The idea behind HP: [link]

Hey Gang!

After a long hiatus we are back with an interview I promised a ways back. Claudia sat down and gave us some answers to the usual HP third degree.


Claudia was one of our earliest contributors with the Third Hand:



..::Introductions::..

Hitote Project: Hey, Claudia! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Claudia Sutton: Hi, I’m Claudia. Simply complex, game-loving, movie-going, bubble bath-enjoying, tea-drinking, happy Claudia.

..::Art::..

HP: When did you know you wanted to do art professionally?

CS: In grade school, I wanted to be a Disney princess animator. Then in college it changed to concept artist for games or film.



HP: Are you self-taught or institution-educated in the ways of art?

CS: Both. Early art lessons came from Mom and other relatives. In high school, I took a lot of specialty art classes such as independent studies. I was actually sent to the principal’s office to explain what I was doing in so many art classes. I told him that I wanted to be a professional artist, but he did not believe me. Then there was college; I studied a year and a half at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, MI as an animator before transferring to The Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. There, I received a BFA in Character Animation and was nominated Valedictorian for the Undergraduate Class.

HP: What are your major influences? In that same vein, what really inspires you to hit the drawing board?

CS: Life! People, places, culture, entertainment. I find that I am most inspired when I see good art. This includes watching movies, reading books, playing games, going to museums and seeing a city for the first time. Like I said before, Disney was a big inspiration growing up. Video games like Zelda and Mario were as well.



HP: Who do you look up to as an artist? Is there someone you are dying to work with?

CS: I look up to a lot of people. Mostly elders, people that teach you a lot and make you grow as a person as well as an artist. My family and friends are a perfect example of this. As far as well-known artists are concerned, I appreciate the works of Akihiko Yoshida, Tetsuya Nomura, Alan Lee, Tim Burton, Glen Keane, Iain McCaig and Shigeru Miyamoto.

HP: What would you do if you weren't an artist? What is #2 on the "what I wanna be when I grow up" list?

CS: People always made me feel like being an artist was like saying you were going to be a famous actor or something, and they would come out with statements like “that’s nice, good luck with that.” So I had a backup plan because sometimes I would let what people had said get to me. Science was a favorite, as were geology and astronomy, but I always knew the artist thing would work.




HP: What is your dream job?

CS: I don’t really have one. A job isn’t the only thing in life; it’s just a job. I worked as a concept artist in the games industry and am currently working as a freelance artist. Recently, I did work for White Wolf’s Vampire: The Requiem RPG. The new Clan books with my work will be out on shelves in April and May 2008. A current dream of mine is to travel the world, and I’m working on that one.

..::The Process::..

HP: Can you describe your process?

CS: Ha! I’m all over the place. I like to change things up a lot, but the general “Claudia process” is: start with some brainstorming and research first, then do a pencil or col-erase drawing on 8.5x11 paper, scan it, and then paint in Photoshop at about 300 resolution.

HP: What tools (materials, mediums, programs) are you most comfortable with? Which ones do you want to learn? Which ones do you hate?

CS: #2 yellow pencils are the greatest, right?! Col-erase pencils too…. And eraser toppers, too—yup, the little colorful ones from my school days. I like working on 8.5x11 or 11x14 paper and painting in Photoshop. I really need to do more 3D work. I want to get back into Maya and start modeling and animating again. I am not a big 3D Studio fan because I was taught in Maya, but I need to work on my flexibility.

HP: What was the idea behind your Hitote Project submission?

CS: It illustrates me trying to capture the “essence” of who I am. Some parts I never understand or slip away though my fingertips, but with every piece that I seize... I learn more about myself. Ha Ha Ha! (cut and paste from my blog) But really, it’s about growing and learning as a person.



..::Important Questions::..

HP: What is your favorite a) Movie? B) Videogame? C) Television Program?

CS: God, too many.

Movies: Pirates of the Caribbean, The Princess Bride, Edward Scissorhands, and old Disney movies.
Games: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy XII, Soul Calibur II, and Rock Band.
TV: None really. I don’t watch TV much at all. However, Buffy: the Vampire Slayer was pretty cool; I just finished watching that.

HP: If you were trapped in a city decimated by a Zombie attack and had to choose three people (no friends or family) to get out alive, who would they be?

CS: Will Smith? He kills lots of things in movies, and raps. Let’s bring DJ Jazzy Jeff too. And…ummm… yeah…umm… Steve Carell. I think they would be a fun bunch to counter Zombie attacks.



..::Closing Words::..

HP: What do you feel is the most important element in your art?

CS: The mood. This can be expressed through color, emotion, lighting, composition or whatever else helps bring feeling to the artwork.

HP: How is the art you do relevant in the current world?

CS: Art is entertaining, whether it be happy, sad, pretty, evil, etc. I hope people see my art and feel something. That’s what it’s all about.

HP: Any advice for up and coming artists trying to hone their craft?

CS: Practice. Oh yeah… Practice some more. That’s really what it comes down to, the more time spent on something the better you get!



Thank you for the sit-down Claudia!

And thanks to everyone for reading and we will see you next time... sometime soon!

HP