EPISODE 31

Darrell Abney // Laika Studios

BECOMING A KICK-ASS SCULPTOR FOR FILMS

TOP TAKEAWAYS

  • How to pick up a skill on the job and the benefits of specializing in what your heart wants and not where the crowd is headed.
  • Learning to appreciate the process of growth starting small as you grow bigger.
  • The importance of starting to work on your own creations early in your career.
  • The existing possibilities for you to retire in the arts industry and options if you don't want to retire.
Art Heroes Podcast ep.31:
Darrell Abney // Laika Studios
Listen to the episode now:
Who is it
Darrell Abney specializes in making 3d characters for film and currently works at Laika Studios. He has been working in the entertainment industry for 20 years where he started as a clay sculptor and airbrush artist making animatronic animals and later went into feature films and PlayStation games.

Why should you listen
In this episode of the Art Heroes Podcast, Darrell shares his overall journey in the arts industry over a 20 years period and learning many skills on the job. He talks about his love for art and constantly being a student that strives to become hard to replace.
Summary
Darrell Abney specializes in making 3d characters for film and also works as a 3d instructor for Think Tank Online and is currently a character sculptor for Laika Studios. He has been working in the entertainment industry for 20 years where he started as a clay sculptor and airbrush artist making animatronic animals and later went into feature films and PlayStation games.

In this episode of the Art Heroes Podcast, Darrell shares his overall journey in the arts industry over a 20 years period and learning many skills on the job. He talks about his love for art and constantly being a student that strives to become hard to replace.

Listen in to learn why you need to specialize in a branch of art that you love and become the best you can be and not following where the money is. You will also learn the benefits of pushing your own work and the factors that will lead to your success in the industry.
Use discount code artheroes to get 40% off all Darrell's tutorials on Gumroad
"Everyone's path is different…learn everything and focus on what you're passionate about."
KEY MOMENTS OF THE EPISODE

  • [1:25] Darrell describes working at Laika Studios with other artists as a team and his overall journey from a clay sculptor to a character sculptor.
  • [6:02] He describes working in Harry Potter and how it helped further his career as an artist.
  • [8:54] He explains replacement animation and the flow of things when creating these characters.
  • [11:21] How he picked up 3D printing as part of his strategy learning on the job.
  • [13:28] The importance of specializing in what you like and gifted in as an artist rather than where the money is.
  • [18:44] How Digi double is getting more animated and why it is important to diversify with more skills on top of it.
  • [22:11] The factors that contribute to your success in the art industry.
  • [24:53] Having the patience to start small and appreciating the journey as you grow bigger.
  • [28:58] He explains why he's more interested in pushing his creation and advises others to do so too.
  • [31:21] How to create an impressive character to present it to your employer.
  • [33:51] Darrell mentions some of the things that he's been learning and involving himself with like grooming and XGen.
  • [40:56] What it will entail for the possibility of retiring in the art industry.
  • [46:16] Darrell answers the fun ten questions.
"I will be bored retiring and doing nothing, so I'm just going to keep on working and if I feel I don't like it anymore, I'm going to do something else."
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MARIA JD
Art Heroes Podcast Host
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    Building a career, a business and a lifestyle.
    Becoming your own hero.
    Art Heroes Podcast is the show to help you thrive as a digital artist, where we share tips, stories and strategies from other amazing 2D and 3D artists from videogames, advertising, CG, VFX, VR, and other industries, from all over the world. Art Heroes' goal is to inspire and give actionable tips that will help you to make your passion into a career and make the most out of your talent and skills.

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