I love to just hop in and make stuff

it’s a great way to start projects quickly but i often lose steam or get distracted. a LOT of work that I do does not get finished or shared.

there’s something very wise about collecting inspiration and forming a vision before hopping in

collect references

my mentor spends as much time collecting the perfect references as actually animating or illustrating

1. Pinterest

2. AI Art (Midjourney)

3. Art Books

1. Pinterest

So here is my Pinterest. it’s just a good way to organize and keep adding stuff. love my algorithm.

2. AI Art

Midjourney is unbelievably good at barfing up visuals.

I’m learning to use midjourney to help develop my projects. getting a look at what it might look like can help me make style decisions earlier.

midjourney can also:

a) make weird mistakes that lead to new ideas

b) describe art to learn what styles I’m tapping into

c) it can blend two of my art pieces together

3. Art Books

being an animator or illustrator can be very lonely. I find reading art books helps me feel connected with other artists as I peek into their minds and workflows

(art books are those giant books often released alongside a movie, tv show, video game or can document a director’s entire filmography)

you can develop a whole franchise with just a pencil and paper. the matrix, shrek, twin peaks, avatar, NOPE, these were all just ideas someone scribbled down.

some good art books:

TECH NOIR by James Cameron. 

Cameron is a freak! his movies are just a chance to show off the latest technology. still, he’s a master of cinematography and pacing. I learned about how camera placement can affect your perception. 

James Cameron was just another kid scribbling in a notebook. it’s kinda inspiring to see that.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR

the lowest-grossing movie in Pixar’s history, but it’s visually beautiful. this book shows the process behind the scenes as artists draw out characters and test different lighting situations. they iterate a lot

TIM BURTON and GUILLERMO DEL TORO

Tim Burton makes films that reflect his own childhood experience feeling like an outcast, Guillermo makes films to honour the history of horror, fables and oddities. two different drives but both directors make eerie worlds that draw us in.

MORE

Spielberg’s art books highlight his obsession with light, while Bong Joon Ho infuses his characters with horror, comedy, and slapstick.

God of War Ragnarok is just a beautiful book. I wish it wasn’t so expensive.

There are so many art books out there, look at all these art books: https://halcyonrealms.com  or here’s a big list: parkablogs.com