The Comic Creators For Freedom are working together to end modern-day slavery.

Every person who donates will receive an awesome desktop wallpaper featuring a character drawn by every creator in the CCF! This year’s theme is ‘Epic Snowball Fight’!

As you can see in the image above, Harriet The Parasaurolophus is representing my comic, Greg The Megabeaver’s Prehistoric Sideshow.

Our third drive ends tomorrow night at midnight! As of right now, the total is $6,350!

Click here to learn more and make a donation. Seriously, any amount helps. 100% of the funds will directly benefit children in dire situations all over the world.

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• 5 Tips to make the new year productive and creatively fulfilling.
• New Year’s resolutions I DON’T recommend.
• What art & religion have in common.
• How to learn to love early mornings.

PLUS: Music by Good Old War!

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Dreamworks Animator Alexis Wanneroy directed a really cool short documentary about Dreamworks Animation artists Sam Michlap, Nicolas Weis, Christian Schellewald, Paul Duncan, Marcos Mateu, and Nathan Fowkes. Watch the ten minute documentary using the player above.

Here’s a quote from the director about the film:

DreamWorks first personal art publication, Moonshine, was conceived as an opportunity to highlight the breath of artistic development talent at Dreamworks. This short documentary gives you a sneak peek into the personal works from the artists.

Did you watch the film? Did you get any new ideas or inspiration while watching it?

Share in the comments below.

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IN THIS EPISODE:

I interview one of my heroes Cyril Pedrosa author of my favorite graphic novel ‘Three Shadows’ and the beautiful new web comic ‘Portugal’.

Cyril shares about his early days at the Disney studio in Paris and his break from animation to pursue his true calling as a comics artist.

He shares insights into his own process, his thoughts on what it means to be an artist and the development of his multiple drawing styles through experimentation and emotional connection with the story.

Plus music by Gaby Moreno!

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IN THIS EPISODE:

I share THREE practices that all artists can apply to their own process that will instantly improve the quality of their finished works of art.

Also, I talk about my NEW podcast and web-community: Paper Wings.

AND… I explain how YOU could WIN a WACOM Intuos 4 Tablet by entering the FIRST Paper Wings Challenge!

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The career of a professional creative is a difficult and obscure path.

Thus, we need our creative engines to be firing on all four cylinders. Two cylinders for the craft, two for the attitude.

Many creatives are spending time in online forums like Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Podcasts, deviantArt etc… to fill their own emotional tanks with the undiluted inspiration they can’t find elsewhere. Each of us has the opportunity to reward anyone who decides to direct their precious attention toward us.

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I am of the belief that in any circumstance or relationship, POSITIVE invests and NEGATIVE withdraws.

Before I go any further, it must be said that there are such things as healthy negatives:

Constructive criticism, humble correction and break-ups that are legitimately “for the best” are just some of the healthy (and necessary) negatives that we encounter in life.

BUT no matter how you spin it, negativity drains emotional resources.

Positivity makes an emotional deposit, an investment.

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The older I get the more people seek my advice about Art, Story, Career, Finances (gasp), Marriage/ Relationships and even Spirituality.

This practice prospers by my insatiable appetite for the wisdom of those who have gone before me and those who are going after me.

More friendships, mentoring (both incoming AND outgoing), collaborations and conversations are just as important as the fundamentals of art and story.

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A few of my Disney colleagues attended a painting workshop that was taught by Jedi Master Dan McCaw.

One of them (I’ll call him Joe) was expressing how hard it is to find time to do personal work and grow artistically while managing the demands of life, career and family etc…

Someone suggested that Joe wake up an hour or two earlier each day to make room for painting, sketching and other types of personal artistic growth and expression.  Joe had tried in the past to do exactly that but had not found the motivation.

Allegedly, Mr. McCaw said to him: “It’s because your desire has not yet outweighed your frustration.”
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“We have the opportunity many times a day, everyday, to be the one who listens to others, curious rather than certain.” – Margaret J. Wheatley

Creativity and humility are inextricably linked.

To curse ourselves for our failures and weaknesses is to sabotage to our own artistic growth, our inspiration, our careers, our performance in art school and our very passion for art.
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IN THIS EPISODE ::

This one has a bit of a slow start (some heavy editing helped quite a bit) but it has a big finish: How I avoid burnout. I explore every possible creative block that I can think of and provide some practical advice for how to stay focused and fruitful during creative droughts.

Also: I talk about the NEW ChrisOatley.com which will be launching very soon and I make an apology for an insensitive comment I made in Episode #47.

PLUS: A new song from Storybook Steve.
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As you might guess, I find myself giving portfolio and career advice to animation industry hopefuls all the time.

There’s always a list of questions about the objective aspects of the portfolio like page count, layout, type of book, captions and the location of a homemade mediocre logo but none of that really matters… …not if the art is good enough to get the artist hired.
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