THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL SEE UP AND COMING ARTISTS

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Joe Dave Torres

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted? (Email, Webpage)

Any means of communication is fine. On a google search for "leftyjoe" most of my pages come up. myspace.com/leftyjoe or leftyart.blogspot.com

What type of tools or media do you use?

Mostly everything I draw is initially on paper with prisma col-erase
pencils. I do sketch in photoshop sometimes though.
After my sketch, I use adobe photoshop and illustrator. And even the
occasional prisma "color stick".

Where is the place you would like to work or be an Intern if you had a choice?

Wow, there are sooooo many cool creative places out there for an
artist, I would love to work anywhere that I can be a part of the
collaborative creative effort that results in any wonderful piece of
art. I'd like to someday know that I've worked everywhere. I hope I
can reach my artistic potential and someday have every studio on my
belt. I can dream can't I. LOL.

Who do you think are the top character designers out there?

Gosh, there are so many great artists, and so many amazing styles,
that it's hard to develop a criteria to compare them all. I love
character design sooooooo much, that I love and respect all styles and
designers. I think the only thing that I don't respect, is straight
up gaffling designs with no attempt to redraw from the original design
that was referenced, and claim that design as your own. I've seen
some of that around. There's nothing wrong with copying to learn a
style, or just to practice, but to later claim it as your own, is of
course....... an aboration.

What are some of your favorite character designs which you have seen?

Some of my most coveted designers, like my absolute hero the
illustrious Mr.Stephen Silver and claire Wendling have the ability to
create and capture such subtle nuances of character in the particular
personality of the being that they are developing, that their talent
and skill drive me wild and send me into euphoric states. Like I said,
there are soooo many others that I love and respect, like Sean
Galloway, who's style theories are incredible. So much to look at and
admire, that I simply admire anyone who strives to sit down and do the
dang thing, and start creating and ever reach for that personal
potential.

What is your most favorite subject to draw? And why?

I have always been a very observant human beast. I, for some reason
became very interested in the subtle differences of everyday beings. I
fell in love with archetypes and stereotypes ( positive ones) that
character design allowed me to put on paper all those things that I
noticed. things that were, in real life bellow the surface, I could
bring out and exaggerate and show the world. To surmise, that my
favorite subject to draw , is the uniqueness of an individual,
exaggerating it, and separating it from a sometimes similar group.
showing what makes the individual special from the rest of the similar
bunch, you dig?

What inspired you to become an Artist?

I just kinda never put down the crayons, and I was inspired, as I am
still today to reach a level of technique and style that compares to
those who I respect. the ever growing knowledge and skill that I have
been constantly chasing is what inspires me most.

What are some of your favorite website links that would be relevant to this Blog?

No joke, but my most favorite of all related pages, is
this.....http://characterdesign.blogspot.com/ it gives me
everuthing I need to absolutely geek out and revel in. Thank you
Odin, for this wonderful blog. ( btw, i don't really pray to Odin)
LOL.






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Sam R. Kennedy

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted? (Email, Webpage)

samrkennedy@yahoo.com; http://www.samrkennedyart.blogspot.com/

What type of tools or media do you use?

I love col-erase pencils and markers. They allow me to produce a sketch with early value and color solutions. After that I use Photoshop and Painter to finish a character sketch into an illustration.

Where is the place you would like to work or be an Intern if you had a choice?

I think Bunji would be a fun place to work at, but I'm working at a great placeright now too. Red Storm Entertainment in Raleigh, NC is where I've been sketching and painting for the last few years. I get to do lots of sketching and illustrating for the Ghost Recon series.

Who do you think are the top character designers out there?

I find myself looking at Francisco Herrera, Ramos, Joe Mad, Jeff Matsuda, and Carlos Meglia. I've got a couple of their trade paper backs, and I never get board with looking through their pages. Each page is a lesson in design and silohette. These guys stylize the character with solid drawing behind it.

What are some of your favorite character designs which you have seen?

What are some of your favorite character designs which you have seen? The hottest thing I've seen lately are the vehicle designs for Tom Clancy's EndWar. (I don't think these are public domain yet, so working for Ubi has it's advantages.) In addition, I like what I see from Tak and Jeff Matsuda's work on "The Batman."

What is your most favorite subject to draw? And why?

By far my favorite subject is the human body, mature men and women. I grew up reading comics and watching cartoons where characters could fly, fight, and move without the law of gravity applying to them. That had so much appeal that I'm always trying to capture that sensation of action through my drawings.

What inspired you to become an Artist?

It was really my college illustration professor. He's the first one who told me one could make a living doing this stuff. Before that I thought you were either born with the ability of Frank Herbert and Ollie Thompson or you were a "starving artist." Although I drew a lot as a kid, I never had a real art class until I got to my college's design department. Even the Fine Art classes I had taken several years before failed to teach me anything useful and left me with the impression that I couldn't make a career as an artist.

What are some of your favorite website links that would be relevant to this Blog?

http://comicartcommunity.com/gallery/
http://www.conceptart.org/?artist=marc_taro









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Valerie Schoman

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted? (Email, Webpage)

http://vhsartcraft.blogspot.com/ <-- features my most recent doodle farts, and I may be contacted through PurpleTsuyoi@gmail.com What type of tools or media do you use?

I usually default to the oft-used three-step process of 1) roughs done in blue pencil (preferably mechanical), 2) ink renders using any combination of Hi-Tec-C 03, Micron 01, 03, 05, 08, and/or brush pen, and finally 3) scanning and coloring with Photoshop. However, perhaps my greatest downfall (or is it greatest joy?) is my insatiable interest in medium experimentation. I love pencils, pens, paints, you name it I'll try it! I think, for me, color is the key.

Where is the place you would like to work or be an Intern if you had a choice?

I am currently having the very fortunate experience of interning at Nickelodeon Animaton Studios. I am still finding my place in the kooky world that is art, and my cares lay more in what I do rather than where I am. Right now I am very interested in breaking into storyboarding for television animation because I'd like to apply my knowledge of composition and character and learn more about storytelling.

Who do you think are the top character designers out there?

Goodness gracious... there are so many! I particularly admire the work of Claire Wendling, Terryl Whitlatch, Eric Canete and Jasen Strong... may I please go on?

What are some of your favorite character designs which you have seen?

If it weren't made overly clear by my response to the last question, I am always impressed with well-designed animal characters, particularly stylized ones done for animation. I also loved the unique designs done for "Les Triplets des Belleville", Disney's "Mulan" and "Lilo and Stitch", as well as characters from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Invader Zim", just to name a few. I get a kick out of trying to understand the approach of various designers, because even those styles that are not remotely like mine hold a lesson.

What is your most favorite subject to draw? And why?

Most favorite would probably be animals. I suppose animal drawing is simpler for me, in a way, because I can see such obvious personalities and/or symbolism in them, which are the most basic elements for great characters!

What inspired you to become an Artist?

When you get down to it there were two things that started me on this path: discovering drawing tools and the encouragement of family and friends. I honestly don't believe I chose to become an artist. In fact it is something I've tried running away from unsuccessfully in times past. What I can tell you is that from the time I was able to hold a Crayola crayon in my hand up until the present moment when I was holding a Crayola crayon just before filling out these questions, drawing is the only thing that I have ever felt an absolute consuming need to do. And, through experience, I can also say that I am not the same person without it. That's not to say that I'll ever be any good at it, but I will never stop trying.

What are some of your favorite website links that would be relevant to this Blog?

A couple:
http://www.claire-wendling.net/
http://kahnehteh.blogspot.com/
http://alinanimation.blogspot.com/
http://themonkeymind.livejournal.com/
http://chuckpyleart.blogspot.com/

... Enjoy, and thanks for considering me!







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Ishen Kalawan

If people would like to contact you, how would you like to be contacted? (Email, Webpage)

ishen@disrupt.co.za

What type of tools or media do you use?

hb pencil, blue red coloured pencil when & sketching and 0.5mm pilot fineliner when inking. Wacom tablet in photoshop and coreldraw when adding colour. (pc)

Where is the place you would like to work or be an Intern if you had a choice?

Any major feature animation studio, preferably Disney feature animation

Who do you think are the top character designers out there?

I've always been a fan of Glen Keane, Mark Henn, Andreas Deja and Chris Sanders

What are some of your favorite character designs which you have seen?

Most of Glen Keans work as well Chris Sanders designs on Lilo and Stich.

What is your most favorite subject to draw? And why?

I would have to say the female form or female characters and animals

Why? I find it a bit more of a challenge drawing women, but that's what makes it fun. When it comes to drawing animals you can have fun giving them human characteristics and personalities, you can play with their facial expressions and body language. Disney animated features have done that for years, all their lead animal characters, have quirky personalities and a lovable quality to them.

What inspired you to become an Artist?

A love for comic books and animated movies. I really appreciate all that goes into making these movies, especially the animators and concept artists that come up with these characters stay in peoples hearts.

What are some of your favorite website links that would be relevant to this Blog?

www.deviantart.com

www.skottieyoung.com

www.comicartcommunity.com

www.theartofglenkeane.blogspot.com

www.chrissandersart.com








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