Disney artist reviews CalArts accepted sketchbook

Summary

Gabby, a professional animator, shares her journey into the CalArts Character Animation program, where she was accepted on her first try with an unpolished Sketchbook. Despite its rough appearance, Gabby's Sketchbook showcased a unique art style, growth, and a deep understanding of character development. Her story emphasizes the importance of curiosity, emotional intelligence, and a strong connection to characters. Gabby reflects on her career, from working at Walt Disney Animation Studios to launching her own webcomic, encouraging aspiring animators to embrace creativity, empathy, and storytelling in their work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gabby got accepted into CalArts' competitive character animation program on her first try despite having an unrefined and messy sketchbook.
• 😀 CalArts has a 3% acceptance rate, which is lower than Harvard's, making Gabby's achievement even more impressive.
• 😀 The key to being noticed by recruiters is having a unique art style, which can help make an artist stand out in a sea of applicants.
• 😀 Gabby's art style is described as 'scratchy,' featuring sharp geometric faces and flowing, gestural lines, which is different from the more popular 'bubble' and 'noodle' art styles of the time.
• 😀 Even though her sketches were often unpolished, Gabby’s eagerness to learn and apply new techniques was a standout feature in her portfolio.
• 😀 Gabby’s sketchbook showed significant improvement, with clear progression in drawing technique, especially in observational and non-observational drawing.
• 😀 Gabby’s sketches demonstrated her ability to experiment with different mediums, such as watercolor, and she showed a willingness to incorporate feedback into her work.
• 😀 A critical element in Gabby's work was her ability to tell stories through her sketches, with well-developed characters, detailed notes, and visual storytelling.
• 😀 Gabby’s sketches also displayed creative world-building and thoughtful character design, which made her work stand out as having the potential for a larger narrative.
• 😀 The emotional intelligence and empathy that Gabby displayed through her character development and storytelling were key elements that would make her a strong candidate for future leadership roles in animation.
• 😀 Gabby emphasizes the importance of consuming diverse media and creating fan art to build a strong sense of character, storytelling, and imagination in aspiring animators.

Q & A

What was Gabby's initial expectation when applying to CalArts?

Gabby initially expected to apply multiple times, receive critique, and eventually get into CalArts. She anticipated that it would take some time before gaining acceptance.

How did Gabby end up getting accepted to CalArts?

Gabby was accepted to CalArts on her first try, despite feeling unprepared with a messy, disjointed, and at times 'ugly' sketchbook.

What was Gabby's first job after graduating from CalArts?

After graduating from CalArts, Gabby’s first job was working at Walt Disney Animation Studios as a storyboard artist.

What does Gabby say about the importance of a unique art style in animation?

Gabby emphasizes that having a unique art style is crucial because it can make a lasting impression. She mentions how certain animators, like Tim Burton and Penn Ward, have unique styles that became influential in animation.

What stood out to Gabby about the sketches in the Sketchbook during her evaluation?

Gabby was particularly impressed by the artist’s eagerness to learn, their experimentation with different techniques like watercolors, and the improvement in their sketches over time. The sketches showed clear development and a desire to learn.

Why is observational drawing important in animation, according to Gabby?

Gabby highlights that animation is about acting on paper. Observational drawing helps build a foundation for translating real-world movements and emotions into animation, and it's important to apply this knowledge in creative ways.

What did Gabby find promising about the sketchbook's content?

Gabby found the progression in technique and the focus on character development promising. She appreciated the artist's ability to experiment with poses, gestures, and storytelling in their sketches, showing a willingness to improve and learn.

What role does storytelling play in Gabby's evaluation of the Sketchbook?

Storytelling is a key factor in Gabby’s evaluation. She was impressed by the amount of character development, with named characters, detailed notes, and story elements. Gabby believes that the artist’s ability to convey story and character depth is more important than technical skill.

What advice does Gabby give regarding fan art?

Gabby suggests that it’s okay to make fan art, as it shows imagination and character understanding. However, she advises not to include fan art in your professional portfolio, as it can be seen as unprofessional.

What qualities did Gabby notice in the top performers of her class at CalArts?

Gabby observed that the top performers in her class had unique art styles, emotional intelligence, empathy, and a strong sense of character. These qualities helped them become successful and well-regarded in the animation industry.