Digital Escapist: 2012

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Storytelling is the primary reason I create art. Through animation, conceptual art, and game design, I like to combine our reality with the surreal dreams beyond this world, blurring the lines between the two while creating interesting compositions for the viewer. Creating the characters and environments is only the beginning, as I like to place these visions into a new world, making the entire story come alive.

By the inspirations of countless artists like game designer Tetsuya Nomura or animator Seth McFarlane, I attempt to alter and create new ways in which digital storytelling can be brought to us. When I first begin on a new idea, I sometimes think and sketch for hours on how exactly I can make the piece stand out, prompting those who view my designs to wander deeply into the idea. Characters, landscapes, and various other materials with explanations for all fill the pages in my sketchbook. Plot ideas and writings can also find their way in this beginning process. These are helpful in the long run as it gives me information to take my idea further and allow all my thoughts to be organized. Afterwards, I write down all final details and eventually start on the final design. I know a piece is complete when I feel that if any more details were to be added, it would only scar the design instead of enhancing it.

When viewers watch or look at my creations, I want them to be able to escape reality for a while and get lost in the world I’ve created. I wish for all aspects of the idea to seep into their minds and hopefully the audience will adore the story created. In the end, I hope viewers will keep my art inside their memories, so that it can continue to go further in time.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

artist statment

When I work with digital software such as photoshop or illustrator, I am reminded that in order to create an unique design, I must not only focus on the aspects of the sketch, but also the color palette and message I would like to describe. I begin a piece by sketching a few ideas out and then thinking of ways I could make the overall piece stand out. I know a piece is complete when I feel if I take it any further, it will begin to look overwhelming or overdone. When my work is going well, I am filled with a sense of determination which keeps me working with an almost non-stop energy until the piece is to my liking. When people see my work I'd like them to be able to understand what my goal was for creating the piece by letting the artwork speak for itself and perhaps raise more questions inside the viewer's mind, prompting them to wonder more into my work.