Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brookes Eggleston. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Brookes thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I am almost done with a 3D Animated Pilot called Stormfellers that I’ve fully developed and funded myself, along with help from my audience. It’s been a long process, as there is so much to learn, juggle, pay for, and unexpected problems to solve. As someone that’s had a hand in the process on other projects many times over, I look forward to being able to release something that is fully mine, that I have full creative control over. I just hope it meets expectations, and can be the first step towards a larger journey- both for the characters, and my team and I.

Brookes, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started out in a career assisting a small 3D animation studio, where I helped with character design, 3D modeling, and storyboarding. From there, I began a career as a freelance illustrator with a focus on Character Design, and began sharing what I knew on Youtube on a channel called Character Design Forge. Consistently uploading new videos, working with people individually, and honing my craft over the years created a lot of personal growth and opportunities to share original characters and stories. My focus has always been not just on the skills, but the mindset creatives need in order to accomplish what they set out to. I began to design a cast through a series of videos that were not only fun and engaging for me, but something the audience really resonated with as well. That was the momentum I needed to turn Stormfellers into something bigger- while I could have taken what might have been a safer and more expedient route telling this story through comics, I decided to bite off much more than I’ve ever chewed before to create an animated series that seeks to emulate my illustration style. It focuses primarily on Biko, the medic or healer of the central team- the character that usually only offers support and sideline help to more conventional heroes.
The goal with the stories I want to tell is to focus on creativity in all it’s facets. For Biko, that might entail first the difficulties that come with being unappreciated or stretched too thin when surrounded by demanding people.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Something I’ve always struggled with is communicating what I do, and why it’s so important to me, to the non-creative or average person. Often, the way I describe what I do is met with an offput glance, confusion, a “like, kid’s books?” or the odd “…is there a big need for that around here?”

It’s something I’m still looking to define and make clear when I go to talk about what I do. Ultimately, I need to remind myself of what “work” means to most people- it’s just a means of filling time from 9-5 in exchange for money. Often, it’s miserable. Depending on your personality, it may not be likely that you ask intricate questions about the day-to-day work of someone working in customer relations, plumbing, or middle management.

It’s a rare thing to have work that you enjoy, and means so much to you, especially as a creative. Just don’t forget that you may be met with confusion, a neutral response, or even resentment from the folks who might even wish they could be in your shoes.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When I was publishing webcomics online as a teenager, sleep, rest, and taking care of myself were the last priority. Often times, I balanced the upload schedule with work and school, so I might be up regularly working until 3AM or later. It’s easy to develop a sense of pride in overworking yourself, but it’s not something your body and brain will let you get away with forever. As someone with ADHD, it can be hard to know where that cliff’s edge is, but once you’re over it, your body will likely force you to recover. The more restrained, intentional, and careful I’ve been in how much time I put into work, the easier it’s been for me to recover. Whenever I do end up pushing myself into overtime, each time feels worse than the last.

As early as you can in life, try to teach yourself that brute forcing work is not the only solution. The sooner you can learn sustainable habits, the more balanced and happy your life will be.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://brookeseggleston.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/bageldenizen
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookes-eggleston-286962323/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/bageldenizen
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/characterdesignforge

Image Credits

Brookes Eggleston 2024