Stephen Silver

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Stephen Silver and I am a self- employed artist.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I worked doing caricatures at parties and shopping malls and painted store windows at Christmas time.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
My favorite character design job was designing Kim Possible, Great crew and fun to design, Also I am real proud of my own publishing company I started and The online school Schoolism.com that I am partners in.

How did you become interested in animation?

My parents gave me an article from a newspaper about animation back in 1997 and I submitted my portfolio to Warner Bros. My first love for animation starts like most back in my childhood, but it was never a dream of mine to get into it.Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?

I’m originally from London, England. Moved to San Diego at the age of 10 and then moved to L.A for animation in 1997. I Met a guy that worked as a storyboard artist on Freakazoid and kept in contact, brought my portfolio to show him and he handed it off to the folks on a show called Histeria, They gave me a test and hired me.What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?

I work from my home studio which is detached from my house. I start working from around 9am and balance my day between my own creations and studio work as well as teaching my online students.What part of your job do you like best?

I Love being able to make my living working from home. I love getting new design challengesWhat part of your job do you like least?

The least favorite part of my job is if I have to work with indecisive people. It’s important to be a decision maker, it makes everything easier.What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?

For me there is nothing difficult at all, other than making sure I get jobs from Union Studios from time to time in order to get the great medical insurance.What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?

I use a 21inch cintiq computerIn your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?

More illustrator greatness. I am good friends with MAD magazines Mort Drucker, I had one night over for dinner. Jack Davis, Paul coker Jr, and Sergio Argones. That was a great evening.Describe a tough situation you had in life.

This may sound crazy, but up to this point it has been great!

I have created a line of videos on schoolism.com where I filmed the great Mort Drucker and Stan Goldberg of Archie comics, at home drawing in there studios, I have also created a How to Self Publish lecture on the site. I teach the character design course there too. I am creating my own intellectual property IPAD book, that will be interactive for the user, and I am currently also creating a really cool line of Plush toys, never been seen before.

No, just burping for my kids when they pull my ear.Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?

Practice!!!, draw all the time and have a diversified portfolio and AVOID MANGA!!!!!!!