You don't really know what they do...

So, I don't think anyone, other than other artists or their partners, have a clue what an artist does all day.  Then again, I have no idea what a neurosurgeon or a wall street trader does all day, so why do people seem to always want to know what an artist's day is like.  How they come up with ideas, what is in their brain, how they generate their craft, how long it takes them to do a piece... As if the length of time spent on a certain piece of art makes that piece more valuable or worthy of consideration.

If you watch my husband he seems to stare at a blank piece of paper for extended periods of time...  sometimes it is a canvas, other times it is the computer screen.  Sometimes it is a half done piece of art that has him completely stumped and frustrated. Most often his head is down, huddled over a drawing or painting moving tiny pieces of graphite or paint into just the right position that he wants them in.  Sometimes I can't even tell what the hell he has done all day. The piece looks like it did in the morning... but don't think I'm horrible, I'm usually a little distracted with kids and life.

But maybe I am being completely self absorbed and people actually don't give a flip what happens around here. I can almost guarantee this is not a topic of conversation for anyone other than maybe the .01% of people who look into others lives and have an interest in art.

But I find it interesting that when I tell people he works in films they always say, "animation?" first.  The answer is no, live action films. I find it intriguing that the general public has no clue what goes into making a summer block buster hit or the academy award winning film.  I tell them that he is a concept designer and a creature designer for films. (Along with an author and fine artist and book cover illustrator)

People don't get that before the actors put anything on and before they utter a line in front of the camera that there was an artist showing the art director or the director what those people would look like and how they should be dressed. Artist figure out costume design, landscapes of the real world and the fantasy worlds, what buildings could look like, what creatures will terrify you or melt your heart.  There are artists who just do storyboards so that the director and crew can know what they will be looking and and how it will all look on film.

Then of course you have all the 3D artists, key frame artists, sword makers, the person who does the opening title sequence, CGI artists oh man!  How about the model makers!!! The director, he directs what these guys are doing. Or the art director does, they give the "look" to the film.

I'm sorry I could go on and on...  There are artists involved in every aspect of that movie you liked, or hated.  Yup, that's them. That's what they do...

or, they stare at a blank page trying to make the next cool thing jump outta their head and onto their canvas.

Of course that's not what I do all day...

that's for another post...