Josué Noguera

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Josué Noguera, a Spanish illustrator. I work as freelance, but I’m currently looking for a job in some animation or games studio.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I recently finished my student period (six months ago), so I haven’t work in another thing yet. Before I studied my two and a half years vocational course in Illustration, I tried with Architecture, but it really doesn’t works to me.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
One of the projects I’m proud was my participation in Lince Studios’ COSMOTRIP. It’s an online 3D animation series about an alien who is trying to conquer an absurd galaxy. I designed a secondary character, an egg-shaped robot. It was my first professional work and the very first time I see one of my characters on movement. Another project I really loved was the visual development I did for a game of my own creation, “Legends of Gong Gong”. It wasn’t a comercial project, I did it as part of my graduation work. But it was the first time I spent several months developping my own universe, and despite it wasn’t really a proffesional work I enjoyed it too much.

 

How did you become interested in animation?
I’ve been watching TV series and reading comics my entire life, and I really dreamed about working in that field. But when I grew up and I had to choose my career, people in my inner circle suggested me to study a “serious” profession. Art have a really bad perception here in Spain, and it’s not consider a profession by a lot of people. I chose Architecture, but it wasn’t my thing. I spent a really bad period of my life, and finally I get the courage for leave it and try to pursue my dream. I have to thanks a lot to my supportive parents!

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from Cartagena, a town in the south of Spain. As I said before, I left the university and then I studied a two and a half years vocational course in Illustration, in the School of Arts of Murcia (a near city to my home). The education there was awful, the curriculum was old-fashioned, and I had to work a lot by myself if I want to learn something. But I get my first professional contacts, and my first freelance works. I met a lot of nice people too. I finished it just six months ago. Now I have not enough freelance works for living, and I’m looking a job in a studio because I prefer working in a team.

 

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
I’m currently working at home, so I wake up every morning at 9:00. Breakfast, shower, and then I start working until 14:00. In the afternoon, I work since 17:00 until 20:00.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7-DJ-P294&feature=player_embedded

 

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
The creative one. I really enjoy creating characters and telling stories with them. It’s the only way I found to express myself and I really need it!

 

What part of your job do you like least? Why?
Dealing with clients. That’s another reason I’m looking for a job in a studio… I know economy is bad, but I also have bills to pay!

 

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
Paper and pencil, of course. But I work a lot with my beloved iMac, a little Wacom tablet and Photoshop (and sometimes Illustrator or Flash).

 

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
The hardest part for me, as a person I have never worked in a big studio, is getting the confidence of my clients / employers. When they trust on me, I prove I’m a good professional. I guess the beginnings are always complicated…

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
Not really. I’m friend with Alfredo Sommer, who is an awesome Spanish comic artist. I was his student in a comic art course and we keep a good relationship. He has encouraged and helped me a lot. In October I will be in Madrid for a masterclass by Sergio Pablos and Fernando Moro, so I hope I can meet them.

 

Describe a tough situation you had in life.
As I said, when I was studying at university. I don’t want to go into details, but I pass a depression and a period with a few important changes in my life. But now I’m here, fighting for my dream. It’s time to thinking about the future!

 

Any side projects you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
I’m not enough confident about my art yet, so I’m trying to improving it everyday. That’s my main goal nowadays. But of course, I have thousands of ideas for characters and stories. In writing the script for a short film too, but I can’t tell more yet.

 

Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
I have a really good memory. I can remember a lot of silly stories, about history, art or science-fiction. On the other hand, I’m really bad for remembering names and faces of the people of my life.

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
I still considering myself as a rookie, but from my personal experience, I would say: Don’t lose your motivation! Working hard and studying a lot it’s important, but it will be easier if you have a motivation. Try to put yourself some goals for short-term and long-term. And always, have fun with what you do!