Today we’d like to introduce you to Joey Paone.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Drawing was one of my favorite pastimes as a kid. Being from a musical family, the arts were encouraged, so I got lots of positive feedback from my parents (Don’t really know what I would have done without it). We weren’t really allowed to watch TV, so I got most of my exposure to animation through feature films. I had my favorites such as Mulan, Tarzan, and The Iron Giant, but I’d have to say that my first time being exposed to the animation “bug” was when I saw The Incredibles. I clearly remember the feeling of being a ten year old and trying to wrap my mind around why this film was so different, and how could I be able to make something like that. Looking back, I would have to say that why it stood out to me so much was because it didn’t talk down to me like most animated content during that time. I’m not trying to say I was a very mature ten year old. I genuinely believe that kids are a lot smarter than people give them credit for, and it’s okay for media aimed at kids to be a little more mature sometimes.
I kept drawing through the rest of my childhood, trying comics and flip books like a lot of kids do. Once I hit my teen years, I started playing more music. I played various instruments and performed a lot. It wasn’t until I was sixteen that I caught that bug again. I remember I was watching my niece in the lobby of our apartment we lived in when I saw an episode of Adventure Time playing. It almost made me angry that something so simple looking could be so funny and entertaining. I had this real “Well if they can do it so can I” mentality and that night started doing my own animations. I made a make shift light box out of an old toy container that belonged to my nieces and shoved lights underneath. I would split paper in half so to not use as much and hold them down with my fingers so they wouldn’t move. This kept on through the rest of high school, so by the point I was ready for college I already knew what I wanted to do. I was lucky enough to live in Austin, Texas at the time which has a community college with an animation program. I went there for about two years, and then (through much resistance on my part) was convinced by my parents and my aunt to transfer to SCAD and study animation there.
Please tell us about your art.
My main focus as an artist is character animation. I love taking a still character and bring them to life to help the audience believe in the world that’s being presented. I want to make work that is genuine, but most of all I want to make work that inspires people about life.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
At this moment, what I consider success is when someone makes the decision to not stop trying new things. That sounds kind of simple, but the people who stand out to me are the ones who realize when they’re getting in a rut, and make the choice to break out of it. As far as qualities that I feel are essential to success, I would have to go with a confident and positive attitude. I know it sounds like something your mother would say, but your mother is right. I’ve seen people get all down in the dumps because they suck at something and everything is holding them back. Well you probably do suck. I’m not trying to say this to be mean, I’ve been there multiple times. I feel like you need to realize you suck, and be confident that you can learn.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I think I’m the most active on Instagram. I mostly use it as a way to show my personal work and to document my progression as an artists and animator. If there is any news about my films or any way to support my work, it’ll be on there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://josephepaone.wixsite.com/portfolio
- Phone: 5122217823
- Email: joseph.e.paone@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojoemmet/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/ScaryStoryShort/
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