Digital Painting for Concept Artists and Illustrators

Most digital painting tutorials are all about the "digital" and not at all about the "painting."

They tell you which button to click and demonstrate cool, digital tricks but they don't help you create believable worlds and characters.

"Digital" is just a synonym for "convenience."

The power is in the painting.

Concept artists and illustrators want to create worlds and characters, tell stories with pictures, find meaning in ideas, and make emotional connections with an audience.

To be fair, this page could really benefit from a little more "step-by-step."

...so I'm working on that.

But for now, if you're looking for something deeper, more personal and challenging, then you've come to the right place...

Visual Development Mythbusting :: ArtCast #108

By Chris Oatley

What is the difference between drawing and design?

When working for a studio, does your personal aesthetic matter?

Are you thoroughly exploring your story ideas or are you stopping too soon?

What do Pixar’s Coco and The Shining have in common?

And how can you get out of your own head and bring more freedom to your creative process?

Today, Mentees from First Flight, our most recent Master Class at The Oatley Academy, join me for some Visual Development MYTHBUSTING…

Interview with Animation Art Director Ryan Carlson (Part 2) :: ArtCast #101

By Chris Oatley

In the previous episode, we met Ryan Carlson – my Disney mentor and the person without whom The Oatley Academy may never have happened…

Now in part two, Ryan talks about:

Working on The Iron Giant and what he learned from Brad Bird.
His advancement from Assistant Effects Animator to Art Director.
How to lead a team of creative professionals well.
The greatest gift an aspiring animation professional can offer an Art Director…

PLUS: The ArtCast: Behind The Scenes with the OA Team!

Interview with Animation Art Director Ryan Carlson (Part 1) :: ArtCast #100

By Chris Oatley

In many ways, I owe my career to Ryan Carlson.

He played a key role in giving me my first break at Disney, taught me more about painting than any other individual and he, more than anyone for whom I’ve worked, has intentionally helped to advance my career.

…and considering that The ArtCast probably wouldn’t exist without my time at Disney, and The Oatley Academy only exists because of The ArtCast, The Oatley Academy might not exist without Ryan…

In this episode we discuss:

Why failure is a necessary part of the creative process.
What makes a good Art Director?
Ryan’s process for creating a Color Script for an animated feature film…

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

By Chris Oatley

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.

Interview with Creature Designer & Fantasy Illustrator Brynn Metheney (Part 1) :: ArtCast #96

By Chris Oatley

Brynn Metheney puts the “dragons” in Dungeons & Dragons.

While many of her animals come from imaginary worlds, they look like they could exist in this one…

In part one of our interview, we talk about Brynn’s 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…

Spoiler alert: it does not involve sitting still.

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

Digital Painting for Concept Artists and Illustrators

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