Amy Lewis Art
Background Painting/ Visual Development / Art Direction
F A Q
Here you can find the answers to the most frequently asked questions I recieve.
How did you get into Background Painting?
I've always LOVED painting and started weekly watercolour classes at age 9, so naturally I knew I wanted to go down the art path since a very young age.
At first I was interested in illustrating children's books, but at the same time I knew I had too much of an interest in animated stories. I grew up fascinated with classics such as Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty etc etc, so after researching jobs to do with that I found Visual Development and Background Painting roles, which felt just right!
I concentrated on producing work in my spare time like the art you find in the many 'Art Of' books and took classes from professionals in the industry, who I mention in my answers below.
How long have you been painting?
I've been painting since the age of 9 and professionally for 10 years. So 25 years.... (God I'm old!!)
What skills do you need for the role of Background Painter?
Being able to paint well is a good start!! The ability to adapt your style to match different styles of show is very valuable to recruiters who are looking to fill background painting roles. Solid knowledge of colour, light and value and knowing how to utilise those to enhance the story in your background is very important. Being proficient in Adobe Photoshop is also a great skill to have. The more editable you can keep your painting layers the easier and quicker it will be to make any changes the production needs you to make... (there are almost ALWAYS changes wanted, so be ready for that!)
What are some of the things I should include in a background painting portfolio?
I've learnt it's important to have backgrounds that you have designed yourself and painted in your own style. Recruiters love to see your personality shine through in your art. A variety of backgrounds in different styles is also valuable- including backgrounds you've painted that match a certain show style you're interested in working on.
Paintings in different times of day or seasons also go down well as they show your ability to change the same scene's mood with just colour and light. Colour comps (sketches) for your finished backgrounds are also nice to supplement- recruiters like to see your thought processes and different options you have for a scene before you decide on the final thing. I like to also include plein air paintings I've done in mine.
Do you need a degree to become a Background Painter?
No! What you need is to be able to paint well and communicate story through the use of colour and light. A degree is a piece of paper. That's it. If your work is seen by a recruiter or a director or whoever is looking to hire, they're looking for work that makes them go, 'Wow!' They're not looking for a piece of paper that says you completed 3 or 4 years in an education! They're interested in your painting and storytelling skills. Alot of jobs say they require an art degree or equivelant work experience for you to apply, but if they see your work and it's quality then they're really not going to bother whether you have that piece of paper or not! They're going to want your skills contributing to their show.
Did you go to university? Any regrets?
I did. I did an Illustration degree at Edinburgh College of Art and graduated in 2015. Had I known what I know now I wouldn't have gone. I'd have spent that time the way I did after realising I didn't need a degree once I graduated! I spent that time looking for professional artists in the animation industry who teach how to learn the skills to land these jobs. After graduating I just couldn't get a job in the industry because I hadn't learnt the specific skills to do so! If you want to become an illustrator then the course was great, but I was lead to believe at the time that I needed a degree in art to go any further. Not true! I don't regret going because I met one of my closest friends from my time there and learnt important life skills like how to wash clothes and cook food without poisoning myself etc! I do regret missing out on the years I could have been learning the correct skills I needed though. Plus I have ALOT of student debt to pay back... probably for the rest of my life haha!
What learning resources should I look into? What courses should I take?
My first recommendation is The Magic Box Academy (formerly known as The Oatley Academy), run by ex Disney artist, Chris Oatley. He is who I have learnt the most about painting for animation from. He runs mentorships once or twice a year. I've taken a few and every single one has been well worth the money.
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My second recommendation is Schoolism. This is a great resource and has loads of courses you can take in your own time that cover all sorts of roles in animation like background painting, design, visual development etc.
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Alot of industry professionals offer their own courses and advertise on their instagram pages. I have personally taken courses from Zac Retz and 100 percent recommend!
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What was your journey like from studies to career? Any hurdles?
It's been an interesting and bumpy ride since graduating in 2015! It's taken a hell alot of determination and thousands of hours of my own time dedicated to learning the skills needed to do this. The first hurdle was not having experience in the role... because I'd spent 4 years getting a degree... like I was told to!! So I spent my free time producing a portfolio of work which still got me nowhere because the degree I did didn't teach the relevant skills! I researched artists online in the industry who taught. I took classes, mentorships, travelled the Globe to attend conventions, conferences, workshops and talks to help myself learn and improve.
A huge hurdle to overcome for me was breaking into the industry State side (since I'm English and live in England!) I wanted to work for Disney and Nickelodeon and DreamWorks, but most of their jobs are onsite or go to American citizens first and alot don't sponsor foreign artists easily. Also, in the epicentre of the animation industry (LA), students are bred there specifically to fill animation jobs... trying to get good enough to jump that hurdle has been so so hard and I still haven't managed 10 years later to land a job at Disney. (I'm very happy at Nickelodeon though, I must say!) :)
Once I got my first break I learnt all I could on each job, then when I felt I wasn't challenged enough I'd look for something else. The industry is pretty small really, so your name gets around and you get suggested to new shows by people you've worked with. That, together with networking at conventions has really helped me get to where I am now.
How did you get your work seen?
Creating a consistent online presence is essential. Having socials dedicated to my art such as instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, has allowed me to keep posting my work where potential recruiters can see it. At first it felt like every time I posted a new piece of art I was shouting into a black void and nobody really cared (which really hurt!), but I kept learning and kept posting and still do the same now. Stay present and relevant, even when you have a job because in this industry no job is forever- shows get cancelled, artists get laid off, so keep your name and your work circulating! Search for opportunities and interact with other artists' work. Also, NETWORKING IS REALLY IMPORTANT!! (By networking I mean going to in-person events such as LightBox Expo, Annecy, CTNX etc, not clicking 'connect' on LinkedIn!!) Meeting recruiters and other artists in 3D is so much more valuable than just seeing their name on the internet. It heightens your chance to connect on a human level and get a chance at a job.
Do you do commissions?
I rarely do commissions because my work life is busy and in my free time I like to work on my own portfolio and improving as an artist. When I do though you will know because I post about it on my Instagram stories. Keep an eye out.
Do you teach?
Not really. I very occasionally teach a demo painting on some of Chris' mentorships at The Magic Box Academy. Other than that I don't have time and I'm not a born teacher. I prefer to just do the thing! :)
How do you come up with your ideas for your paintings?
I've been told I've always had rather an 'interesting' imagination!! I daydream alot and read children's books like Enid Blyton and Anne of Green Gables etc. I watch animated films too which help my imagination start running.
Mostly though, I just draw from experiences I've had, stories I've heard, music that makes me feel things or dreams I've dreamt... My brain does the rest!
What digital brushes do you use?
I've experimented with a few but my favourites are the MaxPacks brushes you can find below: