Ovi Nedelcu is an animation visual development artist and character designer (Warner Bros., Laika) and the creator of the heartfelt picture book, Just Like Daddy.
In today’s interview we dig deep into Ovi’s process – the sophisticated way he combines words and pictures and how the shapes and colors of his characters help to tell the story.
We also talk about Ovi’s most recent project which is a picture book, a film treatment, a toy AND a game app…
All at the same time!
Listen to ‘Stories Unbound’ Episode 5:
[ download the mp3 ] [ subscribe in iTunes ]
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Awesome Links:
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Just Like Daddy on Amazon (Shawna’s Amazon Affiliate Link)
Music by Ryan Keith and Wes Cepin
What Do You Think?
Ovi talks about how sketch books are meant to be messy.
…how they’re for observing, recording and researching.
Are you afraid to make messy sketches? How has sketching helped you improve as an artist and develop your stories?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Wait, YOU can download this podcast for free? I thought you had to pay the thirty dollar fee. Is this a mistake?
Manny- No mistake- This is a free podcast for everyone! Enjoy!
This podcast was definitely worth a lot more than free.
I think what stood out the most for me, and for many others, is how he says your sketches are not all suppose to be perfect masterpieces. They are meant to be messy, experimental, and incomplete because they are just all steps to the actual complete work.
Thanks for an excellent episode!
Thank you for another great podcast. I tend to sketch very tight and try to make my line work clean. I really like the idea of buying the less expensive sketch books or paper so you don’t feel like it has to be perfect. Sketching has always helped me to plan out and find the problems in the drawing before committing to the final art. Drawing tight I have work harder at the poses and actions of the character. I plan on trying the messy sketches and try to keep my perfectionist side out of my studio for a bit. So with that, off I go to make messy sketches 🙂
Woo hoo Mark! Go and make those messy sketches. I need to do the same thing!
Neru- Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the episode! Ovi has some great insights!
Sketching is definitely an important tool to learn how to draw something a particular way- for observing life. It’s good that you’re using your sketch book in that way.
It’s fun to hear all the different ways that people come up with stories- whether through pictures visually, or by words first.
That’s funny, I think I have the same problem- drawing better on loose paper than in nice sketch books. I think it’s because with loose paper, I don’t feel pressured like I do when I’m drawing in a nice sketch book to make my art look wonderful and presentable at all times (not really true, but in my head that’s my dilemma).
Another great episode! 🙂 I especially love what Ovi had to say about messy sketchbooks. That’s really freeing.
I had a Moleskine sketchbook for years that I almost never drew in because I never thought I was “good enough” or that my style wasn’t “clean enough” to draw in it. Now I’ve found that the cheap sketchbooks I can find at Walmart or wherever are much better for being productive, and I’m not afraid to just go crazy with thumbnails and doodles or even notes to myself.
Thank you!
And hurray for messy cheap sketchbooks. Go messy sketchbooks! Go!
Great interview, Shawna and Ovi! Really liked the idea of messy sketches and cheap sketchbooks. I like to use unlined note pads for those sort of doodles and warm-ups. They help me give myself permission to fail, or make scrappy, nasty drawings if I need to. That said, I do also have a nicer sketchbook with mixed media paper, which is sturdy enough for inking and watercolor if my sketches and doodles turn out nice. In the past, I have caught myself being too precious with those sketchbooks because I was afraid to “waste” nice paper, but I’m working on changing that attitude now. I think it’s nice to use whatever option (fancy vs. cheap) seems to suit your current situation best, but with either case, you always produce better drawings when you can stay loose and not place too many expectations on yourself.
Keep up the awesome work! ^_^
Yay! Thanks Bethany! It’s fun to hear about your sketching experience. Great Quote: “You always produce better drawings when you can stay loose and not place too many expectations on yourself.” I also have a multimedia sketchbook. It’s fun to throw in watercolor or marker sketches every once in a while!
Hey Shawna!
I’m curious, what does Ovi mean when he says “book dummies?”
What does that look like?
C
Corey- A Dummy Book is a rough mock-up of a picture book. This is used for the creators own purposes in envisioning what the final product will look like, but it’s also used to send to editors so they can see your vision as well. Usually the book is laid out with sketches and 2-3 finished illustrations.
I wrote some articles on making a dummy book on my blog. Maybe this will be helpful: http://www.shawnajctenney.com/#!Picture-Book-Dummy-Part-1-Making-the-Dummy-Book/c2xb/55ddf6b70cf2de902a75b935
I’m totally going to go buy a bunch of cheep newsprint sketch books and start sketching like crazy.
I’m inspired. Thanks, Shawna!
Woo! Awesome! Sketch sketch Go Jen!!
Man I love the idea of a messy sketchbook, I defiantly need to do that!
Great show!
Thanks Tegan! Go and make those messy sketches! BTW, I love your new avatar, so cute!
Thank you @Shawna for another excellent interview and thank to @Ovi for an great idea!!! Definitely the messy sketchbook come to be almost a challenge, I think to try it too!!! 🙂
I guess this kind of sketchbook could give life to a new ideas or stories!!! 🙂
Hi Micsy! Thanks for listening! I can’t wait to see what stories you come up with in your new messy sketch books. I hope you’ll keep us updated here!
Finally, I start to work in “my messy sketchbook” , maybe it’s simple but it’s messy!!! 😀
Here is the link: http://oatleyacademy.com/forums/topic/my-messy-sketchbook-by-micsy/
Great, inspiring stuff as always! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ovi has great insights, doesn’t he? Thanks for listening!
Such an inspiring interview! I’m like you Shawna, I always want to make finish drawings and so I end up not drawing in my sketchbook, but will definitely try these messy sketches!
Hi Helene! It’s going to be a challenge, isn’t it?! Definitely for me at least!
Hello amazing wonderful inspiring Oatley Academy!
… I have to admit, I’ve got some butterflies in my stomach, writing this comment. I’ve been listening to the OA podcasts for a while now and loving every bit I can access. I’ve been really enjoying this show so far, because I have I grand love for illustrated kid’s lit.
Also… the community of OA just seems like a dream come true. I can’t tell you how encouraging it is to find some like-minded folk, but I’ve still… stayed quiet mostly. Really, I don’t feel like my art is up to the level everyone else’s is. HOWEVER I so want to feed off of everyone’s talent and I want to gather all I can learn!
Storytelling is my dream… Writing, drawing- even though I’m not where I want to be yet, I can’t imagine being happy doing anything else. So thank you for all you do. Everyone- the WHOLE TEAM. Seriously, you’ve all made this Venture seem brighter and more hopeful. And (now that I’m *gulp* starting to voice my presence) you’ve also made it less lonely.
Okay. Moving on from the warm fuzzies…
HI, SHAWNA! I thought this was a fun interview. It was neat hearing Ovi talk about his secret project in not only an ambitious and big-dream way, but you could also tell how much this is a passion project for him.
I’m SOOO for scribbly sketchbooks. The perfectionist-artist in me has actually loosened up a little (in this ONE area…) over the last year or so. First it came from being inspired by people who go straight to pen in their sketchbooks. Eek! that idea scared me! But I wanted to try: to grow more instinctual, to work on growing a piece with each line, and also practicing more on visualizing before I even start. At first I felt VERY uncomfortable sketching in pen, but now I love it! Yes, my sketchbook has tons of scribbles that I don’t really care for… but there are also ones that have this sort of… magic. Even though nothing about them is perfect.
Thanks again for EVERYTHING and keep up the great work!
Hi Joni,
Thank you so much for your heartfelt comment! I’m so glad you have been listening to Stories Unbound and other OA podcasts. The OA community definitely has been a dream come true. The things I have learned here have helped me in my career in so many ways. If not for this community, I would probably still be doing educational work that I disliked instead of pursuing my personal projects and living my dream of earning a living from my imagination. 🙂
I am so happy you are starting to voice your presence! I hope you will continue to start being engaged, and getting to know some of the awesome folks here. I know it will help you in your pursuits of your dreams to be surrounded by the inspiring people here at OA!
It is so great to hear how you have been growing in your sketch book pursuits. It sounds like you are on the right track, so keep at it! Sketch books should never be perfect. That’s why Ovi’s sketch books are so inspiring to me. He is such a good artist, getting tons of professional work, and he is okay with just having messy, imperfect sketch books to learn from and to grow from.
Thanks so much for listening, and thank you for your encouragement!!
Joni,
You’re awesome. Thank you so much for your kind words, they mean a lot tot he whole team 🙂
Can’t wait to see your projects and watch you grow 😀
*HUG*
*glomp* HI JONI!
Thank you for voicing your presence and for the wonderful heartfelt words. The OA community has been the absolute best thing that’s happened for me in the world of art and story. Like you, I started out listening to the podcasts, and then I made my presence known by commenting… and that was two years ago. I’m still blown away by the love and support. It has helped me so much with my projects and has provided me with opportunities I never thought possible.
I’m SO excited for you! Thank you for being here! I hope we get to hear more from you in the future! <3
Shawna,
Love the show! You do a fantastic job with this and it’s so inspiring. I am new to the world of picture books, is there a resource your can recommend that covers the basics of getting started creating picture books? If there is such a thing. I am not sure what a book dummy is and where to begin? Your podcast makes me want to tell stories and I look forward to future episodes.
Keep up the great work!
Hi Matt! Thanks for your kind words! If you want to learn about how to make a dummy book, I wrote a blog post about how to make one. Here’s the link: http://www.shawnajctenney.com/#!Picture-Book-Dummy-Part-1-Making-the-Dummy-Book/c2xb/55ddf6b70cf2de902a75b935
The SCBWI is also a great resource. They usually have conferences all over the U.S. and there might be something in your area.
I’m so glad you enjoy the show! Thanks for listening and for commenting!
Thank you so much! I am ready to dive in and get started!
Appreciate it!