My Anti-Artist-Statement Artist Statement.
I normally avoid artist statements, because I am not a "fine artist" in the traditional sense. I don't really put my own emotions into my work. My artwork is not about "expressing myself." I believe in art as a finely honed craft, a practice, like kung fu or chess. For me, It is not an emotional outlet. I am passionate about it because I love doing it (and nothing beats the rush of creating something beautiful that others want to look at), but my own emotional and personal life is almost entirely divorced from my visual work.
Since people often ask about my process: for environments, I start with small black-and-white value studies to work out composition issues and try out variations. When I get a composition I like, I throw a color layer over it and work out my colors. Then I blow up my thumbnails and paint my high-res final over hours or days, depending on how tight I want it to be.
I am happiest when creating works full of color and light, even if the overall mood is somewhat dark or creepy. I always strive to make my environments inviting and intriguing.
I love environments, but I love designing characters almost as much.
When I’m not drawing or painting, I like reading nonfiction books (especially about science, history, and dinosaurs), running, skiing, and hanging out with my black cat.
- LN
I normally avoid artist statements, because I am not a "fine artist" in the traditional sense. I don't really put my own emotions into my work. My artwork is not about "expressing myself." I believe in art as a finely honed craft, a practice, like kung fu or chess. For me, It is not an emotional outlet. I am passionate about it because I love doing it (and nothing beats the rush of creating something beautiful that others want to look at), but my own emotional and personal life is almost entirely divorced from my visual work.
Since people often ask about my process: for environments, I start with small black-and-white value studies to work out composition issues and try out variations. When I get a composition I like, I throw a color layer over it and work out my colors. Then I blow up my thumbnails and paint my high-res final over hours or days, depending on how tight I want it to be.
I am happiest when creating works full of color and light, even if the overall mood is somewhat dark or creepy. I always strive to make my environments inviting and intriguing.
I love environments, but I love designing characters almost as much.
When I’m not drawing or painting, I like reading nonfiction books (especially about science, history, and dinosaurs), running, skiing, and hanging out with my black cat.
- LN
