As a traditional artist who has transitioned to become a digital film maker and a digital artist, I strongly feel that if artists who have taken their formal training in fine art programs such as a degree or diploma or similar course and then enter digital film making or digital painting and upgrade their knowledge with modern electronic tools, the impact on the Indian animation industry will be immense.
Take, for instance, that in India there are over 600 private and government authorized art colleges and more then 25,000 artists are getting trained in traditional art. Every year some 2,000 artists receive their degree or diploma course certificates. I can’t help but wonder where they go?
Not everyone chooses Animation as their career. Nor does everyone paint or sculpt. Such students can make the difference between India becoming an animation super-power or yet another non-starter.
I studied art from from three different colleges:
1) Kalawishwa mahavidyalaya Sangli,(Maharashtra)
2) L.S. Raheja School of Art, Bandra, Mumbai, and
3) Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai.
As a traditional artist I have had the pleasure of interacting with many professional artists or art students from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
I have also had the good fortune to have worked with many artists in the fine arts field and in animation studios. I have even trained many traditional artists to work in the animation industry. One thing I have noticed is that due to lack of knowledge of or confidence in speaking in the english language is what prevents most art college students from using a computer. Due to this many end up “killing” the artist within. Learning to wield such tools expertly is no different than simply learning a new habit. Instead of riding a bicycle, you simply have to ride a motorcycle. Just a certain amount of training, and you would have opened up doors to a rewarding and fulfilling career you may have never before imagined!
Digital painters create the same kind of art. Only we use a computer, digital pad and digital pen and create the same effects of the mediums, with the help of softwares like Photoshop, Painter, ZBrush and many other software programs. These techniques are always used in Hollywood and Bollywood movies whether it be in 2D or 3D animation films.
Look up digital art created by leading concept designers like Dylan Cole, Dusso, Craig Mullan, Feng Zhu, Scott Robertson and you will get the confidence and you will believe.
Watch a few movies like Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, X Men, Harry Potter, Terminator, Jurassic Park, Thirteen Days and the very latest film Avatar and many more. And you will understand.
