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

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Visual Development

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

The Power Of Pictures: 4 Ways To Make Your Stories More Emotional :: VSP #1

By Chris Oatley

The Tin Man, resting in a serene forest clearing, opens his heart hatch to admire the emerald heart from The Wizard Of Oz. Illustration by Chris Oatley.“Show, don’t tell.”

It’s every Visual Storyteller’s mantra.

…but it’s easier said than done.

In today’s lesson, you’ll learn four ways to write – with pictures!

…a practice that will help you solve existing Story problems, make a Story more powerful or get started on a new project!

Brian McDonald – Visual Storytelling consultant for Pixar, Disney, Sony and ILM – one of my closest friends and my most trusted mentor – joins me for:

The Power Of Pictures: 4 Ways To Make Your Stories More Emotional.

Click through to start the lesson…

[Read more…] about The Power Of Pictures: 4 Ways To Make Your Stories More Emotional :: VSP #1

[Announcement] The Future Of The ArtCast, Artistacon & Dream Machine!

By Chris Oatley

The Album Art for 'The Visual Storytelling Podcast.' An elegantly designed, abstraction of an orange tree. Art by Maike Venhofen.

Hello, my friends!

Chris Oatley here with a few time-sensitive ArtCast Announcements!

In this recording, I’ll provide updates on:

  • Dream Machine my new Social Media course for Artists.
  • My upcoming presentation at Artistacon 2019 (plus a discount code).
  • …and what to expect as we begin re-branding The ArtCast!

Here we go!

[Read more…] about [Announcement] The Future Of The ArtCast, Artistacon & Dream Machine!

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