How I Art Direct The Artist I Collaborate With…The White House By Jerry Brice

When developing animated projects,something I have been doing commercially for well over 21 years,I have always taken the position that every project by me should look different stylistically, in some way, from the previous concept I visually developed.

That is a position that I have learned to be the wisest move for an animation designer to take,based on what I have seen over the years from animation designers careers,especially the ones that have only one prominent and distinctive style to market.

That is a strategy that is more suited for professional illustrators,fine artist,and hobbyist,…but the commercial animation artist/designer must be able to come up with many different styles,from South Park to Disney.

I tend to have a personal style that dominates my artwork, but,as a professional animation artist, I have worked on production crews for animated TV and movies that demanded me to be able to mimic whatever the style of the production is, and that would not be my job, if I am working on the production crew, like I have over the years on several different projects.

The decisions concerning character design, style, and set design is the sole responsibility of the ART DIRECTOR.

Answers.com explains the role of the Art Director as follows…Various artists may create or develop specific parts of an art piece or scene; but a sole art director unifies the vision. In particular, the art director is in charge of the overall visual appearance and how it communicates visually, stimulates moods, contrasts features, and psychologically appeals to a target audience. The art director makes decisions about visual elements used, what artistic style to use, and when to use motion.

http://www.answers.com/topic/art-director-2

I find that if I mix my style of drawing with another artist style I like, then the end result will be something original,that hopefully has a new and distinct appeal all its own. Comic book pencillers have always worked with inkers, and the final quality of the finished piece has a lot to do with the style of the inker you are working with.

The audience never sees the roughs, they only see the cleaned up, inked artwork.

To demonstrate this, I have a background I designed for a short film I directed, and Art Directed.I worked with a crew of great animators and artist on the project, and we got to visually develop a distinct style for this short.

The piece is an angle on the White House, which you may recognize.It was inked and painted by artist Aaron White, designed and Art Directed by Me, Jerry Brice.

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger size.

This is a typical rough drawing that I use as a tool to art direct the piece:

White House rough by Jerry Brice

This is the final illustration that Aaron White inked and painted,with his special,talented vision:

Final Aaron White illustration

I set the style, and Aaron in this case finishes it. I chose to collaborate with him on this project because he is a very uniquely talented painter, with an aggressively individual style, which was a good influence to have captured in this artwork. Check some of his work out by clicking on the following link-http://www.aftermodern.com/a_white.php#9

Here are two other angles on the White House also used as a tool for art directing the crew….

White House front by Jerry Brice

3/4 White House Exterior by Jerry Brice

The following two backgrounds were created for a different production,produced in the same manner, but with artist Thellus Singleton finishing them up. I included these so you can compare the differences, as well as the similarities in style , that I believe extends the design capabilities for my company Brice Productions…

The Hood Art Directed and designed by Jerry Brice

Kitty High School design by Jerry Brice/final Ink and Paint by Thellus Singleton

 I get inspiration from all the artist that I know and live around, and my main goal is to create the strongest art possible for the current production, and it is always a good thing to spread the wealth, and hire them from time to time, whenever the budget allows.

If you have any questions, write in and I will be happy to answer it for you. Let me know what you think….

Kravitz Cat design by Jerry Brice

 Happy animating…