Meet Josh Staub of Signs of Burbank

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Staub.

Josh, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Like most kids, I loved to draw, and I also loved music and storytelling/reading, but never really imagined those interests leading to a career, or even what sort of career that might be. Today, as an artist and filmmaker of 25 years, it seems so obvious that the confluence of those things is exactly what I do every day and I’m extremely grateful. I began my professional career at age 18 working for Cyan, creators of the groundbreaking Myst computer game franchise, where I ultimately served as the Art and Visual Design Director.

After spending almost 14 years designing and creating interactive worlds, my passion for crafting linear narrative compelled me to create The Mantis Parable, an 8-minute animated short film made entirely by me alone (story, animation, editing, sound, even writing and performing the musical score). This very personal project screened in over 100 festivals worldwide (Annecy, Tribeca), won numerous awards, qualified twice for Oscar nomination consideration, and graced the screens of the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institute, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York where it resides in permanent archive.

The success of The Mantis Parable is ultimately what brought me to Walt Disney Animation Studios, where for the last 11 years I have served in various artistic and leadership roles on five feature films (Frozen, Tangled) and five short films (Paperman, Feast, Inner Workings). Supervising and collaborating with literally hundreds of amazingly talented artists and technicians on enormous projects is thrilling and rewarding, but as a result, I find the need to paint and draw smaller pieces when I get home as a personal creative outlet. The Signs of Burbank painting series is one of those outlets for me.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I find that every artistic endeavor has its obstacles and difficulties.

For one thing, every project is unique and has its own creative and technical challenges, and early on it can be very stressful trying to find the right “look” or the right technique to achieve that look. Even when I think I’ve got things figured out new problems crop up, and along with that comes self-doubt.

To be perfectly honest, I think every project I’ve ever done has a stage about halfway through the project where I think – is this going to work? Is this good or is it terrible?

Even after 25 years of working professionally, I suffer through that. The key for me is to just trust my instincts and muscle through, and in the end, it always works out. Perhaps most difficult of all is trying to find the right work/life balance, and when I’m on a big project, it can feel all-consuming.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Jubilee Studios story. Tell us more about the business.
Jubilee Studios is my one-man creative outlet outside of my day job as an Artist and Filmmaker for Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Under this Jubilee Studios umbrella I work on both personal projects and commissions which, because of my diverse range of professional experience, can take many forms – drawings and paintings (large and small, traditional and digital), design (illustration, visual development, book covers), film and commercial direction, production, editing, scriptwriting, etc.

Basically, I enjoy any project that satisfies two key requirements – 1) it fits into my busy schedule, and most importantly, 2) provides me with a new and unique challenge that helps me grow as an artist.

Can you tell us more about the Signs of Burbank series.
I began painting vintage signs almost by accident. A couple of years ago, we remodeled our entire Walt Disney Animation Studios building here in Burbank, and for several months we were displaced to alternate locations for work.

A group of us ended up working in a building closer to the Burbank/Glendale border, which meant my daily route and routine changed. It was on one of those morning drives to work that I noticed a rusty old sign, so dilapidated that you couldn’t even make out the business name originally painted on it.

I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of believably recreating the look of materials and textures in my paintings; and specifically marks of decay and rust, which alone can provide evidence of a story. This particular sign’s story was that it had been uncared for and relegated to suffer years of abuse by the harsh Los Angeles sun.

Feeling sorry for the sign I was compelled to paint it to capture it in its current form, as a way to acknowledge its beauty and history. All of a sudden I began to notice these marvelous “characters” all over Burbank and the Valley, and then beyond that in my travels around the country. I just haven’t been able to stop painting them.

Pricing:

• Prints of my paintings range from $25 – $65 depending on size.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.signsofburbank.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @joshstaub.art
• Twitter: @joshstaub

Image Credit:
Jubilee Studios

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