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Visual Development Portfolios: Original Or Reimagined Story? (Part 1) :: EAJ #1

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The term “Visual Development” is typically associated with the animation industry.

…but whether you’re a visual development artist, concept artist, illustrator, comics or children’s book creator, your job is to develop stories visually.

…and one of the best ways to demonstrate that you can develop a story visually is to… …well, um… Develop a story visually!

Most aspiring Visual Development Artists base their portfolios on fairy tales or popular novels.

…but would it be better to write your own original story and develop that?

In this episode, we examine the pros and cons of developing a well-known story like a fairy tale or popular novel. In part two, we’ll explore the less-common approach of writing and developing your own original stories.

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Meet Chris:

Chris Oatley was a character designer and visual development artist at Disney for five years before he left to create The Oatley Academy of Visual Storytelling. Chris Oatley's ArtCast is the #1 illustration podcast on iTunes. He co-hosts Escape From Art Jail, The Paper Wings Show and is a frequent contributor for ImagineFX Magazine. At The Oatley Academy, he teaches composition, color theory, character design, storytelling and digital painting.

Meet Edge:

Ejiwa Ebenebe (you can call her “Edge”) impressed her peers and teachers at The Oatley Academy with her sophisticated artistic style and wisdom beyond her years. She is an alumni of The Magic Box, Painting Drama and The Spark. In 2015, she joined Team OA as an Editorial Assistant where she is currently working with Chris Oatley to develop new business strategies for visual storytellers. Together, they produce and co-host Escape from Art Jail.

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Whether you’re pursuing concept art, illustration, character design, storyboarding, comics, animation or children’s books, The Oatley Academy will help you become a professional Visual Storyteller. Please reach out! We would love to connect with you.

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