I recently had the pleasure of interviewing a very talented artist named Heather Dixon that is working with story and illustration. She was kind enough to let me ask her a few questions about her work, background and process. Some contributors to the blog provided some questions, thank you. And I would like to extend a big thank you to Heather; your work is wonderful and we're highlighting it with the intention of inspiring future illustrators, story writers, and other forms applied artists. Below you'll find her responses to our questions and some examples of her work. Please check it out using any of the links below her pictures. (The Poppins pictures on her blog are my favorite.)
- Nate
You can find her blog here.
What has been your journey in developing your artistic skills, starting from childhood on through educational endeavors? Where did you study? What did you graduate in?
"I actually wasn’t a very good artist growing up. I was never the best artist in my class, but I enjoyed drawing quite a bit. I feel I never really started to draw and improve until I was accepted by BYU (Brigham Young University) animation at the tender age of 21. I got several internships while I was there, one at 8fish, an advertising studio, then at a feature animation studio, where I was hired after I graduated. Right now I’m working freelance, which is a lot of fun. Even as a professional artist, I still feel I have a lot of catching up to do."
Artwork by Heather Dixon
What has been your biggest obstacle with your work and how did you overcome it?
"Two answers to that. The first is an ongoing obstacle—fighting artist’s depression, trying to improve my work and become a better craftsman. I’ll never overcome it, but the best way to battle it is to constantly work and improve.
"Less philosophically, the other big obstacle was learning how to do things digitally. I entered the animation program with no idea how to use a computer. I remember staring at a computer screen, at a loss of how to even scan something in. I was pathetic! So you can imagine how enabling it was when I learned, piece by piece, asking friends for tips and doing projects digitally, how to work Photoshop. And then Corel Painter, and then Illustrator. Each new program became easier and easier, and my art turned out better and better. It’s amazing the whole new world that digital opened for me. I felt like I could do anything!"
Do you make a living at writing and illustrating? How do you make your artwork work for you?
"I do! Being a starving artist is great! I’m a terrible business person though, so I don’t have much advice other than: Work hard improving your skills, and the rest will follow."
Work and Process)
What is the creative process you use for your illustrations?
"I gather references first and put them in a project folder. Using them I do a whole bunch of thumbnails, and then I work the composition and sketch from there. After that, I mess with the color and value and work on rendering.
"I’m a fan of “the best at each stage” method, which means I try to get the best ref pictures I can, draw until I have the best thumbnails, the best sketches, etc. Which means it’s really relaxing when I can just open up a canvas and make a quick, raw picture for kicks."
Do work mostly with your computer, or pencil and paper?
"I start out traditionally, doing thumbnails and the basic sketches with a .9mm blue pencil & regular paper. Then, I scan it in and render it in Corel Painter, Photoshop, or Adobe Illustrator. I love doing things digitally. It’s the undo button, I think I’m addicted."
We'd like to know how you think about style: whether you work to push past your emerging style or whether you just let that come naturally. How do you keep your work looking fresh?
"I always try to push myself into learning new styles and trying new things, and trying styles of artists I admire. The first few times I do something new it’s super ugly. Eventually, though, it gets better. I like pushing myself to do new things because it keeps me from feeling boxed in, and it helps me improve quickly."
Artwork by Heather Dixon
Inspiration)
Where do you find inspiration for your illustration work?
"The Internet! How did we live without it? I am constantly looking up tutorials, artists’ blogs, google image searching. One thing that every artist should do is build a picture file. Find pictures from the artists you love and gather them all together in a resource file. My picture file also has textures, tutorials, screen shots from movies, and links to my favorite blogs."
Artwork by Heather Dixon
What helps you to release your creativity when you’re having a block? (Or do you never experience blocks in creativity?
"Creative block is my evil shadow. To fend it off, it sometimes helps to take a break and go to the library and look up books, or watch movies with great art, something to inspire me. A lot of times it just means I need to work on a different project, something a little easier & smaller. Sometimes it means I need to relax the art for a little bit, and spend some time with family."
Artwork by Heather Dixon
What recommendations would you make to others aspiring to add to the world of illustration?
"I’m reminded of Sebastian Gallego’s parting advice to us, the last day of digital painting class. He told us to work hard and be humble, but what really stuck with me was his last advice: 'And remember: be a good person first, and a good artist second. Don’t be like Norman Rockwell, who spent his life in his studio painting happy families scenes and never spent time with his own'.”
For someone who cannot go to school at the present time, what kind of self-teaching approaches would you recommend?
"Learn and teach yourself to improve. Take Internet and library resources and apply them to your artwork. Every morning I get up and spend an hour drawing from anatomy, cartooning, storyboarding books and blogs, then spend 30 minutes on an animation background speedpaint. This has helped me improve fast! It helps after that to analyze what makes the artwork you like appealing, and to bring that appeal into your art.
"Also, try to learn Photoshop. There are lots of tutorials and online help for that, and I think you can download a trial version, too. Photoshop is the foundational building block, and I strongly recommend that every artist learn it."
Artwork by Heather Dixon
What other artists/illustrators inspired/inspire your journey in illustration?
"Sam Nielson, who taught me how to digital paint
http://www.artsammich.blogspot.com/
"Adrian Ropp, who I still learn storyboarding from
http://www.toonbaboon.blogspot.com/
"Bryan Beach, who taught me retro style & adobe illustrator
http://www.bbeachouse.blogspot.com/
Thank you once again Heather, your work is inspiring.
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