interview questions for the pros

[Jason Manley]

we are doing some interviews with the pros who contribute here on the site. they will go up on the new main page in a few days. i was thikning you all might have some questions for guys like Dan Milliganmcgillican, JP Targete, myself, edward quintero (texture artist on the matrix and mb), Andrew Jones, and some of the others....so put on yer thinking caps and let me know some questions I should ask these guys in their interviews. What are your thoughts? -J

[Avetice]

woah, how crazy, hey i just recently interviewed dan within the past few months, if you want to read it i can send you a copy if its cool with dan.

[SeraphSword]

I guess I have a couple questions, though they might be things you would ask anyway.

1. How much time do you spend drawing/artworking everyday?

2. Now that you're a pro, do you still set time aside for just learning, or do you learn through your work and projects?

3. Did any of you make the decision to become an artist a bit later in life? Like in your 20s or later?

Well, that's all I got for now, if I think of others I'll add 'em.

[nick reynolds]

What do you feel you bring to your field? (ex. storyboarding, character concept, film, games,etc..)

Thats's it, don't check your egos at the door.

Thanks

[I.was.ink]

This sort of goes along with something you said in Austin( I read it in the quotes thread) about choosing 5 artists. My question would be:

Who are the five most influential artists to you now, why, and how have they affected your work?

I especially want to know your five Jason, since you were the one to say it. :)

-Iwasink

[el coro]

how do i keep the ink from soaking through the pages of my sketchbook onto the unused pages?-c36

[insane visions]

coro thats a hard one..personally I would love to know the answer specially from the pros....

[NoUseFrAName]

who's your most respected teacher? & why.

-Rob

[thomasaurus]

what aspect of concept art/illustration would you like to improve upon (storyboarding, character design, 3d, etc)?

[LEpCoW724]

At what age did you really get serious about art?

[GhostofMacbeth]

Going along with the who long does something take thing. When working on a project , is there any short cuts to speeding it up.

[jetpack42]

What size paper do they work on?

Things they did to learn the skills they have? (ex: "I did ____ and that helped me learn ____)

[Joeslucher]

To become so good takes a lot of practice and a lot of motivation. So when you're on your tenth hour of working on a piece in one day, what is it that motivates you to keep working for two more hours and get up the next day and do it all again?

[Groover McNab]

how do i keep the ink from soaking through the pages of my sketchbook onto the unused pages?-c36

even I know that one, the inks are obviously made of magic. :D

[2kre8]

What did you do before, any other jobs? What became your big break into the business? What do you recommend for people trying to break in?

[Jason Manley]

great questions here....some really tough ones....keep em coming k? Ask hard questions...feel free. J

[I0N]

was selling your soul to the devil really worth all the skill you recieved in return? no really. what artists most influenced you? when ever you draw a self portrait do you still look in a mirror? (really for android but it goes for everyone) if not art what would you be doing for money? (I know its hard to imagine but try...and no selling your body isnt outta the question...but who would buy?) and last but not least, can I borrow a dollar? (seriously I'd like to here what creative answers one would give to a simple question like this)

can I "borrow" a few dollars? I'm poor,need art supplies.

[jetpack42]

Things they did that got them in the door the first few times. Everyone who isn't a pro wants to know how the pros got where they are.

An example of a job gone wrong (or just a horrible experience) and how they handled or solved it.

[Groover McNab]

When you get your first job, how would you negotiate your rate w/o having any previous experience?

[Gonzo]

I got some questions...mostly related to the games industry.

-What is your daily schedule like? 9-5? 11-7? 8-8? Schedule? HAHAH!
-How do you deal with crunch time?
-Do you feel the practice of crunch mode is a necessary evil or something that can be minimized?
-Cubicle or office? :)

I'll post more when/if I think of more.

P.S. *Great* thread idea!

[The Iconoclast]

How do you learn to draw?

Have you ever regretted any choices you've made in your artistic career?

and, of course, I would ask them how old they were when they began thinking of art seriously.

[otis]

How does your art become famous or well known?

[RefrigeratorCo]

You obviously draw a lot. As far as motivation goes what's going through your head right before you sit down to do a drawing?

[Lad]

When you first started to draw was it discouraging to see your drawing and see better ones? If so what kept you motivated?

[PeggyChung]

Do you have any drawings we can see of how your art was just before you went into art college, if you did go.

[Dished]

-What is the most frustrating part/ step you do in your art?( like most frustrating thing to draw, or most frustrating thing to do.etc.)

-If you could give any learning artist, 5 tips, besides practicing, and never give up what would they be?

[endregan]

In the process of creating your art, what are the main steps you recognize, and how do you embrace and motivate yourself to finish an artwork?

What, other than artistic sources, inspires you to to create what you do?

What music do you jam to :)?

Other than art, what do you do in your spare time, like sports or read books etc?

Whats the greatest advice you could give to an aspiring professional artist like myself?

[softdrawer]

Why art ?
Have you ever thought to pass a message through your art ? How is it relevant with what you believe in and your hopes.

What's your goal and what do you intend to do with your art ?

How well does art do in a system like ours, how could it be better if things could be changed. Do you feel like you could change the way people think on ly with your art ? Have you ever thought of it ? Made decisions along the way ?

thanks

alx

[AnarchyAo2]

1) Nowdays, it seems that everyone in America thinks that in order to be successful, you have to go to college. If you have a degree, then do you feel that it has helped you become more successful as an artist? If you don't, do you wish you had gone to college and got one?

2) Many of us younger artists find help with our art through the internet. Many of you pro's did not have the internet growing up. Did you have a mentor that guided you? Did you do your own thing and happend to make the right decisions?

3) As an artist, are you able to live a comfortable life through your art? I don't mean, do you have a hummer and a mansion, but are you able to pay the bills and have enough left over for savings, or whatever? And what are you currently doing? A full-time job, or freelance; Illustration, animation, etc?

4) If there was one thing you would like every aspiring artist to know, what would it be (Besides, "Practice! Practice! Practice!")?

I just skimmed the other questions, so I hope I didn't ask something that was already asked.

**Additon**
5) I think we can all agree that society drills the idea that money = success into our heads. Do you believe that many artists want to become better for the wrong reasons, like becoming good just for more pay? Or do you feel that as an artist, you are bound to become better by destiny(I guess that would be the word), money is ilrelevant?

[stalecracker]

how do i keep the ink from soaking through the pages of my sketchbook onto the unused pages?-c36

A sheet of cheeeeeeep ass mylar (8X10 or whatever size your book is...) tuck it behind your page and BOOM baby!!!

[PhilHolland]

Tough questions.......

-Describe how you "broke" into the industry and what your first industry job was like.

-What separates you from your competitors?

-What was the worst deadline you've ever had?

-What type of work challenges you the most?

-What do you like about where you work?

-What do you dislike about where your work?

-What do you think your most positive working experience was?

-Name one person that changed your perspective on your own artwork.

-When did you know that this is something you wanted to make a career out of?

-What do you feel makes a strong porfolio?

-What do you feel that you could use more of in your portfolio?

-What other working profesionals inspire you?

-Some people need to get away from it all. Where do you go to "reload" your creativity?

I've got tons more........

Phil

[Main Loop]

hey coro, i know you're using a secret type of paper, why dont you let us know once and for all??

[MDuckett]

How heavily has the internet impacted your job?

How important is location (LA/NY as opposed to midwest etc.)?

[silentbrain]

Back at the workshop, Jason mentioned how burning bridges is not good, and on that subject:
What do you think about Don Bluth? I hear he's pretty infamous for pissing off a lot of people in the industry...

[winjer]

1. - What do you skilled illustrators think of the current 'fine art' scene?

2. - Did you guys create your styles conciously or did they sorta appear on their own after a while?

[Marcatili]

-They say that in a plumber's house the pipes are never working and in a builder's house there are always unfinished renovations because no-one likes to work a full week and then come home and work on the weekends. Do you find that working as a professional artist working on other people's work stifles the personal creativity in your own work or helps fuel it?

-What age were you when other people started to recognize your artistic talent?

-What do you think of the difference between 'contemporary art' and concept art? Are the two related? If not, should/can they be?

-What kind of things inspire or draw you to particular job or project, other than the pay?

-How can you see your work and also the concept art industry developing over the next 10 or 20 years?

-Do you think there are any drawbacks to life as a professional artist?

- In your experience of artmaking, has there been any one thing that has revolutionised your understanding or approach to it, whether it be understanding some artistic theory or whether it be something outside of art?

I can't really think of any more at the moment- I think I pretty much just re-phrased some questions even though I did read all the posts...I guess that makes it easier for Jason to see which questions are most popular.