You're A Better Artist Than You Think

Solve Plot Problems with "Mirrored" Story Structure

Join The Magic Box Brush Club: -------- In this episode: KM Weiland, author of "Creating Character Arcs" and "Structuring Your Novel" reveals how to solve plot problems using "chiastic" or "mirrored" story structure. Plus: Understanding "The Thematic Lie" and building the most important structural "beat" in storytelling! -------- 00:00 Episode Start 02:15 Introduction To "Mirrored" Storytelling 03:04 The Hook And Resolution 03:37 The "Normal" World & The "New" World 05:13 Mirrored Story Structure in "Toy Story" 06:40 Join The Magic Box Brush Club 07:06 How Act Breaks Mirror Each Other...

Can't Find Time For Art? Try This...

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

In this episode of You're A Better Artist Than You Think: Why "time management" so rarely works for artists and four tips for a more effective solution. As creative people, we care a lot about time because our projects require so much of it. Furthermore, many, if not most of us want to spend more time working on our creative projects, not less. Even when we're successful in implementing "time management" strategies, the strategies themselves are not. That's because "time management," as it's commonly understood, is not the solution, but rather, priority management. With these four priority...

12 Tips For Finishing Ambitious Creative Projects (with Victoria Ying)

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

Join The Magic Box Brush Club: Subscribe to this podcast: -------- Victoria Ying, animation visual development artist (Tangled, Frozen, Big Hero 6) and comics creator (City Of Secrets, Harvey winner Hungry Ghost) joins for today's episode of You're A Better Artist Than You Think! Learn how to avoid overwhelm, burnout and art-related injuries, set realistic deadlines and push through the boredom when attempting ambitious, creative projects. Plus: Why routines aren't for everyone... 00:00 Episode Start 00:22 Tip #1: Start Small 04:04 Tip #2: Accept The Boredom 06:41...

Jim Henson's Creative Legacy

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

The Jim Henson Company Archives’ Director and Historian Karen Falk offers insights into Jim’s creative process, his collaborative style of leadership and the evolution of his characters. If you’re listening on one of the audio-only platforms like Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I do want to encourage you to check out the video version on our YouTube channel where we’ll feature images from the new edition of Karen’s book titled “Jim Henson’s: Imagination Illustrated” as well as photos and video clips from my visits to various Henson exhibits. Find the link at Get clear,...

Interacting With Color: Insights From Josef Albers

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

In this episode of "You're A Better Artist Than You Think:" How color lies to our eyes and why that matters to artists with author Fritz Horstman of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. PLUS: Changing our relationship to color from "painful" to "playful." -------- Get clear, relevant feedback on your work and personalized career guidance at -------- 00:37 What Josef Albers Means To Present-Day Artists 01:24 Interaction Of Color 02:28 Science Vs Experience 03:51 Color Relativity 04:58 Playing With Color 06:04 Homage To The Square 06:49 The Personification Of Color 07:50 Rothko And Albers...

Did Disney Learn His Lesson? Inside The Animation Strike Of 1941

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

In this episode: "The Disney Revolt" author Jake Friedman surveys the infamous animation strike of 1941, and explains why it matters to present-day artists. We consider the cost of Walt Disney's perfectionism, the painful, personal consequences of his decisions, and whether he ever learned from them. PLUS: The most influential Disney animator you've never heard of... -------- Get clear, relevant feedback on your work and personalized career guidance at MagicBoxAcademy.com -------- 00:49 Introduction: The Disney Animators' Strike Of 1941 04:08 Disney Vs. Disney 06:37 Art Babbitt - The Most...

The ImagineFX "Rising Stars" of 2D & 3D Art [Part 2]

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Nine of my current mentees were named “Rising Stars” of 2d & 3d art by ImagineFX magazine. In this two-part interview series, they’re here to share stories of artistic development and how being selected for the article affected their mindsets. Illustrator Andrea Ivetic Vicai begins the episode with a positive spin on the more frustrating aspects of illustration. Next, animation artist Lucy Ledsam talks about finding an art career that matches your personality. VR artist Elizabeth Person and CG artist Carmen Thora Smith talk about making the...

ImagineFX Magazine's "Rising Stars" Of 2D & 3D Art

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

http://linktr.ee/chrisoatley/ What would you do if you learned that your artwork would be featured in an industry-leading magazine for creative professionals all over the world? …and you only had a few days to select and submit your samples, write a professional bio and a short blurb about each submission, update your website and prepare a series of social media posts to coincide with the publication date? Would you find that inspiring? …motivating? …terrifying? Nine of my students faced this question when they were named among...

Is Your Art Vulnerable Enough? [Part 2] [Graphic Novelist/ Literary Agent Tori Sharp]

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

http://linktr.ee/chrisoatley In part one of this series, graphic novelist and literary agent Tori Sharp shared tips on pitching to publishers, how story guides design, and the challenge of creating honest art. Now, in part two, Tori talks about stories as "sense-making" devices, urges the importance of celebration breaks during long projects, and shares her experience as an autistic artist. Once again, our production coordinator, Mari Gonzalez Curia, who is currently seeking representation for her first original graphic novel, joins me as co-host. Get clear, relevant feedback on your...

Is Your Art Vulnerable Enough? [Graphic Novelist/ Literary Agent Tori Sharp]

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

https://howtobecomeaprofessionalartist.com In this episode: Graphic novelist and literary agent Tori Sharp shares tips on pitching to publishers, how story guides design and the challenge of creating honest art. Our Production Coordinator, Mari Gonzalez Curia, who is currently seeking representation for her first original graphic novel, joins me as co-host. This is the first of a two-part series. Get clear, relevant feedback on your work and personalized career guidance in our mentorship: The Clockwork Heart: https://howtobecomeaprofessionalartist.com/clockwork-heart/ Subscribe to this podcast...

More Episodes

Pixar Animation Studios was always known for quality storytelling, but in the early years of CG feature animation, they also set the standard for design.

CG feature animation was considered by many (even mainstream audiences) inherently inferior until the turn of the 21st century.

The fur and lighting effects in Monsters, Inc. were remarkable in 2001 (and they still hold up) but in 2003, Finding Nemo’s visual art finally and fully transcended the technological limitations of the new medium.

When interviewed about how they created such stunning imagery, the Pixar artists often cited their meticulous research.

Whether it was sketching professional ballet dancers in preparation for Fantasia’s dancing hippo sequence, living in Latin America for months at a time during development for Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros or hiring legitimate apex predators as models for The Lion King, Disney artists were willing to do whatever it took to achieve their characteristic verisimilitude.

…so why wouldn’t Pixar?

They got the Nemo art team certified for scuba diving. The Up artists flew to Venezuela to paint the world’s tallest waterfall. The Cars team went on an epic road trip across the legendary US Route 66, the Ratatouille team wined and dined at fancy restaurants in Paris…

…and the Toy Story 3 team toured…

…landfills.

That’s right…

The Nemo people swam around a coral reef.

…and the Toy Story 3 people swam around in literal human garbage.

…but the movie probably wouldn’t have created a cultural phenomenon it did if the artists hadn’t been so committed to authenticity.

This is the second in a three-part lesson for artists who are ready to develop effective professional practices upon which they can depend for efficiency, consistency and quality in their work.

Today we’ll talk about the importance of working from reference - even when it stinks.

We’ll bust five common myths about reference.

…myths that if left un-busted put your portfolio at risk of landing in the trash.

This is “You’re A Better Artist Than You Think.” I’m your instructor Chris Oatley and this is part two in my series titled “Why Artists Need To Slow The Hell Down.”

Get clear, relevant feedback on your work and personalized career guidance through my mentorship at HowToBecomeAProfessionalArtist.com

There you can also subscribe to this free course via email and get every new lesson delivered directly to your inbox as soon as they become available.

Next, In Part Three:

We’ll explore the relationship between practice and projects by applying a product design concept to the process for developing our visual stories.

You're A Better Artist Than You Think

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