This Week’s Featured Artist - FunkMonkey777
We love this week’s featured artist’s style and his sense of humor. He is an Art major in College and that is really cool for so many of our aspiring art students here at DoInk! I loved his advice for other DoInk users, he really knows what he is talking about. Unfortunately right now I have to go and rethink my life and/or go find the “Home Movies” television series after reading his great interview! He is super-serious as you can tell from this interview, and we love that too! This week’s featured artist is the incredibly talented and inspiring artist FunkMonkey777.
Tell us about yourself, what is a typical day like?
I’m a pretty simple guy. I like what I like, and I believe what I believe. I like to think that I get along with others pretty well, and I try my best to not get on people’s bad sides. I’m 20, so I’m an old fart (But I turn 21 on Sept.28th! WHOO! Even older! And fartier!), and I’m currently going to Ball State University for an Art degree.
My days are pretty much the same all around, hahaha. When I’m not working or in class, I’ll spend my time just hanging around with friends, drawing, or on the computer animating/procrastinating/
exploring the vast, uncharted seas of the internet machine. Also, every Thursday I make a pilgrimage to Minnesota to purify myself in the waters of lake Minnetonka.
I try to use the bathroom at least every other day.
How old were you when you started drawing? Ever animated anything before?
Oh man…I started really getting into drawing when I was in 5th grade…so…11? 12? A friend of mine would draw these comics about us and our little group of friends back then, and I absolutely loved them. And, being the impressionable young boy I was, I took to trying to do the same thing. I’ve always been more of a comic/manga guy, so I didn’t do any really animation before DoInk. I did make one animation about 4 years ago (If you want to see it, here it is: http://funkmonkey777.deviantart.com/art/Goku-vs-Vegeta-Flash-74320943) but that was really just for fun, I never really went anywhere else in animation after that.
Do you have a favorite artist or animator?
Oh man, where do I start? Jim Davis, he’s really one of my oldest inspirations. I’ve always loved Garfield, and it will always be one of my first inspirations. Then, there’s Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball was probably one of my biggest inspirations growing up, albeit not my first. I loved the action, and the artwork always amazed me. There are tons of others; Bill Watterson, Butch Hartman, Hayao Miyazaki, the list goes on, and on, and on, and on….and then on some more after that. Oh, and Don Bluth. That cat can animate like no other.
What inspires you?
Pretty much anything, really. Music, movies, TV, anime, a cloudy day, a sunny day, a day when it’s raining cats and dogs (figuratively), a day when it’s raining cats and dogs (literally), memories, visions of the future, and food. But that usually just inspires me to eat.
Do you have a favorite cartoon and/or anime character?
For a cartoon character…I’d have to say Coach McGuirk from the “Home Movies” television series. If you haven’t seen it, then I suggest you rethink your life and what you’ve really accomplished so far. Then go watch it ASAP. As far as anime goes, Goku. But only when he was younger, or in GT. Nothing against adult Goku, I just love that so much power is contained in such a little package.
What is your favorite musician or band, what are you listening to?
I listen to a little bit o’ errythang. From country to rap, and jazz to reggae. Michael Buble, Jack Johnson, Lacrae, Bob Marley, DC Talk, Carmen, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Sting, I dunno I really just named a bunch of random artists, hahaha. I listen to pretty much anything, I don’t have a specific taste. I also listen to a lot of Japanese music. I do have some favorite Japanese artists; UVERworld, M-Flo, and Ayumi Hamasaki(<3).
What are your Favorite websites, outside of DoInk?
Recently, Tumblr. I also have a DeviantArt. I check out Daizex and Kanzentai for Dragon Ball news, and really just wherever else. Usually when I’m online, I’m on MSN messenger. So I guess if you ever wanna chat it up just send me a message!
What are your hobbies?
Drawing/Animating, hanging out with friends, running, dancing at wedding receptions, singing in the shower, singing on the toilet, sneezing, watching TV/Movies/Anime/The Neighbors. I would really love to sing and act. I mean…I lack the skill to do either of those, but I think it’d be pretty fun to be good at them.
What are your favorite Computer Games?
I don’t really play computer games. I love The Sims, though. I’ve also played Minecraft some. That’s pretty fun.
How did you find DoInk and what is your experience so far?
I found DoInk one day when I was searching for easy and fun (Read: Free) animating software. I came across this site and thought it was pretty awesome, fun, and easy (Read: Free)! So far I’ve loved my time here. I haven’t really gotten to know any of the members that well yet, but every one is super friendly, and the atmosphere here is great! I’ve been to a lot of online communities in my time, and the people here are, by far, some of the nicest!
If you could add any features to DoInk, what would they be?
Hmmmm, I’m not really sure. I’m pretty much okay with it as it is! Maybe one of those little assistants like Microsoft Word had with that Clip guy. Except make it a cute girl telling me how hot I am. Like “Oh, that’s a really good tween there. You’re hot.” or “I think you should take out a few frames here, and decrease the opacity of that layer. You’re hot.” I dunno…stuff like that, I guess.
Any advice for other DoInk users?
Practice. Practice! PRACTICE! And then practice some MORE! That’s really all it comes down to. Don’t be afraid to try new things, and remember that you are usually going to be your own toughest critic. Sometimes the things you create aren’t near as bad as you think they are!
What is your favorite clip that you have done?
Probably my “The Most Beautiful Day Ever” clip. I kind of copied the idea from a comic I saw, but I still love how it came out.
The most BEAUTIFUL DAY, EVER!!! by FunkMonkey777, made at DoInk.com
Also, I didn’t know how to use the “Composition” feature…so this was pretty much all frame-by-frame. I started to hate my life halfway through.
