Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Finn.
Hi Jim, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I graduated Pasadena Art center college of design in illustration/fine art. I was doing oil paintings and commissions in oils for galleries and some retail stores and private. Art shows, like Brentwood, Palm Desert and Beverly Hills fine art shows. I have a friend who was at Hanna Barberra and asked if i could help out with some background paintings for H&B animated cartoons. I said sure and brought my portfolio to the art director to apply for the job. He looked at my work and asked if i paint in acrylics? I said no mostly oils. He said go to the back and get a box of acrylics you’re hired! 🤣🤣🤣 When can you start 🤣🤣🤣 I’ve been in animation since 30 years 🙂
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
30 years in animation and switched to digital in mid-nineties. All the while continuing my own passion of painting in oils… Once going totally digital I missed the natural painting process, but animation was going that way. 🙁 This made painting in oils a real treat 🙂
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I began as a painter, oils, animation, 2d backgrounds, visual development and then tried art direction then production design, I like visual development best. Proud times have been Iron Giant backgrounds, Frozen visual development and the last twenty years at Disney feature animation : ) My career in animation in general has been a great career and all the lovely people I’ve met and worked with. Many have become best friends and that’s priceless! Disney Florida stands out a great adventure too : )
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Work at home has been lovely 🥰
Contact Info:
- Website: jfinnart.com
Image Credits
James D Finn
