If you’ve ever been to an Artist’s Alley at a comic convention, the thought, Can this be legal? has surely jumped into your head. Easily half the artists exhibiting at any mainstream Comic Con or Anime Show make and sell fan art. And by “fan art” I mean merchandise featuring characters the artist does not own: […]
What To Do When Portfolio Feedback Doesn’t Make Sense
Concept artists and illustrators often encounter portfolio feedback that is either confusing or nonspecific. Many artists just smile, nod, shake hands with the reviewer and walk away confused. Others blame themselves for not understanding and get discouraged and frustrated. So what can you do when you receive feedback on your concept art or illustration portfolio […]
Free Yourself From Perfect
When Robert Zemeckis decided to do the movie version of The Polar Express in hyper-real mo-cap, he boarded a doomed vessel. He was so focused on achieving “perfection” in realism that he made a nigh-unwatchable movie featuring awkward, zombie-eyed characters with oversized pores. The Polar Express never became the timeless, holiday classic it might have […]
How To Keep Going If You Hit A Dead-End
“You Look CORNFUSED!” The old, hand-painted sign marked the first dead-end in the enormous corn maze. I, however, was not cornfused nor was I disheartened by the maze’s mockery. Throughout the course of my creative career, I have encountered many dead-ends and I’ve learned how to navigate with focus and patience. Many artists react to every dead-end with a […]
Karaoke And Your Inner-Critic
A whole new world, (Don’t you dare close your eyes.) A hundred thousand things to see… (Hold your breath, it gets better…) I’m like a shooting star, I’ve come so far, I can’t go back to where I used to be… The two tiny Japanese girls belted that Disney love ballad like Gaga. …if she […]
