Q & A with Joanna Goldman

During the day, Joanna Goldman works as a motion graphics/visual effects artist. And when that doesn’t keep her busy enough, she creates original characters, placing them on light switch covers, cards, magnets, pins, Scrabble pendants or clothing. Joanna also creates custom portraits and logos.

I chatted with her to give you a look into her art world. To see more, check out Joanna Goldman Designs on Etsy.

How has your study of visual effects in film and TV affected your art?

My journey to being a visual effects artist has been a long one. I started off doing some fine arts classes. This opened me up to experimenting with a wide range of different materials and styles. I then studied in 2D hand drawn animation for a couple years. This allowed me to REALLY learn how to draw and paint. But, it was while I was studying Motion Graphics and Visual Effects that I started developing my own unique style. This is the style that you can find the most of in my shop (although my style will forever grow and morph into new areas, the future may hold something completely different!)

Do you have any favorite products or portraits? Why those?

I love doing custom portraits. I think my favorite is this one (shown left). In the portrait is my brother and my cousin. My brother actually used this image as promo material for one of his albums. The style I used for this one is “rotoscope.” Rotoscope is taking individual frames (or pictures) and digitally painting over each one. I became a huge fan of this particular style after watching the movie “Waking Life.”

What’s your most popular custom request?

I usually get people wanting my characters, but in different colors to match their rooms. Sometimes people want photos of their kids.

Tell me about your original character designs.

My animals all started with Eli the Elephant (shown right). About three or four years ago I doodled him out on a train from Montreal to Toronto (was a common commute for me for a while). I liked how he looked both cute and pathetic (I mean pathetic in the most loving way). From then on I’ve been drawing animals that live in the same cute and pathetic world as Eli.

Do you decorate your place with your own art?

I have a few things up. My friends and family seem to have more! I seem to find an endless supply of art that I absolutely love on Etsy, so there doesn’t seem to be much room for the stuff I make (and have seen a bazillion times).
Still, my animals know that I love them and will always have a place for them in my heart, and on my fridge.

(Images via Joanna Goldman Designs.)