Sketch by Willie Jimenez

The Artist Muse

I’m a navy vet who recently graduated college with a certificate in 3D animation and preproduction, currently transitioning from my career before the Navy in comic books and illustration to something in concept art and entertainment design. Although I learned to model and animate in 3D, I’m much more interested improving and using my 2D traditional skills, so I since I been out of college have been taking courses at places like Brainstorm school and CGMA.

I think in the industry there’s less and less jobs for traditional and hand drawn skills. But I think it’s a shame. I see a lot of people who are great on the computer and in photoshop But can’t draw much if you say sketch something. I think the ability to draw is fundamental and not learning how to draw traditionally can hold you back. Also it can be a real advantage if you do have a skill that is harder and harder to find.

My goal is to become a storyboard and visual development artist. I love learning and working on the computer but I really enjoy sites like these where they concentrate on traditional skills. I have more fun with pen and paper, then with a tablet. I always loved drawing. In high school I studied architecture. But I got more into art when I learn what I really want to do was architectural rendering. Which is a hard and mysterious field to get into.

But I know I need to complain my design studies with traditional and graphic art. I wasn’t able to go to school because of money. But I did manage to do illustrations and eventually break into comics. But I one point I knew I need to go back to school if I wanted to move my career forward. So while I join the Navy to be able to go back to school afterwards. Concept art became the thing and I realized I can combine my skills and my previous experiences very nicely. The more I dove into it the more I feel in love.

But still it takes a lot of time and a lot of training. This equals a lot of money. I don’t think theres one school that will teach you everything you need and there is a lot of competition. Money becomes a big factor, but I’ve gotten lucky a few times now with grants and scholarships. Winning a free course here on this site would be a big help.

I’ve been watch the site for a while and even contributed a few articles. I think it’s the fact I spent a few year in Europe while in the military that draws my attention to traditional amazing sketches. How these guys did with paint effects that are hard to pull off even in photoshop. something about working digitally seems artificial to me. I would really like to one day be able to create some amazing myself. Even if it’s not for money or fam, but just as a personal goal.