Jared Simmons

What is your professional name? Where were you born and does that place still influence you? Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

My name is Jared Simmons, though I have used several names when desiring anonymity. I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Living in a growing city has vastly influenced my digital interests and provided access to resources. My father and mother support my art, and they have supplied several resources for me to use to advance my developing career.

I first began making art in elementary school for mandatory projects and I doodled in class to pass the time. At that time, I discovered that creating was something I absolutely had to do, and I made up my mind to have a career in art. Over time, my work has become more refined and stylized. In my work, I typically try to communicate emotion and conflict.

When and how did you start making art? Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do? Why do you make art now? How has your work changed or developed over time? What are you trying to communicate with your art?

When it comes to making art, I almost always start with a well formed idea. I then sketch out the basic form and fill it with detail from there. Of all the elements I enjoy using, I

prefer the form, shape and color of my work. These three elements are what I use for my personal aesthetic, so I focus on them the most.

There are many different tools that I use, but my most important art tool is my mind, as all of my ideas stem from it directly and indirectly. I always know when my work is finished when I try to put myself in the shoes of a viewer who has never seen it. If I can identify my point of focus and the overall message in four seconds and the piece has all elements and principles of design, I know it’s done.

Earlier in life, I used graphite and oil pastels, but I have transitioned to using digital software as of late. Adobe After Effects for film, OpenToonz for long animations, and Sketchpad 4.1 for poster sized digital artworks. I generally prefer media that allow me to undo my mistakes.I am interested in learning ToonBoom animation software.

What is the first artwork you ever sold? Do you make a living from your art?

The first artwork I ever sold was an online commission on an art sight named Fur Affinity, where anthropomorphism is commonplace. However, I do not make a living from my art. I intend to once I get more established in the career.

What strategies could you share with other artists on how to become successful professionally?

The greatest strategy that I personally would give to other artists is to not give up, and to never stop improving. Several artist advise against comparing one’s own work to others, but I would suggest doing this occasionally. It helps one to see what elements and principles they could use in their own art.

I would also suggest not taking any criticism too personally, as it will directly affect one's productivity. It is vital for an artist to believe they can make it, and vital for an artist to not think that they are “special”, as there are more artists in the world than anyone can count. This is important because thinking in such a way can stifle one’s own growth and development.

An artist must always be the most critical of their own work, because they spend the most time working on it. The most important thing to do is always focus on pleasing your target audience, and know how to price your art.

What are your goals for the future, for both work and life? What interesting project are you working on at the moment?

My future goals are to get a secure income with a career that I enjoy, and art is that career. What interesting project am I working on at the moment? I am currently working on an animatic; a moving storyboard consisting of a boy going on a treasure hunt and encountering a fierce dragon that stands in his way.

What or who inspires you? Do you have a favorite – or influential – living artist?

Several Japanese artists have inspired me throughout my life. They include the manga artist Masashi Kisimoto whose best known work is Naruto; Akira Toriyama who is the creator of Dragon Ball and its sequels; and Hayao Miyazaki who is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and the creator of My Neighbor Totoro. These three artists had a big influence on my art style and direction.

My favorite, and the art that influenced me the most, is the original concept and character designs from the virtual pet franchise Digimon. These get credited to the anime creators’ pseudonym: Akiyoshi Hongo. The work is very detailed and resonates with me.

Where do you find ideas for your creative work? What does being creative mean to you? What is the best advice you ever had about how to be more creative?

I find most of my ideas from childhood inspirations, objects and animals that have a strong emotional appeal to me, including characters. However, I always prefer being more creative than following the exact footsteps of others' work. There is no specific way to make art, and that helps me express my creativity.

To me, being creative does not just mean making something that hasn’t been seen before, but means making something work in a different way than it originally could. The greatest advice I have for someone desiring to be more creative is to step beyond everyone’s boundaries. Start changing your work gradually, and figure out your personal aesthetic for the new subject matter.

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