• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

ChrisOatley.com

Disney Character Designer answers your questions about Concept Art, Character Design for Animation, Digital Painting & Illustration.

  • PODCAST
  • TUTORIALS
  • MENTORSHIP
  • ABOUT
    • ART
    • CONTACT
  • SUBSCRIBE

Creative Character Design for Animation, Games and Comics

Character design for Tyler 'The Big Top' Triceratops from my comic 'Greg The Megabeaver's Prehistoric Sideshow' For over ten years, I've been reviewing character design portfolios online, at comic cons and art school Q&A sessions.

In that time, I've met many artists with charming personalities and impressive technical skills.

…but a true Character Designer is extremely hard to find.

True Character Designers get consistent work.

True Character Designers sell lots of books and prints at cons.

…and some of them create characters who will outlive us all.

Here are some of my favorite articles and interviews that will help you transcend the trends and begin to create characters with soul...

The Best New Concept Art Books (2019 Edition) :: VSP #4

By Chris Oatley

A cartoony, fan-art-mash-up drawn in gloppy, black ink lines and colored in soft, pastel hues, features characters from each of our 'Best New Concept Art Books' review. Kratos cradles a sleeping Link while fending off a hungry Skeksis. Cappy floats above Mario's head, transforming into The Mad Hatter's hat while the March Hare looks on, impressed. Spider-Ham pours the tea while Mr. Link lends his signature bowtie to Chewbacca.

Imagine you’re walking along a street in a big, busy city.

Despite all the noise and movement, something shiny catches your eye.

It’s a key.

You pick it up and realize it’s the most unusual and ornate key you’ve ever seen.

You take it home, toss it in a drawer and forget about it.

…or maybe you display it, so you can share it with others. After all, the key is a beautiful work of art in and of itself.

Now imagine, one day, a good friend comes over for coffee.

They notice this beautiful key you have displayed and they say to you: “I think I know where to find the lock. It’s on a door just down the street. Wanna go see what’s inside?”

A single piece of Concept Art is a key.

Some aspiring Concept Artists spend all their time collecting keys but never bother to unlock any doors.

They scroll the Internet, collecting single pieces of Concept Art and toss it all into a hoard file on their hard drive.

Sometimes they’ll share it on Social Media but, either way, they’re not learning anything about what it really means to be a professional Concept Artist.

Your random collection of keys won’t unlock anything on their own. You have to find out what’s behind the doors and why.

I know it can be overwhelming to research the history of Concept Art and stay relevant in such an innovative industry…

…but this list of The Best New Concept Art Books will help you do both.

[Read more…] about The Best New Concept Art Books (2019 Edition) :: VSP #4

4 Ways Animation Artists Can Mentally Prepare For The Move To Los Angeles: With Natalie Nourigat :: VSP #3

By Chris Oatley

A cartoony illustration in purple and pink hues shows a young woman wearing sunglasses and shorts while reclining on a daybed with champagne and grapes close at hand. She casually lifts one hand to draw on an adjacent WACOM Cintiq workstation. The caption reads: "**ACTUAL RESULTS MAY VARY." Image from Disney Storyboard Artist Natalie Nourigat's graphic novel: "I Moved to Los Angeles To Work In Animation."

Disney Storyboard Artist and Director Natalie Nourigat describes her book I Moved To Los Angeles To Work In Animation as “part Autobio Comic and part ‘How-To’ guide.’”

It’s hilarious, emotional, beautifully illustrated and I now consider it required reading for every aspiring Animation professional.

Today, Natalie joins me for a lesson inspired by her book: 4 Ways Animation Artists Can Mentally Prepare For The Move To Los Angeles!

Click through to start the lesson…

[Read more…] about 4 Ways Animation Artists Can Mentally Prepare For The Move To Los Angeles: With Natalie Nourigat :: VSP #3

Character Design and The Illusion Of Life: With James Woods :: VSP #2

By Chris Oatley

A pair of James Woods Character Designs. A dark-haired woman in white, minimalist-diva attire snuggles up to the shoulder of a huge jaguar with pastel-blue fur. The two are drawn with undulating "S" curves so complementary, they almost merge together.

Is there more to you than what other people see?

Character Design is a fundamental aspect of Visual Storytelling.

…but there’s much more to Character Design than the visual aspects.

Disney Visual Development Artist James Woods – best known for his Animation Character Design work on Mary Poppins Returns – joins me for today’s lesson:

Character Design And The Illusion Of Life.

Click through to start the lesson…

[Read more…] about Character Design and The Illusion Of Life: With James Woods :: VSP #2

Books That Will Change Your Creative Process (Best Of 2017) :: ArtCast #106

By Chris Oatley

The term “Concept Art,” brings to mind a specific kind of imagery. …but isn’t that a problem…?

What if the struggle of learning Perspective Drawing simply isn’t worth it…?

How can an animated TV show be deeply autobiographical for it’s creator and still have huge, mainstream appeal?

Maybe what other people think of your art matters less than you think…

Today, in celebration of a New Year, The Oatley Academy Team shares their favorite books of 2017. …books that will almost certainly change your creative process.

Click through to listen…

[Read more…] about Books That Will Change Your Creative Process (Best Of 2017) :: ArtCast #106

Interview with Creature Designer & Fantasy Illustrator Brynn Metheney (Part 2) :: ArtCast #97

By Chris Oatley

097_BrynnMetheney_PostArt-v02

In part one of our interview with Brynn Metheney, we talked about her childhood in the desert, how her father’s job as an engineer helped her understand creature design, and how she makes her animals feel so real…

In part two, Brynn shares some nitty gritty drawing tips and practical ways to improve when your artistic growth seems slow.

She traces her path from obsessive animal doodler, to official creature teacher and talks about the benefits of specialization.

Ejiwa Ebenebe – now a producer on The ArtCast – joins me as co-host.

[Read more…] about Interview with Creature Designer & Fantasy Illustrator Brynn Metheney (Part 2) :: ArtCast #97

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 5
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer

Become A Professional Visual Storyteller

Art careers in the Entertainment Industry are flourishing. Subscribe today, never miss an update and learn what it really takes to break in…

Subscribe Now >>

  • VisDev
  • Character Design
  • Concept Art
  • Illustration
  • Mindset
  • Story

Copyright © 2023 Visual Voice, LLC · Privacy Policy · Terms Of Service · Cookie Policy · Community Guidelines · Log in · Contact

 

Loading Comments...