The best skill...

The film Watership Down helped to put me on a path to becoming an animator...  And currently, I'm still traveling.... 

What put you on a path towards creativity?

The newest piece from James Bowman (Poochie) 

seeing Me 3

#Art #Artist #Portrait #Impressionism #Impressionist

Online Premiere of the animated short film, Kassi

 Today is the public, "Online Premiere" of our film, Kassi... This will be screened for FREE, until Friday, April 24th. I truly hope that everyone will enjoy this film. And for those who truly like this, please spread the word....
Kassi, Animated Short Film

If you are looking for art, please visit the portfolio of James Bowman

Art of James Bowman
Second Art page of James Bowman

"FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST"

1. What is your name?
Shirah Neumann

2. Where are you from?
Buffalo, NY via Los Angeles, CA

3. What do you do?
Artist/Painter and Non-Profit Arts Administrator

4. What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
I have been painting since I was a kid. It has always been an important part of my life such that I don't ever remember not painting. Eventually I learned how to push my work beyond a boundary to arrive somewhere new. I like connecting with other people who can do this in their lives. These are artists, writers, philosophers, creative problem solvers, etc. This is a big part of why I also enjoy working for arts non-profits. I like having my own solitary practice and also engaging in the community and supporting the work and ideas of others.

5. What is your view on the state of the arts?
It is difficult to be an artist and make a living solely from one's art. I think that this has always been the case. I know many people who do it in very good and meaningful ways and I admire them. The state of the arts is a big phrase. What does it mean? Is it the state of the art market? I read a lot of frustration in peoples' opinions of the current climate. I can't imagine it any different. There are many ways to be successful as an artist. There is also the state of how the arts are successfully or unsuccessfully providing for culture. I read something recently about how the arts may be lacking in their coverage of the contemporary political climate. I have a hard time knowing if this is true because isn't if often that we don't understand an era or an art movement until it has passed? I think that there are many artists who are heavily invested in their participation in culture and politics. There are others who are heavily invested in esoteric and aesthetic studies. Then many who argue that all art is political.

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- My name is Madge Scott 

2) Where are you from?
- I came to the United States from Jamaica thirty years ago.

3) What do you do?
- I tried many things as a new immigrant but pursued nursing as a career. I actually stumbled upon art when I found my young daughters discarded paints. I returned to them when my son went missing in 1997 and tried painting from the calenders in  my home. Princess Diana died around the same time and I was inspired by her way of dress, so I began to carefully look at her pictures and copying what I saw.I still was not comfortable and felt that there was still more I had to do; learning to draw.  Looking at mathematical shapes and reading many books on art helped me tremendously,  I have never had an art class.

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- A terminally sick husband pushed me into making a decision whether or not to pursue my nursing career,  I chose to care for him and surrendered myself and my art to the universe.There's a force which propels me , no questions about that, a gift from the universe. The discovery of my work in 2005 was amazing for me and I was  suddenly launched into a new world. 
I have been successful in this new venture and feel that art is the only reason for my saneness. I continue to learn from my inner; it's rewarding.  

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- As a black artist, I find that we are being pushed aside.  We have to work extremely hard to keep our work in the limelight. We need help, there's not much help coming to us as far as I can tell. My own experiences tells me that we have a fight on our hands.Supporting each other and coming together and sticking together is a key to bringing attention and respect to a wonderful world of super creative people. .

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Curtis Wilcox

2) Where are you from?
- Boston, Massachusetts

3) What do you do?
- Artist and Author 

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- What inspired me, this crazy world. ....

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- The art world is so full of jealousy now, that's wild.....

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
 - Frederick Marshall.

2) Where are you from?
 - Columbus,Ohio

3) What do you do?
 - Print operator and Artist.

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
 - Friends, family, and I had two cousins who liked to draw. One drew realistic pictures the, other was into comics. I was into both, so I took from both and learned through them, until I went to school.

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
 - It's OK I guess, depending on what you like but not sure as far as on the state of the arts.

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name? - Bruni Sablan

2) Where are you from? - Sao Paulo, Brazil

3) What do you do? - Artist and owner of Bruni Gallery LLC in San Jose, California

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career? - I was inspired when my father introduced me to American jazz, at a very young age. At the same time, my grandfather, Caetano Parello, taught how to "see" art…

5) What is your view on the state of the arts? - My view on the "state" of the arts is grim for this country. My customers are from out of here, and we are struggling to keep a 34 yr gallery going.

It's the return of, "FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST"

If you are a visual artist, dancer, writer, filmmaker, graphic designer, animator, musician, actor/actress, poet, singer, or all around creative person, we are looking for you. The five questions are below.

1) What is your name?
2) Where are you from?
3) What do you do?
4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
5) What is your view on the state of the arts?

For those who are interested, please send us a message here, or through our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExodusExpedition...

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Kamala - 

2) Where are you from?
- The Milky Way, Earth, NYC. - 

3) What do you do?
- DJ and produce music. Mastering the art of living. - 

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- Love of music, positive and creative outlets, social service. -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- The arts are forever evolving and expanding despite political resistance and corporate manipulation. -

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Aiko Tanaka - 

2) Where are you from?
- Japan - 

3) What do you do?
- content development, marketing etc. - 

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- my interests in media x culture -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- unlimited -

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Ann LePore - 

2) Where are you from?
- Saratoga County, New York - 

3) What do you do?
- I'm an artist and educator. I like to build, hack, break, edit, project and animate. - 

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- Delmer Herrick, my high school art teacher believed in me. If it weren't for him, I never would have pushed myself creatively, or gone to art school. -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- The state of the arts in this state is not great- in terms of official NJ support, or American arts support for that matter. However, as artists, we create our own communities and our own support networks- and while we have very few monetary resources, we support each other better than any government ever could. -

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Karol - 

2) Where are you from?
- Wisconsin (near Green Bay) - 

3) What do you do?
- Game Artist - 

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- At age 5, I saw a Disney cartoon and decided I wanted to be an animator. In high school I saw Toy Story then decided I wanted to be a computer animator. I got pretty hardcore into gaming in the 90s when I first noticed story-telling become an important part the gaming experience (ie. Tomb Raider and Metal Gear Solid: The twin snakes). That's when I decided I'll do games. -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- A career in the art and entertainment industry has historically been a risky endeavor to pursue. I'm sure the hardships involved in trying to get an opprotunity might have been magnified by the rough economy. I'm working full-time as an artist so I have no complaints about my life as an artist per se. The main thing that worry's me are lay-offs. Once you find a job you hold on to it for dear life because it could be months to over a year or so until you find full-time work again. Its pretty scary out there. -

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Ashley A. Woods - 

2) Where are you from?
- I was born and raised in Chicago - 

3) What do you do?
- I am a freelance artist (illustrations, story boards, concepts, and comics) - 

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- I grew up immersed in games, comics, and anime / cartoons and always knew I wanted a career in something related to that. I just always knew that I wanted to be an artist, ever since I was very young. -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- Right now it seems that some schools are cutting art programs which I think is very sad. I believe that our schools need more workshops and classes to encourage and invest in our young artists. I try to help by teaching at various schools and I've taught all ages (preschool to college).

As for industry related topics go... I noticed the line between gaming and movies have blurred a bit with the art direction. Particularly the concept art and even the way some games are executed; they're more lifelike and the cut scenes have a very movie-like quality to them.

With comics, I've noticed a lot of industry artists are turning to kickstarter to launch their own independent titles rather than trying to publish them with brands like Marvel, DC, etc. I find it really interesting. I know some of these artists but have yet to pick their brains about why they are choosing such a route when they already have established careers with these companies. I think it's really intriguing. I think a lot of people's focus are turning more towards what the independents are doing. Now I'm not saying that people will forget Marvel, DC, etc because they won't. But people are scouring the net for new things. I also fear the demise of the printed book since everything is turning digital. Personally, I love holding an actual book in my hand as I read. I can lean my face close to the page and study the art and layout, I can pull back and see the page as a whole and appreciate it, flip the pages back and forth and study the pacing of the story... I've read lots of comics online but i just really prefer to have an actual book in my hands. Also, I'm more likely to be robbed for my phone while reading a comic on it in public than being robbed for the actual comic LOL! -

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Lafotographeuse (nee Amanda Adams-Louis) - 

2) Where are you from?
- I hate this question because I don't have an easy answer for it. To be 100, I'm still trying to figure out where I am from. 

I have a US passport. My dad is Haitian, mom is American and I grew up in Panama City, Dakar, DC, Budapest, Toledo, Lugano, Gaberone and Conakry. And I've resided in Brooklyn my entire adult life. -

3) What do you do?
- I am an freelance photographer, visual artist, hip-hopographer, creative producer and arts educator. -

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- I attended a private, boarding school in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland for high school. I had access to amazing analog photography reproduction facilities, got to go on photo field trips and shoot various European capitals and go to amazing historic museums. So by the time I was 17 and thinking about the whole college/career thing, I had already been shooting for four years so I knew I wanted to pursue it as a career. -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- Things are in flux right now. The funding is low but at least there is still some out there. I see a lot more collaborations that I did a few years ago and I think we might be seeing a lot more work that invokes the state of the economy. -

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Stacey Robinson - 

2) Where are you from?
- Upstate NY - 

3) What do you do?
- Visual Art - 

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- A lack of imagery that reflected my life's desire among a whole dissertation of other things.. -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- The state of the arts is wide open. -

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Nefertiti Jordan - 

2) Where are you from?
- Phoenix AZ. - 

3) What do you do?
- Web/Graphic Design Intern - 

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- My love of story telling, cartoons and video games -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- Art is a powerful medium that can inspire change, as well as serve as a commentary on the current human condition. I feel that in many ways people have forgotten this and neglect to support artists who strive to express themselves. Despite these challenges, artists have found creative and innovative ways to get their message out there. To sum up, I would describe it as a time of change for the arts -

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ARTIST

1) What is your name?
- Micheline Hess - 

2) Where are you from?
- Roosevelt Island, New York - 

3) What do you do?
- I work as a freelancer Designer at a company that produces interactive e-books for kids.
I also draw in my spare time and am currently working on my own interactive comic for kids. -

4) What inspired you to pursue your creative career?
- I was working retail at the time and had saved up my money for a Powermac clone. I was immediately addicted to programs like Adobe Photoshop, but it wasn't until I discovered Macromedia Flash (which was version 2 at the time) that I really began to imagine how much fun it would be to give life and interactive capability to my own character and storytelling concepts. -

5) What is your view on the state of the arts?
- I think its a wonderful time to be into the arts, but especially digital. Lately I have really been getting into creating art with my iPad. I even have a stylus thats a brush and allows me to paint on the screen. The advancements in technology not only make it possible to create in ways that not long ago were impossible to imagine...but it also allows artists to empower themselves and have more control over things like self publishing as well as control of creative rights. -