TIEL SEIVL

Wow, time is of the essence here. I have amazingly two children asleep this afternoon and any minute they could wake. My synopsis is short and sweet...a bit like me.

I am currently a mum who craves the creative outlet. I sneak into my studio at any given moment of the day to work or create or look and be inspired. I am a freelance designer doing small work for people who want logos, basic websites etc. What I love doing is illustration. Since having children I have started a new side of my company called ABCmes. Personalised Artwork for Children. My background is in Fine arts(printmaking) and teaching design and art. My website is www.tsktsk.com.au
you will be able to find me at tsktsk.typepad.com...after I nut out a few technical issues!


When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?

About 1992 when I was half way through completing my BA in Fine Arts degree. I realised that I had chosen the wrong course. I was surrounded by people who just wanted to paint, it just wasn’t enough form me. I chose a computer graphics subject, and WOW this is what I want to do. However, I finished my BA and I am glad to say that majoring in printmaking has given me real, hands on skills that I use in my graphic design when I can. I love combining the organic with new technology.


Who or what inspires you?

At the moment, those who have become successful from their artistic and creative talents. I could surf the internet daily and be impressed with someone. A few at the moment are, Ali Edwards, Maria Carluccio, Donna Ingemanson. And of course my children, who remind me everyday that I must not lose my creative urge to make or design something.


Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?

I completed a university degree. Believe it or not I fell into teaching at University and TAFE levels and taught myself so much by teaching the students. I loved coming up with projects for them, because it made me do them too. I train up when I can on small courses and diplomas that are relevant to my interests.


How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?

Work. Explore. Buy beautiful books and magazines. I would love to do more. I don’t go to art galleries enough.


What are some of your current projects?

Personalised ABCme artwork for children. I love making them and get a buzz every time I receive an order. Basically, you tell me the name of the child, select from the images I have created, choose a colour scheme and I render and personalise everyone. I have also been designing some logos and branding imagery for various companies, from software products to children’s products. Had fun making one for tumbleweed kids.


Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?

The ABCme artwork I guess. I have 2 kids under 4 and started the artwork for children 2 years ago. Visit www.tsktsk.com.au. I have many ideas in my head...just not enough time. Tumbleweed Kids. Loved designing the logos. Visit www.tumbleweedkids.com.au


Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

Felting...next Wed I begin. Would love to update my computer skills and have a mentor.
Oh yes, textile design. I love crossing media.


Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?

Be inspired by what others do. Be honest with what you do.


What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?

Good use of design elements, such as colour, space, texture etc. I could write all day on this...


What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

Do something creative other than what I am doing. I often quilt, sew, scrapbook, animate. So long as I am making something. My ideas often cross over from one medium to another.

And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?

Spicks and Specks. (ABC TV Australia. Music Quiz Show) It is about the only show I watch.


Related Links:

www.tsktsk.com.au

tsktsk.typepad.com


Recent Work:

WARD JENKINS

Ward Jenkins is an animation director, illustrator and designer living in Atlanta, Georgia. He currently works for Primal Screen, an award winning animation company that focuses primarily on broadcast animation and design. His work has been seen on such networks as Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, PBS Kids, TNT, HGTV, Animania, to name a few. Ward has been animating professionally for 10 years and has been with Primal for the last 5. Besides being an animator, he also enjoys painting, illustrating, photography, and doing graffiti on the side. He's also been known to collect old things (lots of interesting old things.)


Ward has been married to Andrea, his soul-mate and "secret weapon," for 11 years, and they have two children together: Ava (5), and Ezra (2). You can find Ward spouting animated prose and what-not on his blog, The Ward-O-Matic (http://wardomatic.blogspot.com), which has become his most recent obsession for the last year and a half. Stop on by if you're the curious type. He'll thank you for it.


When did you first decide to become a graphic designer/ illustrator? Was there a pivotal moment?

I've always drawn. Just like your average kid, I picked up a crayon and drew things and loved it. But for some strange reason, I kept it up when others started to focus on other things, and continued drawing throughout school and then high school. I was pretty much the "artist" of my class who would draw things for my friends, if asked nicely. It got kinda old, but I pretty much enjoyed the extra attention that it gave me from time to time. So, really, my desire to become an artist/illustrator started pretty young. Sorry, no pivotal moment for me.


Who or what inspires you?

There is an ongoing roster of many artists, illustrators, and animators who inspire me on a daily basis, so it'll be hard to pinpoint exactly who, especially since it's always changing, evolving. But there are a few biggies who helped form the basis for my artistic upbringing. I loved Jack Davis and Charles Schultz in my early years, but it wasn't until my college years when I realized this whole world of art that I had yet to tap into. Jean Michael Basquiat, Marcel Duchamp, John Cage, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly helped me look at this world around me with new eyes. When I started to get into animation, I drew upon the talents of Ward Kimball, Freddie Moore, Mary Blair, Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnston, to name a few. Lately, I've been getting into a lot of old stuff, like vintage children's books, vintage ephemera, illustrators from the 50's - 60's, Jim Flora, The Provensen's, Aurelius Battaglia, etc. There's just something about that era. I can't explain it.


Where does your training come from? Self-taught? College/Art School?

Even though I went to school and got a BFA in Illustration at Georgia State University, I'm largely self-taught when it comes to animation. I learned from reading books and watching animated movies and shorts frame-by-frame. I was so curious as to why these particular animators did the things that I was seeing on screen. It was amazing to me. And when I learned about timing and the difference between "ones" and "twos," well, that was monumental. A door opened for me that day, and I've been trying to wrap my brains around it ever since.


How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?

Being aware of your surroundings, contemporaries, fellow artists/animators -- seeing what they are up to, but then doing your own thing and taking it further than anyone else would. Take it far without breaking it.


What are some of your current projects?

I wish I can tell you what I'm working on currently, but I'm not allowed to mention any current project until it airs. However, I can tell you that I just finished up directing the most recent Cocoa Puffs commercial, produced through Saatchi & Saatchi. I'm very excited and very proud of that one. It's a biggie. It was very intimidating, however, to follow in the footsteps of Renegade Animation, who produced the previous Cocoa Puff spots. Smooth, full animation with impeccable timing is not easy to do, especially when you're under a deadline, but I saw it as a challenge. I think we succeeded. It's airing now on most of the kid's networks.



Which of your projects are you the most proud of? And why?

Besides the Cocoa Puffs spot, I am most proud of my two animated short films I produced independently while working at an animation boutique in the late 90's. The first short was called "figure drawing," and the second, "noir." They both had modest showings in the film fest circuit, but it was an incredible rush to see your film projected up on the big screen. That is a feeling I plan on experiencing again some day.


There have been a number of great jobs that I've been proud of throughout the years: the most memorable being the ones where I got to design the characters as well as the entire spot itself. I once animated the opening to Charles Barkley's short-lived show on TNT, called "Listen Up!" done in a blocky, chunky style that I had picked up from my stint in graffiti. In fact, I got to meet Mr. Barkley himself, who then turned to me and said, "So you're the dude who drew me with a pointy head?" It was a classic moment, one that I'll never forget.


You can view the Listen Up! opening on Primal Screen's website (www.primalscreen.com), in the "Openings" section. The Cocoa Puffs spot is not up on the site yet, but I'm working with the tech guy at Primal about getting a nice quality version available to download soon. I'll let you know as soon I as know anything.


Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?

I'm pretty happy with what I do in animation, but I do love painting. There's something about real paint on real textured paper. I love it. I need to keep that painter inside of me fresh, but lately he's getting a bit parched. Also, graffiti is a big outlet for me that allows me to look at design, color, characters in a completely new light. I haven't been able to find the time to get out and paint, though.


I'd love to illustrate children's books. That's something that I've been wanting to do ever since I got into the business. Some day I'll all these things. Some day. But me a busy, busy man.


Any advice to the novice designer/ illustrator?

Be patient. Don't expect to make it big right away, right off the bat. It just doesn't happen like that. There'll be plenty of dues to be paid, so just be prepared for getting down and dirty. I worked at a movie theatre shelling out popcorn to moviegoers for 3 years before I really was able to do anything worthwhile towards my career. And I was in my mid-20's, too!


What makes a designed piece or illustration successful?

Art is subjective, but if something doesn't look good it's usually because of a lack of basic design principles; composition and balance, clean, effective communication to the viewer -- that sort of thing. If you don't make a connection with the viewer, then your piece has lost its purpose. The same can equally be said of animation, too. In fact, communication is one of the main points of animation.



What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?

I don't want to sound so cliche but I enjoy just hanging out with my wife and kids. They provide me with endless inspiration, not to mention countless hours of amazement and wonder. If I didn't have my wife there right beside me at the end of the day I don't know what I'll do. Go bonkers, I guess.



And finally, what is the best thing on prime-time TV right now?

My big three: LOST, Project Runway, and The Office. There's a big hole in my heart that once was saved for Arrested Development. I miss that show. At least there'll always be DVD sets.


Related Links:

http://wardomatic.blogspot.com
www.primalscreen.com


Recent Work: