BrianMainolfi

Being in the animation business is like being a farmer...or a migrant worker.  Six months here, maybe a year over there...with time spent inbetween scratching around for work, trying to spend as little money as possible.

I have been very lucky of late.  I just finished a nearly five year run on one show.  Unheard of.  I must admit, I grew very content with the steady paycheck.

And as we all know, contentment is the enemy of art.

Now I find myself free, looking around, and feeling the pull of all the art I haven't done in the last year...

First order of business, of course, is updating the portfolio.  I was a little surprised to discover that no studio accepts physical portfolios anymore.  I busyied myself scanning and composing for my portfolio, and I will slowly post some of those professional images on this site.

Thanks again for everyones 'likes' and comments.  I appreciate them all.

B-

It's been a year since I've been on DeviantArt -- crazy!  The animated show that I work on was renewed for another season, so we got a couple weeks off before going back.  I am trying to do some personal work during this time.  Work keeps me pretty busy, and DeviantArt is blocked at the studio (?!), so I don't get to check in nearly as much as I would like.  But can't complain about having work...

The studio does have a life drawing night every other week, and I try to go as often as possible.  Lately, I have tried to create my own life drawing without the model.  It's much harder that I thought -- I really need to memorize some anatomy.  I created some of my new pieces with this in mind.  They are very far from the animated style I usually do, so it has been a good stretch.  Thanks to everybody who looks and comments - I really appreciate that.

Here's hoping this season goes smoothly, and I get to log on more often.

Peace-

Between full time work and being a full time daddy, I haven't had much time to do new artwork lately, but some prodding by a good friend has gotten me to post some old artwork.  A few production drawings from years back, and a photo of my son's Halloween costume last year just 'cause I think it's cool.  I may try to add some more production work in the coming weeks...

I've been gone from DeviantArt a long time - and all I have to show for it is a beautiful baby girl!  Our daughter, Sarah Marie, was born September 1st and we are overjoyed and as happy as can be.  Between baby and holidays, and our season starting again at Fox TV Animation, I've been a little busy of late.  But art waits for no man.  The DA community always inspires me to keep drawing and keep growing.  However, once again Fox has blocked DeviantArt from our work computers, so my posts may be less frequent than before, as I can't use DA as an excuse to goof-off at work.  But, as always, I welcome everyone comments, favs, and will do my best to answer any specific questions you may have.  Wishing everyone a great and productive 2010!

I have collected my Star Trek designs into their own sub-gallery, and want to thank everyone who has watched and commented on this process.  Am I finished?  Never.  I have plans to add a sketch to each background and I'm rethinking the colors...but I get ahead of myself.  This has been an interesting exercise - to modify established designs into my own, evolving style, while not straying too far from the original.  Successful?  Maybe - I do like that they all seem to exist in the same world.  One isn't too realistic, while another more cartoony, etc.  

One big trick I learned is to give each character a specific and obvious design "thing."  The spiral of the Ferengi's ears, the serrations on the Mugato's horn, the mortor-board head on Spock - a design element that sticks out, defines the character, and will help you to easily identify that character in the future.  Usually this can be done with a character's hair-do.  Silhouette Disney's Ariel and Belle, bald,  and they look similar enough.  But their distinctive hair will always define them.  Live-action actresses sometimes go to great lengths for a unique and defining hair-do.  A well done design "thing" will keep you remembering that character, and hopefully become as ubiquitous as one of their catch-phrases...

Live long and prosper...

...and thanks for all the comments!