Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Young.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I currently work as an Illustrator for Floyd County Productions. I primarily work with the characters on the show ARCHER on FX. I have also worked professionally on various projects, providing storyboards, backgrounds, and character designs.
I actually started pretty late on my path as an artist, only really taking it seriously starting in my junior year of high school. I was praised by my peers for my talents and decided that it was something that I could pursue further. I always liked art and animation, but never really saw myself as talented enough to participate in any sort of production. However, through the application of hard work, I eventually rose to be one of the top students in my major while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design and was accepted into a special program for Disney Imagineers.
After graduation, I worked my fair share of low-level design jobs before passing the test to work for Floyd County Productions. I have been happily employed there for the past four years.
Please tell us about your art.
For my professional work, I work at the whims of the script and the episode direction. Animation is a pipeline, and my job is to create what is needed for any given scene to the best of my ability. Staying on-model and providing a clear line of action is paramount to my daily work.
Despite my very busy work schedule split between full-time and freelance work, I do try to make time for my own personal work. My work skews much more kid-friendly than my professional work does, largely focused on illustration for children’s media. I am currently working on a pitch for a children’s graphic novel, and hope for the full product to be published someday.
I became well known at school for my ability to work in gouache paint, often having it mistaken for digital media due to its cleanliness and saturation of color. I eventually switched to vector to produce my work, largely due to ease of use, and time management.
What do you think about the conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Atlanta is a great place to be an artist. I have worked in far rougher cities, where the opportunities are much less plentiful. The ability to network online has become a great boon to the artist, but unless you are able to stick out, you can end up being a very small fish in a very large pond.
The tax credit seems to have been instrumental in bringing Hollywood to the south, and with it came an innumerable amount of opportunities. The best advice I can give is to cast a wide net. You never know what project out there may need your input and talent.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My personal portfolio can be found at ryanyoungart.squarespace.com.
For my professional work, look no further than the newest season of ARCHER on FXX.
I can be reached for any commissions and freelance opportunities at abbeyadaia@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: ryanyoungart.squarespace.com
- Email: abbeyadaia@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ryanyoungart
Image Credit:
Ryan Young
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