Saturday, November 10, 2007

The Interview




Tell me a little bit about yourself, about your life?


I grew up in Northern Spain, one hour and a half from Barcelona. I grew up watching cartoons of all sorts, and watching old classic Hollywood films. Since I was young I drew and painted near my dad, he is an artist so there were lots of support, and lots of art supplies. My parents are quite adventurous and they are artists so after I turned 14, I moved to the U.S with my brother, sister and parents; for a better life.



Where did you go to school, and what classes did you study?


I first went to Laguna College of Art and Design for two years, and then I took a year off to build my portfolio to get to CAL ARTS, I took figure-drawing classes at the union, and then I went to the beach in Laguna to draw people. Then I got into Cal Arts, and spent four years there, four awesome years, I learned a lot there making films each year, the experience that I had at Cal arts was awesome, its a very good environment there and you are surrounded with people that have the same passion and dreams.


What helped prepare you to become the artist that you are today?


Cal arts, and many awesome teachers that we had there, and just working hard during the time there, I wanted to get the most of it, and I think that 3rd and 4th year at Cal Arts where the most productive and inspiring of all.



How do you go about designing, and what goes through your mind, from start to end?



I think that research is very important, so first thing I do is go on Google and search. I then sketch from the reference a bit, and have it around me to glance a bit while I work. I tend to start designing small because then I can see the overall shape much quicker and I can get more variety of different designs. I do the same when painting, the smaller I paint the easier is for me to organize shape and get the overall design. I try to think about using different shapes as much as I can to get variety. I also like to make a character design and putting it in an environment.



What is a typical day for you?



At Cal Arts I had a different schedule, but now a typical day.... I wake up and go for a run, (because is a brain booster and helps me through out the day) then I carpool with my friends to go to work at Disney animation studios. I’m an apprentice at Disney in Visual Development, so we get a lot of different projects that we get to work on, is great I love it. So I divide my day to work half and half on different films. I’m doing both characters and backgrounds and color keys, is a lot of fun, It makes me happy doing something that I enjoy, its awesome. So I work on designs all day, and I try to mix it up to make it fun, so I use the computer, then I get tired so I grab some paints, or sketch. After I get home I cook dinner and make cookies, I love to come up with new flavors. Then I paint and draw my own thing; right now I’m working on my cookbook. And on January I will be illustrating a Toy Story book for the publishing company at Disney, I’m really excited for that!



Is there a character design you have done that you are most proud of?



Maybe a few Paintings that I did really big (out of my comfort zone) of some girl designs, that then got sold.



What projects have you done in the past, and what are you working on now?




I did some designs a while ago while I was starting at cal arts, for this Pin company, I did some designs for Hard rock cafe, and Hooters, and the pins got made, and my parents bought a few of those. I also interned at Pixar last summer and worked on Hansel and Gretel, that was a blast, I loved it up there it was an awesome experience, and I learned a lot. Right now I’m working on Princess and the frog, I’m doing costume designs, and a bit of everything, And I will be helping out my mentor Ian Gooding to work on the color script. I’m also doing designs for two other projects here at Disney, and I will be illustrating the Toy Story book on January.



Who do you think are the top artists out there?



There are so many top artists out here, but one of my favorites is:


Nicolas Marlet, Joe Moshier, Tadahiro, Carter Goodrich, Lou Romano... and many, many more.



Could you talk about your process in coloring your art, as well as the types of tools or media that you use?



I love to use gouche, I use the basic colors I love to mix in my palette, and I love to be spontaneous when using color, I like to feel it but also analyze it while I work with it. And as I was saying earlier I love to paint small to get the basic shapes. I started using computer more often as a tool, but I still think gouche is so much lively.


What are some of the things that you do to keep yourself creative?


I watch movies Classic Hollywood musicals are very inspiring to me. And I love to travel and see new places.



What are some of your favorite designs which you have seen?




When I went to The ARL (The Disney research library) and saw Eyvind Earl originals and Mary Blair designs for once upon a wintertime! Soooo beautiful!



What is your most favorites subject to draw? And why?


I like little kids, because you can get good proportions and then you can compare them with other props or larger characters, and everyone can relate to kids.


What inspired you to become an Artist?



My Dad, and Disney films



What are some of the neat things you have learned from other artists that you have worked with or seen?



I’ve learned a lot about color, and everything in general.



What are some of your favorite websites that you go to if you have the time?


I look at other artist blogs they are so inspiring


What wisdom could you give us, about being an Artist? Do you have any tips you could give?



Work hard and try everything like different mediums, and experiment so that you always have fun doing your work, It should be fun, that’s when the work is most successful.



If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted?



Finally, do you have any of your art work for sale (Books, sketchbook, prints, or anything) for people that like your work can know where and when to buy it?



I sell my personal work, anytime, and as I said before I’m working on my cookbook right now and on January the toy story book.

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