We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful JJ Gibson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with JJ below.

JJ, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

When I was younger, I thought I would grow up to be an engineer. Then, I thought I would be a musician. The concept of me pursuing a career in animation didn’t surface until I was well into high school, and every piece of art I ever created before then had been purely for leisure with zero professional education.

While I wish I had started experimenting with my art and how I create it earlier in my life (ESPECIALLY with digital art. Fun fact, i actually had to teach myself Photoshop in under a week my freshman year of college!), but I am also very glad that I had a less artistic goal as a child. I have mathematical knowledge, social skills, and an overall sense of well-roundedness that I fear I would not have gained had I started my creative career any sooner than I did.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is JJ, what that stands for is up to you! Seriously, I have a list. I’m an up-and-coming storyboard artist and character designer based in the Southeast United States, and I’m studying animation at the Savannah College of Art & Design. I originally started focusing on my creative career when I realized just how frequently I tell stories. I have experience in writing, storyboarding, character design, and daydreaming, and all of those pile up together to form my insane stories.

Alongside storyboarding, I’m a photographer! I do freelance photography on the side, and this hobby actually contributes to my main career. I pride myself on my dynamic shots in both my photographed and drawn work, as well as the turnaround rate my time management skills grant me.

Let it be known that if you ever see my name on a screen, I probably did the strangest thing in that project. I’m crazy.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Ever since I was a child, I’ve told stories. I want to be able to tell stories in the way of those that came before me in the animation field, and I’d like to continue the cycle of inspiration through animated cartoons. I’ve been forming my own story idea since middle school, and I’m hoping to one day bring that story to reality (hopefully on the small screen!) Even if it takes years, I’m never going to stop pushing to bring my characters to life.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’m still working myself through it, but I would say a big lesson I had to unlearn was that everything doesn’t have to be super perfect all the time. Recently, I’ve been filling a sketchbook from cover to cover. I’m used to creating artwork in its entirety, polishing it off so that it can stand alone as a finished piece. This sketchbook has forced me to not only fill the page, but to move on even when the sketch is loose and unfinished.

It’s okay if something isn’t finished or perfect. Sometimes, that’s the beauty of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ohnoitsjjgibson.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohnoitsjjgibson/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ohnoitsjjgibson
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohnoitsjjgibson
• Other: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CrazedCartoons

Image Credits
JJ Gibson