Channel Frederator Blog

Amanda Visell is a wonderful artist with many talents who runs the multi-talented Girls Productions along with the equally talented Michelle Valigura deep in the heart of Pasadena, California. Her paintings are pretty darn good at evoking wide smiles, as well as her Channel Frederator Interview Answers.
Thanks for taking the time to do this Amanda!

How long have you been animating/drawing/painting?
Forever.

Who are some of your influences?
Mary Blair, Eyvind Earle, Lou Romano. I like a lot of old disney conceptual artists.

Where were you born?
Puyallup, WA

Did you go to school for Art or Animation? If so, where?
Nope. Well, I kept attempting to take classes at the animation union but I would get frustrated and quit after a day.

What are some of your hobbies outside the world of animation/art?
I watch a lot of tv. I like eating.

What are you working on currently in the animation industry/Art world/?
Nothing for animation right now. Working on getting more products out there this year and illustrating a book Michelle wrote.

What company do you work for or have you worked for?
I work for myself. I used to work in stop motion animation for spacebass, and chiodo bros. So, like for Disney Channel, Simpsons, Elf. All stop motion stuff. For 2d Ive done some teeny tiny work for Laika, Animax, and Disney.

What do you think makes a cartoon or a children’s book good/ or a great painting or illustration?
I don’t know that Im a good judge, I have very particular taste. For me its all about the story telling, and I get tired of seeing the same old thing.

Have you ever shown your art in galleries? If so, where?
yes. Cities or galleries?

What types of reactions do you get from your art at first?
Laughter I think, I hope thats a good thing…

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to break in or just beginning in the Animation industry/Art world?
I dont know what advice I have… For me nothing has really worked out when I pushed it, so I’m trying to take opportunities as they come. Well, no Im not. Im a spaz.

What animation DVDs have you picked up lately?
The fancy Iron Giant…. 9 to 5 anniversary edition (that has animation).

What animation websites do you check in on regularly?
(bonus points for saying Lunch Break!)
Lunch Break, Cartoon Brew, Vinyl Pulse, Burgerlog, Talk to the Snail by Mr. Eric Homan.

Is there anything you want to say to the people out there in Blog-Land reading this?
Buy art! And stop googling girls productions to find porn!

Heh. Er… Well. It really does take you to a porn site (the other Girls Productions). I didn’t go there on purpose, I swear!
Anyhow, Cute Animals are my porn. I hope that doesn’t boost me up to weird Furry Status, but hopefully my fellow artists and friends with cute design sensibilities know what I’m talkin’ about.
Thanks again Amanda!
And Thank YOU all for reading!
-Jeaux Janovsky