'm always surprised to find amazing designs on the Internet by people I've never heard of, contemporary
Tyler
As far as design is concerned, I love Aurelien Predal's stuff, go check it out! His art is sooo loose and out there, I love it.
What is your most favorite subject to draw? And why?
Jed
I like people. I'm one of them. Sometimes we do the same funny things. By drawing them, I learn about myself.
Jason
I love drawing character.
Tyler
I like drawing humans, mostly because I'm more familiar with them than anything else.
What inspired you to become an Artist?
Jed
I decided to go into animation after I watched Prince of Egypt. Maybe not because it was earth-shatteringly inspirational in its own right (though it was inspiring). Maybe just because I was susceptible at the time, and it was there, and I was there, and it just happened. But that film was very pretty, and I found it sincere.
Jason
Maybe other great art? Although there's a book I read that got me to recommit myself to art after having spent several years uninspired and not drawing.
Tyler
When I was young I liked to draw...I have drawn ever since and I still love to draw. Now that I'm in college I have been inspired by people around me and artists around the world. By seeing their work it makes me want to be goooood like them.
What are some of the neat things you have learned from other artists that you have worked with or seen?
Jed
Again, Marcelo taught me to really think my characters through-- get to know them.
Jason
When I worked at Disney Interactive, Sam Nielson, an amazing painter and designer, taught me to cognitively identify and solve problems. Sam is like Yoda, - with better diction.
Tyler
The most important thing I have learned from other artists is to create art to inspire or tell some kind of message.
What are some of your favorite websites that you go to?
Jed
I just surf blogs.
Jason
I just randomly follow art blog links.
Tyler
This blog and...and some others. I tend to hop around on different sites and blogs through links.
What wisdom could you give us, about being an Artist? Do you have any tips you could give?
Jed
Find your own voice with art. What is it about life that you want to say? What makes your ideas worth looking at? Am I going to discover something about myself by viewing your work? Will I have something reinforced, or challenged, or revolutionized. My advice is to be a thinker. Pay attention to your life, and how you're living it. Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings you experience. Pay attention to your choices, and the motives for them. Be honest with yourself, and you'll make honest designs.
Jason
As much as you work on your art, you should be working on yourself as a human being.
Tyler
Work hard but make sure to have a life outside of the art world. Learn new things, learn how to cook, to speak another language, whatever it is, just keep learning and growing.
If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted? (Email, Web page)
Jed
Email: thejedhenry@gmail.com
Blog: http://jedart.blogspot.com
Jason
Email: jasondkim@hotmail.com
Blog: http://doitforthefatlady.blogspot.com/
Tyler
Email: ttotsbarc@hotmail.com
Blog: http://stottart.blogspot.com
Finally, do you have any of your art work for sale (sketchbook, prints, or anything) for people that like your work can know where and when to buy it?
Jed
No, I'm just a maggot. I don't sell any of my work yet.
Jason
I'll sell anything. Everything has a price. Just kidding. No I don't.
Tyler
No but I'm sure I could sell Jed and Jason's stuff for a couple bucks.
Well thanks a lot you guys, and good luck with you future carriers. If you want to know more about Jed, Jason or Tyler, please go visit their blogs, they update them often. If you want to know more about BYU Animation and some of their award winning shorts, go to http://animation.byu.edu/
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