From Anthony Holden!

anthonyholden:

What are studios looking for? How can I get into a good animation school? What should I be studying?

I get a lot of these types of questions now and again, and I never know how to answer them. I can’t be sure of what studios are looking for, I don’t control admissions policies to schools, and I have little idea what makes for a current and relevant curriculum. There are a lot of variables in your bid for a career in animation, and it’s kind of impossible to control most of them. You must be crazy to want this job!

I find it helpful to focus on the things I can control. Among those things are your study habits and how you spend your personal time. It’s good to work hard and have goals—without them we would get nowhere. Study hard and make decisive strides towards achieving your art goals. But in the heat of that pursuit, don’t forget to go out and live your life!

If you spend any amount of time looking at artists online, you’ve probably figured out by now that there are about a million dudes and dudettes in internetville who draw better than you (I relive this realization daily). Once your have done your best to rise to their level, the only tool you have to compete with these crazy talents is your background, your personal character—is you!

Consider developing your whole self with the same raw focus and intensity that you develop a particular skill set. Get focused. Go out, have adventures. Run, jump, skin your knee, fall in love, root loudly for the away team at a baseball game, barely escape a crash of stampeding rhinos, live to see another day. Experience things big and small. Go for a walk. The world is full of wonders.

I know this advice is not particularly animation-specific, but maybe that’s for the best. At any rate, it is something I feel strongly about. Animation is great, and there are few things that I enjoy doing more than drawing and storytelling. But in order to have stories to tell, first you have to live them.

Be good, and see you soon!

PS, if you were looking for advice on draftsmanship you should probably be reading this.

This is the best advice for any student or hopeful student. Having lived your life watching cartoons and drawing in your room won’t help you to make stories that involve doing much. I’m a total homebody, but doing things that force you to experience life in different ways is key. So just go to a new place, talk to the weird guy on the street, try a new food, whatever. It will enrich your life and the stories you tell.

mrjakeparker:

My Imaginary Friend

You guys know I have a bunch of kids right? (here’s two of the five) I do, and they go to the elementary school down the street. This school has a bunch of old PC’s that are crashing all the time, and because of budget cuts they can’t afford to replace them.

So, they’re holding a fund raiser to buy new Macs, and I’m doing my part by selling ART!

It’s simple: BUY ART = KIDS GET NEW COMPUTERS!!!

There’s two ways you can help:

Buy a print.

Bid on the original.

The auction closes in 5 days, and for the next week all prints sold will go to directly funding the new computer lab.

Also, if you buy a print or the original drawing you’ll also get an original hand drawn picture by one of my kids, plus a thank you note! (How cute is that?)

If you want to pass on supporting right now it’s totally understandable, but could I ask you to at least reblog or share the link with a friend?

Thanks for your help!

On the day I said I don’t usually reblog. Here’s a reblog.

mikelaughead:

I’m way behind on posting my sketchbook pages. There is a huge backlog. So I thought I would scan my most recent page so you can see what I’m drawing right now.

I used colored pens for an illustration sample I did for Giuseppe Castellano and I just kept using them. I really like the result.

Also, some of my typography is inspired by One Direction lyrics.

I’m glad to see this post getting some more traction. I’m really enjoying working with these colored pens right now.

(via runawayscars)

Sam drew a Pokemón that makes me want to read Ninja Turtle comics.

(Source: samveirs)

brightsplashes:

A stupid drawing I made my wife for Valentine’s…(We’re having a baby so she’s practicing with me I guess)

This is sooooooooo sweet. Matt, you are hilarious.

My buddy Matt has been doing character designs on Adventure Time. His first episode just aired.

Check out the rat he designed.

brightsplashes:

Everyone make sure to watch the new episode of Adventure Time tonight!

It’s the first episode I worked on and I’m excited to see it!

Matt is selling some prints! Check them out.

brightsplashes:

I’m selling some of my screen prints over at Big Cartel. 

They’re all $20 each, signed and numbered. Check ‘em out!  

mikelaughead:

I found this file on my hard drive.

I think it was for a character design portfolio.

Just wanted to reblog this with a link to the large version.

(via boxedlynch)

hannnah-leigh:

mikelaughead:

idrawgood:

mikelaughead:

My first sketchbook is now for sale!!!

I’m so excited about this! I’ve compiled sketchbook pages from the last year and made them available in book form. Plus there is a never-before-seen 13 page comic in the back. The book is Black & White, 94 pages total, for $9.95.

If you enjoy my sketchbook pages, go buy the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-So-Many-Dragons-Sketchbook/dp/1479319325/

Hey, everyone! I bought this lovely little sketchbook last week and I have to tell you guys, IT’S AWESOME! It’s full of the most amazing little drawings and doodles. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much art crammed into an artist sketchbook! Everything from celebrity caricatures, comic book heroes, fantasy people, and of course DRAGONS show up in these pages. And hey, there’s even a little comic in the back. WOAH! I definitely recommend picking it up. It’s cheap and you get so much art for your money. Support a kickass artist and get some fab art to tickle your eyes! :D

Wow! Thank you so much for the glowing review! I am blown away.

I wasn’t going to post about the book because I bombarded my followers with it last week, but Michelle wrote this amazing review and I wanted to show everyone.

Again, thanks. I feel humbled. Thank you.

My Boss made a book!!!!!! :D

Ahhhh, I’m somebody’s boss!!!!!!

Just reblogging to remind any of you Christmas shoppers that I have this weird book you can get your cousin/sibling/niece/nephew that is into odd stuff. Check it out on Amazon.

Thiswolfhard:

Today is the 1 year anniversary of me and Leslie getting married! Here’s a re-posting the wedding announcement comic that I did last year.

I think a lot about our wedding!  We had only been engaged for two weeks so it was a very small city hall ceremony, attended by Leslie’s parents, my parents, and a handful of friends. We’re still so touched to have Annie Koyama and John Martz as our witnesses. Afterwards my dad took everyone out for lunch at our favourite Toronto restaurant. 

The whole thing was the simplest, but from the day of the wedding through january was the happiest time of my life. Les and I were so happy during that time that it was nearly impossible to do anything other than squeeze each other, laugh, and cry.  We were so happy it was impractical. 

Marrying Leslie has to be the biggest and most surprising thing that’s ever happened in my life. Before we met I was hunkering down and getting ready for a lifetime by myself. I didn’t have much ambition, I felt a lot of shame, and didn’t have much hope for my future. Leslie totally scooped me up and saved me. 

I love her so much. All I want is for us to get old and cozy together.

Marriage totally does this. It saves you. It doesn’t fix you, but it gives you someone who loves you enough to be your anchor while you work through whatever problems you are dealing with. I recommend it to everyone!

8armspoison:

mikelaughead:

it

Rmanelleoliphant:

mikelaughead:

My first sketchbook is now for sale!!!

I’m so excited about this! I’ve compiled sketchbook pages from the last year and made them available in book form. Plus there is a never-before-seen 13 page comic in the back. The book is Black & White, 94 pages total, for $9.95.

If you enjoy my sketchbook pages, go buy the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-So-Many-Dragons-Sketchbook/dp/1479319325/

My friend mike’s new sketchbook.

Just a reminder to check out my sketchbook for sale on Amazon. Buy it if you are into that stuff.

Yes I will

Last time I’m reblogging this post (this week). Please check it out if you like buying weird sketchbooks.

it

Rmanelleoliphant:

mikelaughead:

My first sketchbook is now for sale!!!

I’m so excited about this! I’ve compiled sketchbook pages from the last year and made them available in book form. Plus there is a never-before-seen 13 page comic in the back. The book is Black & White, 94 pages total, for $9.95.

If you enjoy my sketchbook pages, go buy the book:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-So-Many-Dragons-Sketchbook/dp/1479319325/

My friend mike’s new sketchbook.

Just a reminder to check out my sketchbook for sale on Amazon. Buy it if you are into that stuff.

brightsplashes:

mikelaughead:

Character based on this awesome piece.

I’ll post it again in the middle of the week so everyone get’s a chance to see it.

Check out this sweet version of the little witch character from my “House Call” drawing. So Rad.

Said I was going to reblog this during the week.