What is your name and your current occupation?
Curt Walstead- freelance illustration
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I don’t know, animation is pretty crazy.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Dragon Tales, Baby Looney Toons
How did you become interested in animation?
Needed a job after graduating from art school and animation seemed like a fun way to make a living.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Grew up in central California in the small agricultural community of Merced. Animation was my first art job out of college.
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
If I’m on a project, I usually get about around 4:30 am and either sketch out concepts or get on the computer and start doing my finished
art. since I’m freelancing, part of my day will be spent reviewing the freelance job sites and making bids and checking in with my agent.
What part of your job do you like best? Why?
Sketching out my design concepts.
What part of your job do you like least? Why?
Clients that don’t understand the difference between subjective changes versus objective. If it’s subjective, then it varies from person to person and
it’s not really a change that ultimately matters in terms of whether the image works or not. You can end up wasting a day trying to read their mind as
to what they really want which they won’t know until they see it. That’s very frustrating. Also, clients that don’t tell you the whole story until your already
finished with the image.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
Read the above comment. Also, trying to come up with a fair price. I always seem to be too high or too low with my estimates. You need to cut a balance
between the client’s budget and what your time is worth and you need to be flexible to get the projects.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
Adobe Photoshop and sometimes Illustrator.
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
Nope.
Describe a tough situation you had in life.
The great recession of 2008.
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
Take some business classes.
