The Naked Texture Artist

The Naked Texture Artist - Chris Nichols - Episode 4

December 25, 2023 Marque Pierre Sondergaard Episode 14
The Naked Texture Artist - Chris Nichols - Episode 4
The Naked Texture Artist
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The Naked Texture Artist
The Naked Texture Artist - Chris Nichols - Episode 4
Dec 25, 2023 Episode 14
Marque Pierre Sondergaard

Send us a Text Message.

The Naked Texture Artist is a podcast where VFX/animation veterans have deep and honest conversations about their challenges and growth as working artists.

The catastrophe has not been called off. Yet. The Hollywood strikes are resolved, supposedly. But obviously it will take time to rebuild what the drought has destroyed. Hiring has started again as a trickle here and there. But the whole “strikes are over and now everybody go back to work” was of course never going to materialise. So most people out there are still hurting.

This period, in the VFX industry's history, has been a grim reminder that we are living in a house of cards. Many, if not all, artists have had to have some serious reflection on their career, and what their future will look like.

You know I am a huge fan of Chris Nichols. Not only because of his texture work and his passion for our art and craft – but also because he is such a grounded yet thought-provoking person to speak to. This perfectly fits with the times we are living through.

This episode, I count as my most personal yet. Listening, and re-listening to my conversation with Chris has brought a lot of aha-moments and paradigm shifts for me personally. We talk a lot about our experiences being artists, and how that relates to jobs, studios and even hiring other artists.

I hope this can be as instructive and helpful for you too, as it has been for me.

Do yourself a favour, please, and explore and support the amazing work Chris also does on the side:

https://www.artstation.com/porkpiesamurai


Also mentioned in this episode is https://www.allanmckay.com/podcast-list-page/

and https://www.instagram.com/saltyanimators/

The Naked Texture Artist is produced by Marque Pierre Sondergaard.


Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thenakedtextureartist


Contact us on thenakedtextureartist@gmail.com


Follow us on https://twitter.com/nakedtexture and https://www.instagram.com/thenakedtextureartist/


Music copyright belongs to Tycho for the song Awake - https://tychomusic.com/


Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Show Notes Chapter Markers

Send us a Text Message.

The Naked Texture Artist is a podcast where VFX/animation veterans have deep and honest conversations about their challenges and growth as working artists.

The catastrophe has not been called off. Yet. The Hollywood strikes are resolved, supposedly. But obviously it will take time to rebuild what the drought has destroyed. Hiring has started again as a trickle here and there. But the whole “strikes are over and now everybody go back to work” was of course never going to materialise. So most people out there are still hurting.

This period, in the VFX industry's history, has been a grim reminder that we are living in a house of cards. Many, if not all, artists have had to have some serious reflection on their career, and what their future will look like.

You know I am a huge fan of Chris Nichols. Not only because of his texture work and his passion for our art and craft – but also because he is such a grounded yet thought-provoking person to speak to. This perfectly fits with the times we are living through.

This episode, I count as my most personal yet. Listening, and re-listening to my conversation with Chris has brought a lot of aha-moments and paradigm shifts for me personally. We talk a lot about our experiences being artists, and how that relates to jobs, studios and even hiring other artists.

I hope this can be as instructive and helpful for you too, as it has been for me.

Do yourself a favour, please, and explore and support the amazing work Chris also does on the side:

https://www.artstation.com/porkpiesamurai


Also mentioned in this episode is https://www.allanmckay.com/podcast-list-page/

and https://www.instagram.com/saltyanimators/

The Naked Texture Artist is produced by Marque Pierre Sondergaard.


Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thenakedtextureartist


Contact us on thenakedtextureartist@gmail.com


Follow us on https://twitter.com/nakedtexture and https://www.instagram.com/thenakedtextureartist/


Music copyright belongs to Tycho for the song Awake - https://tychomusic.com/


Additional sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com

Intro
Does loving texture work too much get in the way of your career?
Interview start – The challenge of creating digital human beings
Being a lead – how to balance it and find joy in it
Breaking into the industry
Intermission: One does not simply walk into Weta...
Breaking into the industry – Canada
Breaking into the industry – what to do differently?
Intermission: Imposter syndrome
Coming from a small-town background
Intermission: Luck, hard beginnings and how your career trajectory plays out
Canadian work exploding
How to spot bad gigs
Intermission: “Every studio will do that” - Making sense of studios and our place in the world
The ebb and flow of hiring trends and your priorities as an artist
The perspective of the hiring team lead
Do's and don'ts of reels and the hiring process
Outro