FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I'm open to work within any budget. I try to make no less than $25 an hour and typically get paid $40 an hour for what I do. When I quote a project I think about how much time it will take me. If you can only afford to spend a certain amount then I will only spend as many hours on the project as your budget allows.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
When I meet a new customer I like to spend as much time as possible getting to know them and the vision of their project. I like to explain my process which goes like this: •Communication and understanding of your project •Build reference imagery and a mood board. •Concept art/sketch of the project •Storyboard art of the animation •Style frames of the animation •Animation Let me break down each step. After understanding the project, I collect images that closely match the look and feel of the project ahead. I share this with the client in order to make sure I understand the art direction they want for the project. During the concept art stage, I develop a unique image which takes the colors/style/etc. found in the reference images and applies it to the project. This is usually done as a digital painting which is more or less a colored, fleshed out sketch of how the animation will look. I share this image with the client so they can start to get an idea of how the animation will look. I can also address any issues in this early, sketch stage before moving on. The storyboard will be a series a drawings and composited images that will illustrate how the animation will flow. Once again, this is shared with the client in order for me to address any issues early on. Sometimes I will add a bit of animation to the storyboards in order to show the pacing of the animation. Once storyboards are approved I begin creating style frames. These are static illustrations of how the final product will look. I will create a frame for each scene of the animation as well as all the assets that will be used in the animation. This will be exactly how the final product will look despite not being animated yet. All final designs will be approved before moving forward. By this stage everything should be good to go. There should be no issues in how the animation flows or how it looks stylistically. I then begin animating the video. This is usually the longest part of the process. I typically don't share anything from this stage until it is done. This helps the client understand the big picture instead of focusing on individual details. Once animation is completed, I will share a low res video for client review. I'll make any final changes that are necessary. I can also add music and sound effects if desired. Then I'll export a high res version of the animation.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BFA from the now closed Art Institute of Portland. I studied media arts and animation. My main focus was 2D illustration, character design, and animation. After college I spent a great deal of time illustrating for books as well as my own web comic strip. I spent a few years creating storyboards for film and advertising. This understanding of film preproduction through sequential art really helps me in developing a short animation.