Los Angeles Firm Inc. Magazine July/Aug 2016 | Page 28

Who recognized you and gave you
the break you needed to become
reconized?
My recognition came mostly from a
short film I created and produced
myself called I Like Pandas. It
became pretty viral and I won
Best Flash Film of the year award
2007, by Channel Frederator.

What made you want to become an
artist?
The love of drawing. I loved the
appeal of animated characters.
The first time I saw Mickey Mouse
move on screen I wanted to figure
out how to do that.
What kind of mark to you want
to leave on the art communities
worldwide when it’s all said and
done?
How do you come up with characters, I mean how does one vision these types of subjects?
Most of the characters I come
up with are 50% in my head and
50% inspired by the person/
animal in life. I take characteristics from real life then
interpret them in my style.
By doing this I can get very
unique relate able characters
that feel real.
What was your favorite cartoon
as a child?

ESSENTIAL ART
People usually comment on
the appeal of my characters.
Also that they are drawn
with great structure.

My favorite cartoon as a child
was Black and White Mickey
shorts from the late 1930’s
early 1940’s. I loved the Mad
Doctor and MInnie’s Yoo Hoo

-Jessica Borutski

What are some of the compliments you get on your work?
People usually comment on the
appeal of my characters. Also
that they are drawn with great
structure.
Where are you originally from?
I am originally
Ontario Canada.
a small town. I
my childhood in
fields.

from Ottawa
I grew up in
spent most of
forests and

Do you have other interest besides art?
Yes I love hiking,
travel,yoga,movies,wine,walking
around and sipping coffee. I basically just like to explore.
What is it about Art that first
attracted you?
How you can be transported out
of your reality and create a new
world on paper.

Do you consider yourself to be
a funny person?
Sometimes, but Im not usually a
quick witted person. My jokes
are usually thought out and
communicated visually rather
then verbally. Basically you
won’t find me at a party cracking jokes, I’m better at coming
up with humor at the drawing
board.

Id like people to look back at
my drawings and get a spark of
inspiration the way UB IWerk’s
drawings of Mickey inspired me.
When I see fan art or children’s
drawings online of my designs it
makes me happy that people like
the design enough to want to draw
it themselves. It’s the biggest
compliment.

Who are some of the individuals
that influenced you as an artist?
UB IWERKS
BOB CLAMPETT
MAX FLEISCHER
JAMES JEAN
CHUCK JONES
HAYAO MIYAZAKI
CHRIS SANDERS
MARY BLAIR
What are some of the projects
you have lined up for the near
future? (after April 2016)
Finishing my book “Toaster Head”
also a WB project I cannot yet
release the title for.