Katsucon Interview #1! (This was done VERY late at night. We were both tired. Occasionally we had trouble putting words together…)

Grace is a college student studying Computer Science and Fine Arts. She’s been drawing since she was in 3rd grade, where she was lucky enough to get private lessons. Her skills with pencil/graphite are enviable, and she is (hopefully) incorporating her drawing abilities into a career path in video games.

Screen Name: Fongmingyun

We talk about her art, how she got into it, how she promotes herself, and miscellaneous other things.

Her advice for those looking into pencil work? You’ve got to have patience.

Grace’s DevArt Gallery

 

 Standard Podcast [19:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Topics:

When should you use a background or scene?
Should you start with the characters or with the background first?
Are backgrounds just placeholders?
What’s the difference between a background and a scene?
What is an appropriate setting for your character or your idea?
How do you give a scene depth?
How do you give a scene consistency?
When is a scene too cluttered?
How does a scene convey an emotion, mood, or other idea?
-lighting
-color
-movement
How are your characters interacting with the scene?
When do you need references for your pictures and where do you find them?
When is it ok/legal to use references?

 

 Standard Podcast [30:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Michelle and I interviewed several people in the Artist Alley at Otakon. But not artists! We interviewed potential customers to see what they look for in the AA and what kinds of things they actually bought. There’s pretty loud background noise, but it was OTAKON. There was no where during the day that did NOT have background noise.

Interviews: Scott Johnson, Stephanie (Sailor Mars cosplay), Mark and Patrick

 

 Standard Podcast [14:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Part 2: Clay Models to Plaster Molds

Materials:

• Your model(s)
• Vaseline or something like it
• More plaster of Paris than you think that you will need
• Water (read the directions on the plaster!)
• Boxes or other containers that can be made leak-proof, have flat bottoms on the inside, and are not more than a couple of inches bigger than your model around the sides
• Duct or shipping tape to leak-proof containers
• Bucket or large metal bowl to mix plaster and water
• A place to wash your hands off
• Newspaper/a place that will not be damaged by water and plaster of paris
• Earth based clay for complicated molds
• A place to let the molds dry for 24 hrs (read directions)
• Metal tools for scraping, chipping at, and/or filing plaster
• 2 (painting) Brushes
• Superglue (if molds break)

This is best done outside, and it’s best to have someone to help you as plaster must be used quickly and can create a mess! Models should be as dry as possible because they will soak up water from the plaster and become difficult to remove without damaging the model or the mold.

Simple Molds

More Complicated molds

After removing clay you may need to file down any parts of the plaster that grabbed unto the clay using a file and a brush.

 

 Artist Alley #33 - Clay to Wax Pt. 2 [17:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download