Art is a generous tool we have the opportunity to use, either to reach out to people, to learn a language that another person has the possibility of understanding, and to explore the meaning behind different messages.
I'm often greeted with a perplexed look when relating that I'm a 2D illustrator by profession (I'm sure that my fellow illustrators can relate to this). The conversation usually goes in numerous directions, the most famous responses being:
"Do you make cartoons?" "Can I invite you to be the caricaturist at my son's 5th birthday party?" or better yet, "Wow, so you could make a movie like Avatar?"
While it'd be great to answer something along the lines of: "actually, you are standing before the creator to the next best thing since Superman," I usually find myself stumbling over words to express what it is that I do. Truth it, I didn't have a clear understanding of how to communicate the complex nature of a concept artist until a few weeks ago. My 'aha' moment took place on a recent trip to Paris to visit my brother. As cliché as it is, I came to the realization of what being a concept artist means to me over a café au lait with an ol' pal in the enchanting city of love.
As he expressed his newfound passion for painting for the simple sake of self-expression, it became strikingly clear to me how uncomfortable I've always been with this idea - 'art for art's sake.' To me, art is about connection, building, communicating & reaching out to others. Art is a generous tool we have the opportunity to use, either to reach out to people, to learn a language that another person has the possibility of understanding, and to explore the meaning behind different messages. Anyone can play with a brush, or another form of media; but true generosity and freedom comes through using these tools to build a bridge between people.
That's why I have chosen this particular path. That's why I decided to become a concept artist.
I have a passion for building bridges, for translation - literal & figurative, and most of all for making connections.
"Do you make cartoons?" "Can I invite you to be the caricaturist at my son's 5th birthday party?" or better yet, "Wow, so you could make a movie like Avatar?"
While it'd be great to answer something along the lines of: "actually, you are standing before the creator to the next best thing since Superman," I usually find myself stumbling over words to express what it is that I do. Truth it, I didn't have a clear understanding of how to communicate the complex nature of a concept artist until a few weeks ago. My 'aha' moment took place on a recent trip to Paris to visit my brother. As cliché as it is, I came to the realization of what being a concept artist means to me over a café au lait with an ol' pal in the enchanting city of love.
As he expressed his newfound passion for painting for the simple sake of self-expression, it became strikingly clear to me how uncomfortable I've always been with this idea - 'art for art's sake.' To me, art is about connection, building, communicating & reaching out to others. Art is a generous tool we have the opportunity to use, either to reach out to people, to learn a language that another person has the possibility of understanding, and to explore the meaning behind different messages. Anyone can play with a brush, or another form of media; but true generosity and freedom comes through using these tools to build a bridge between people.
That's why I have chosen this particular path. That's why I decided to become a concept artist.
I have a passion for building bridges, for translation - literal & figurative, and most of all for making connections.