Arterview: brightobject
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We try to feature artists from all layers of the community in this arterview, be they talented newcomers or seasoned veterans. This time, it'll be the latter, as we'll be learning more about an experienced artist who has been around for quite some time on Smogon and has built up a reputation of offering solid advice and pulling off various art styles: brightobject!
Bummer
Who are you, and what would you describe yourself as?
brightobject
I'm brightobject, and I'm just your run-of-the-mill high schooler looking at a career in the arts.
Bummer
You were first known on Smogon as hiddenpowerice, and while that's an excellent coverage move, it seems you were in the market for an upgrade. Any particular reason behind your name change?
brightobject
It seemed a bit redundant to use something from Pokémon as a Smogon username, and I wanted to try something "artsy"—a quip from an Elizabeth Bishop poem fit the bill nicely, I think.
Bummer
You often refer to yourself as an art student. How much training or education do you have thus far under your belt?
brightobject
I've been drawing and doodling for most of my life, but I didn't start getting any real training until 6th or 7th grade. I've been learning from mostly out-of-school teachers since then. I'd like to say I'm well versed in art, but I really didn't get professionally interested in it until a few years ago, so I still have a LOT to learn on the historical and technical sides.
Bummer
Even though you're still at an early stage of your journey, do you have any sage wisdom for artists out there also thinking about pursuing their interest?
brightobject
Hmm... Listen to the shoe companies and just do it. Spending too much time planning, revising, thinking, and talking can end up wasting a lot of valuable time. Sometimes you just have to jump in and get it over with so you can move on to the next stage. Especially in art, where people want to see results, not just plans or sketches, although those are good too. Ideas and technique both in one package is what everyone is looking for.
He paused for a brief moment.
brightobject
...Or at least that's what everyone tells me.
Bummer
Making art your career is not a half-assed task—it's all or nothing.
brightobject
Definitely.
Bummer
Speaking of jumping into the action, what made you eventually land on Smogon's platform?
brightobject
hmm... I actually don't quite remember. It was probably a combination of YouTube and me goofing around with some irl friends on PS! that made me aware of Smogon. I never was that interested in learning Pokémon competitively, but reading analyses and watching matches made me feel like a "real pro" (ha ha), so I kept it up until I discovered Firebot, which never failed to give me a laugh or two. I lurked for a really long time, and then I finally made the hiddenpowerice account when I found out that Smeargle's Studio existed, which was something I could readily contribute to. I think that's a little out of order, but you get the picture.
Bummer
Let's backtrack to a more basic interest: Pokémon. What made you interested in that franchise?
brightobject
When I was a kid living in Korea, Pokémon was one of my favorite cartoons. I didn't know about the games until I moved to the United States, but regardless, the variety and character of each of the 'mons fascinated me. I still have notebooks full of fusemons and the like lying around in the house. And, of course, I was part of the crowd of kids surrounding that one dude with the Game Boy and Pokémon Sapphire, trying to get a better look.
Made me think of my own schoolyard, except it was Pokémon Blue. The fact that I was getting old made itself silently remembered, but I brushed it aside and continued with the next question.
Bummer
Your work has been seen around various parts of the site, be it illustrations for The Smog webzine or just kickass thread banners. Has your history on Smogon treated you well?
brightobject
All in all, it's been pretty nice! People are usually pretty respectful regarding art, not much else to say, really.
Bummer
Looking over your art, one can immediately notice the sheer variety that you can pull off, both traditionally and digitally. But is there any particular style or technique that feels closer to home?
brightobject
To put it broadly, I like traditional more. It's much easier not having to deal with all those settings and dials and only using what's in your hands. My favorites are colored pencils and pens; they're small and versatile too.
Bummer
And here I am sweating beads if I don't have Ctrl+Z readily available.
He chuckled.
brightobject
There's one advantage of digital for you.
Bummer
Those who have followed your work more closely would have noticed plenty of character designs among your recent creations. Any projects you can discuss, or are they still stored for the future?
brightobject
I'm trying a low-key ghost story, but that's about it. Most of the things I upload are just experiments in character design, which I cobble together.
Bummer
Do you have a basic theme to your art? Do you strive towards being correct or abstract in general?
brightobject
Basic themes?
Brightobject's forehead furrowed.
brightobject
I take a lot of inspiration from shounen, to be totally honest. I want to draw big and epic. At the same time, though, I do want to try for correctness rather than abstraction. I don't think I'm at the point where I can pull off anything abstract at this point.
Bummer
With time on your side, is there something you would like to improve upon in the near future?
brightobject
Yes. I need to get better at the human form—male and female—and learn more about art in history.
I audibly sighed.
Bummer
Sorry, reflex reaction to history. But anyway, let's wrap this up with my hardest question: What is your favorite Pokémon?
brightobject
The classic. Let's see... Dusknoir? Glalie? One of the two. I always liked the scary ones.
Bummer
Impeccable choices. Lovely to have you on the arterview, and best of luck to your future endeavors! You seem to have a BRIGHT future ahead of you.
Get it?
But he was already gone.
Critique
Despite brightobject's relatively young age, a quick rundown through his works reveals that he has dabbled in various things already. Villain designs, abstract sceneries, charcoal drawings, and, naturally, Pokémon in all shapes and sizes are only some examples what his gallery contains, where colors are masterfully used to pump the images full of life. He has also proven to be someone who carefully does research before committing to a task, as the final results show a more in-depth understanding of the chosen content rather than an experimental attempt. While practice comes a long way, studying references and the theory behind what you draw comes a long way as well.
Thankfully, brightobject has been careful to not let his reputation get over his head, as he continues to search for new areas to improve upon, such as human anatomy, as previously mentioned. Most of brightobject's work consists of lineart with the appropriate colors and shades, so while there are some examples where he focused more on drawing exclusively with hues (such as the Mega Mewtwo pic below), there's certainly more to explore in that field in comparison, particularly when it comes to filling said images with various minor details to create an even stronger impression that's ever so present in his more traditional pencil works. Another challenge to tackle could also be depicting something from a high or low angle, as that can royally mess up the proportions and perspective, but it comes with stunning rewards if done right.
But this is just me feverously searching for chinks in brightobject's armor. It is clear to anyone that he treats his craft seriously, and judging by the results already, his art will take him far if he continues to search for new ways to hone his skills. If you'd like to follow his progress more closely, his Tumblr and deviantart accounts are only one click away, although his art thread within Smeargle's Studio is definitely worth a visit for all who wish to be inspired.
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