First Impressions: Amanda Macfarlane
This vis-dev artist likes to know what makes people tick
This well-travelled illustrator likes to know what makes people tick.
Where did you grow up and how has this influenced your art?
When I was four years old my parents moved to Zambia as missionaries. I grew up there mostly and have travelled all of my life. Living an adventure fuels a creative soul. Meeting people from around the world gave me a passion for discovery. A passion for drawing my own characters and figuring out who they are. I consider every character I draw to have a background story, and sometimes a whole other world comes with it. So I guess living in Africa gave me a passion for creativity and discovering the endless possibilities of designing characters.
Where do you create your art?
I have a home office – it’s where
I do all of my digital art. I paint in here traditionally sometimes too, but for everyday sketching the world is my office.
What, outside of art, has most influenced your artwork?
Life is art. I get influenced daily by being a mother of three, having four animals, running errands, seeing people along the way or just watching TV. I think every part of our lives has a sort of cabinet of topics to pick inspiration from. It could be what we see that day, or how we feel in a moment. The topics are endless when you see your world through a creative lens.
What character or scene that you’ve painted do you most identify with?
Artists are a little bit like sleuths. Every character they draw is a mystery and they have to figure out what makes them tick. They have to find out what clothes they would wear, what attitude they would have, how good or bad their posture would be. While creating a character you’re on the hunt to find out who you’re drawing. I identify a little with every drawing I produce.
Is making a living as an artist all you thought it would be?
It’s so much more rewarding than I thought it would be. There’s a lot of struggle when you decide to become an artist. A lot of hard work goes into play, especially when you’re a self-taught freelancer. You’re your own agent and it’s up to you to get yourself noticed and out there for jobs. When you get discovered the pressure is on and the magic is real. The longer I’m an artist the more grateful I become. Last year was the first time I saw characters I designed in a movie. It was a moment I’ll never forget! A dream come true.
How has your art style evolved?
I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a crayon. Early on I practised other people’s stuff. I drew Norman Rockwell’s pictures almost every day as a teenager, along with VHS covers of Disney cartoons. When I was around 15 I tried to draw my own characters and they were nothing like what I had practised. I would have given up if it weren’t for my constant passion to put pencil to paper. Drawing from my imagination was hard for me, but like anything with practice became easy! Over time my style evolved and it continues to do so.
I don’t think you ever arrive as an artist – it’s a continuous growth. When I was younger I was more concerned with anatomy. Now I try to tap into the emotion or create more appealing characters through their wardrobe, environment and movement.
What does the future hold for you?
I’m working on a few cool projects, one of which will hopefully make it to the big screen. If more opportunities like this come my way, I’ll take them on with open arms! In the meantime you’ll find me filling sketchbooks and being optimistic in pursuing adventure. Amanda is a self-taught freelance vis-dev and character design artist working for Warner Bros. and Warner Animation Group. She helped design the look of the 2020 film Scoob!. See more of her work at www.instagram.com/theanimatedlife.
While creating a character you’re on the hunt to find out who you’re drawing