Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Stef's Sketches

One of the best things about blogging is other bloggers. You may have seen comments here occasionally from Stéphane Kardos. I love his art and was honored when he sent me this sketch inspired by my post of September 14th. I asked Stef if I could post it and he agreed. We did an email interview. I cut out my questions because his answers are the interesting part.


about the picture:

I painted this on my iphone (after I saw the photo on your blog) with a software/application called "Brushes." It's like having a mini Photoshop in your pocket. I also use an application called “Picoli” to play with the sharpness of my final painting.


I love the light in Altadena. The sunsets are amazing! And the light on the mountains is mind blowing, but it changes so quickly, by the time you are ready to paint, the light is gone! The only way was to take a photo and paint it at home in my studio.


But I love being on site, I love the spontaneity, the mistakes because you were in a rush, or because the car I was painting just left, this person moved...


So this little software is a treasure. I just go around with my iphone in my pocket, and when I spot a beautiful light in the sky, a reflection on a building, a car parked under a street light, I just do it. I’m planning on doing 100 mini paintings on my Iphone and put a book together.


about Stef:


I was born about 50 miles North East of Paris, in the Champagne area. Beautiful, great food and Champagne almost for free... but not much to do.


As a child I was in love with Disney movies and Tex Avery cartoons! My Mum got me a book about him when I was 11, and I copied the drawings so many times, it was a great way to learn how to draw cartoon characters. When I was 16, I moved to the North of France to study in Animation School. After I graduated, I went to an illustration school in Strasbourg, to “Les Arts Decoratifs”. After a year I was hired as an illustrator at a small studio that was doing children’s books and adapting Disney Animated Movies into kids’ books.


I started at the Disney Studios in Paris in 1997, then moved to their London Offices in 2001. I stayed 6 years there, and was offered a job in L.A. last year. My wife and I had just got married; we jumped on the opportunity to discover a new country!


I’m a Director Character Artist at Disney Consumer Products in Glendale, heading a team of Artists that mainly draws Winnie the Pooh for all consumer purposes. We do everything from the first rough drawing to the final color artwork. I’ve been drawing Winnie the Pooh and all the characters around him for a long time, and I still love it. I also draw a lot of other Disney characters; I’ve been working on Fairies recently, Hannah Montana, WALL-E…


Working here in California was a dream I had when I was a kid in France. To be actually here now working in the Disney Studios is so inspiring.

My wife and I moved in Altadena last November. It was a bit of a shock when we arrived in L.A from Europe last August. We were used to old buildings and small streets, and we didn’t find any of this until we discovered Pasadena. We were so happy to see people walking around on Colorado, shops, restaurants, it felt more European.


Then a friend told us about Altadena. We drove there and fell in love. It looked like the South of France, palm trees, mountains, a lot of vegetations, and we loved the fact that it was quieter than Pasadena and a bit quainter. We bought a beautiful house from 1914. My wife, our dog and myself are very happy; Altadena felt like home as soon as we moved in.


I’m very inspired here, and will be for a long time. I learn more and more everyday about this beautiful part of L.A that my wife and I call home.


29 comments:

Tanya Breese said...

Wow, that is so cool! I enjoyed his rendition of your photo and learning about him....totally cool!

Anonymous said...

Moi aussi. Merci.

Susan C said...

Makes me proud to be a fellow Altadenan!

Unknown said...

Merci beaucoup! just to clarify Tanya, I didn't do this little painting from Petrea's photo, I went down there on Sunday afternoon, on washington, and painted it on site...while some cars passing by were honking at me :)

Laurie Allee said...

This is great! I love it that an interesting post inspired a beautiful painting which is now inspiring this cool conversation.

USelaine said...

These are sensational! On SK's blog, he says he uses his finger?!? Does he use a tablet pen as well?

I haven't seriously considered getting an iPhone, but this has me thinking about it - who needs to make calls?!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks for clarifying, Stef.

Stéphane went to the site (braved a few drunks and honking horns, right?) and did the painting there. I'd like to edit the post to make it more clear but I'm having html problems today.

Anonymous said...

So lovely! It's hard to go wrong with old signs and late afternoon light. You captured that feeling so well. :-)

Saretta said...

Interesting interview...thanks for sharing it!

Anonymous said...

I wonder if iphone paint shop is easier to use then photoshop? I like Mr Kardo's blog very much. Great interview Petrea.

Unknown said...

Thanks everybody for the feedback!
- Uselaine. I only use my finger as the iphone screen doesn't work with a pen, so everything is made on site, with my finger. No editing later on photoshop.

- Pasadenaadjacent, the painting program on the iphone is not as easy to use as photoshop as it's very limited and you paint/draw with your finger. Also there are no layers options, no pressure sensitivity. It would be much easier on photoshop as you would have a great selections of tools and options.
Thanks for the feedback! :)

Vanda said...

Wow, this is a small world! I work for Disney too, with the Interactive Media Group. We use DCP content all the time. Pooh and Alice in Wonderland are my all time favorite Disney properties. Of course Pooh has been with me since childhood when I read the books.

Vanda said...

Oh, and I love those sketches!

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you, PA. Stef, you should check out her blog(s). Vanda's, too, because of the excellent photography. What a small world (TM), eh?

Unknown said...

I will today Petrea!
So we are neighbors in Glendale Vanda? Thanks for your comment!

ben wideman said...

Awesome stuff Petrea! Great connection to make.

Katie said...

Amazing drawing and what a fabulous story! Stephane it's wonderful to be introduced to you and your work! I can't believe you did this drawing on a little iPhone. I can barely type on my ipod Touch!I just love the internet, I really do, for all the great connections that people are able to make. Thanks so much for sharing this with us Petrea!

Fashion Schlub said...

Such a beautiful painting of the signs!

Vanda said...

Nah, I'm in Burbank. Hopefully we will be neighbors in Altadena though, maybe in a year or so.

Unknown said...

Sorry Petrea, I don't mean to hijack your blog, just would like to thank all the people who left some feedback, I really appreciate.

- Thanks Ben!

- Thank you very much Katie for your kind words.

- Thanks Islipian.

- Don't hesitate to stop by if you see me painting around Altadena Vanda, I look exactly like my little avatar, only I do not have blue hair...yet :)

Petrea Burchard said...

Katie, aren't you heading for Paris pretty soon? Wheeeeeeeee! And happy birthday!

Hijack away, Steph. Today, my blog is your blog! Thank you for letting me feature you, it's been fun. Maybe I could feature other local artists, from time to time eh, PA? AH?

Unknown said...

well, merci beaucoup for having me here today Petrea, I really appreciate it and thanks a lot to all of you that left feedback, I'm looking forward to visit your blogs and stay in touch!

frazgo said...

Great post. Or should I say Tres bien, c'est magnifique! As if I need another blog to check into from time to time, but this one is a winner so its now bookmarked.

Now make sure he shows up to the next bloggers picnic.

Ms M said...

What a wonderful post! And such a cool painting! Thanks for sharing this with us.

Petrea Burchard said...

Frazgo, it's done.

Any other local bloggers who don't have the info about the upcoming blogger get-together, email me or check with Aaron Proctor. Or Frazgo!

Christie said...

Wow! That is so amazing! I would love to work in a community of people that are incredibly talented and creative like that. Can you just imagine the ideas that float around there?

Petrea Burchard said...

As a creative person you'd love it, Christie. Every community has creative people, but artists tend to flock to Altadena. It's a beautiful place.

Rosie said...

How talented!
And using an iphone!! that impresses me even more!

Profile Not Available said...

Wow! What a great connection! This is why I love blogging!

I have a postcard I picked up for you. May I send it to you?