Artist Statement
Character and Story are the primary
focus of my work. I aim to illustrate stories that will move the viewer to
immerse themselves in the world I have created, filling them with overwhelming
emotion evoked by their own understanding and empathy. Growing up, I have found
that plunging myself into a fictional universe still grounded to the real one
at its core, with messages I can resonate with, has helped and inspired me
tremendously in my own endeavors. Taking that inspiration, I set out to
complete the circle. Using the struggles of everyday life with themes such as
love, loss, and loneliness, my illustrations and animations undertake the task
of giving the viewer a soothing laugh, or channel the viewer’s memory of a
feeling they once forgot, or may be struggling with.
Before I begin, I will interview my Characters. I grab a drink, then we sit down together, over paper or computer, and I ask questions both shallow and deep, but none the less important. Questions like what their favorite color is, what is their deepest fear, or if they have ever peed in the shower. Anything that will help me pry open their mind to uncover their true identities. I begin to sketch, and with a bit of coaxing, they usually provide the answers. Once I know who they are, I can uncover what they are trying to accomplish, what their challenges will be, where they are going, physically and metaphorically, and most of all, why their story is important. This is the main structure, the bones, of how I build my stories behind my work. The medium I chose, the character and background designs, and the color and lighting I use to execute these stories are merely the meat and skin that help bring the fiction to life. Without strong bones, even a seemingly healthy body will fall flat.
.
Before I begin, I will interview my Characters. I grab a drink, then we sit down together, over paper or computer, and I ask questions both shallow and deep, but none the less important. Questions like what their favorite color is, what is their deepest fear, or if they have ever peed in the shower. Anything that will help me pry open their mind to uncover their true identities. I begin to sketch, and with a bit of coaxing, they usually provide the answers. Once I know who they are, I can uncover what they are trying to accomplish, what their challenges will be, where they are going, physically and metaphorically, and most of all, why their story is important. This is the main structure, the bones, of how I build my stories behind my work. The medium I chose, the character and background designs, and the color and lighting I use to execute these stories are merely the meat and skin that help bring the fiction to life. Without strong bones, even a seemingly healthy body will fall flat.
.