At The Art Institute of Atlanta, I learned to draw and use Adobe products. Without this knowledge, I would not have succeeded in the field. Joe Karg , Background Illustrator, Floyd County Productions Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Animation, 2007 , The Art Institute of Atlanta

Creates Illustrations of Backgrounds for Animation

Joe Karg is a background illustrator of Floyd County Production, responsible for painting images in Photoshop. While he admits that it can be hard for a creative professional to work at a desk job, he designed his workspace creatively to keep things fresh. “I have made a huge effort to design my workspace in a way that I would want to spend time there. My lights are colorful, the artwork on my walls inspires me, and the sculptures on my desk delight me. I also keep a pretty silly attitude throughout the day.”

He mixes up his day by balancing drawing, answering emails, and taking meetings. Joe adds that a creative career requires commitment to the craft. “All of my time is spent learning and expanding my knowledge of art in one way or another. Even when I cook and plate my food at home, I’m thinking about color harmony and general aesthetics.”

Joe experienced the benefits of his hard work in the first few months working as a professional illustrator. “I began to realize that there were new opportunities for me on a weekly basis to demonstrate a skill I’d picked up through my schooling. Every sketchbook exercise of seemingly unrelated freelance job teaches you something new that you can apply later in your career.” He encourages meditation to keep his mind fresh and creative.

Joe, who in 2007 earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts & Animation from The Art Institute of Atlanta, says that he learned to draw and use Adobe products in school. “Without this knowledge, I would not have succeeded in the field.” He says that he’s lucky to be an illustrator because every drawing is an opportunity to stretch and grow. “On my latest piece, I used traditional ink on paper at a scale I had never worked—18x25 inches. The tools I typically use to make large marks now make small marks at this scale, so even though I’m applying the same principles of drawing, I’m having to use my tools in an entirely new way.”

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