2007 - 03/2007 Meeting

Page Created: 09/25/10. Last Updated: 10/29/10. Last Google Group Page Update: 12/29/07.

WILLIAM O' CONNOR

William O'Connor's website is: http://www.wocstudios.com/main.htm

MEETING SUMMARY:

Meeting Date: March 10, 2007.

Meeting Site: Saddle River Valley Cultural Center.

Official Attendance: 17.

Meeting Program: Talk by Science Fiction Artist.

Notes:

Meeting Memories:

Newsletter Account:

Wiliam O'Connor demonstrated a talent for art at a very young age. According to his mother, he could draw before he could talk. His talent was recognized early on and he took art classes and tutoring sessions before and during high school. He continuted his work and studies in college. He had two choices before him when he graduated, he could either dedicate himself to becoming a fine artist and do gallery shows for "snobby smokers he didn't like," or he could become a commercial artist and do the kind of work he had enjoyed since his childhood when he purchased and cover stripped fantasy novels to save their Michael Whelan covers.

William O'Connor does not present a slide show of his work. He instead brought a half dozen paintings and his sketchbook. He talked about his approach and technique, relating generalities to the specific pieces he had brought to the meeting. One of his paintings was for a them anthology about Quests for the Grail. He explained the classical symbolism of the various elements in the work as well as the circular line flow which swirls through the composition and leads to the heart of the hero. This is not to imply that he approaches his work in a dry, academic manner. Mr O'Connor often accompanies his work with sound effects, especially in the early, conceptual stages of the work. There has been more than one instance when the roar of rockets or the neighing of horses from his work area has occasioned a call from his wife of: "What's going on up there?" "Ummm. I'm drawing." His wife is an accountant and thinks that he is crazy.

Our guest stated that one thing science fiction had taught him was to be unafraid of change. Oil had been his medium of choice for 25 years. "If it's good enough for Rembrandt, it's good enough for William O'Connor." Everything changed a little more than a year ago.

Mr O'Connor had been scanning and emailing his sketch proposals to art directors for years. He decided to upgrade his system in 2005 and told the salesman to give him the best system they had. He got it to his car and then decided, "Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound." He walked back into the store and said, "I'll take one of those and one of those, and one of those. Boy, did that saleman have a good day! He asked me if I wanted this electronic sketch tablet. 'Sure!' I said" By the end of the day, he had the system up and running. Within a week, the oils were packed away for good.

Another change has been his clientele. Book cover illustration was where the action was at the start of his career. But now he is primariily involved in media projects--games, television, movies, and the like. He is frequently used as a conceptual/developmental artist for a particular property for months at a time. A game designer might have him work up a selection of roughs before having the animation department start down a path which might not satisfy the powers-that-be.

..........Although Mr O'Connor is doing what he loves, he remains cognizant that it is a business, and if you do not address the needs of the business, you will soon be out of business. Being able to properly estimate the time requirements of an assignment is critical to taking care of business. He gave an example from his personal experience. he was approached to do hundreds of black and white interiors for a particular project and determined that in order for the job to make financial sense, he would have to be able to knock out a drawing every 15 minutes for x number of hours. He took out a timer, produced a couple of 15 minute sketches, and showed them to his prospective employer. The employer was satisfied with the quality of the work and they came to an agreement.

Our guest has taught classes in art for years, and this served him in good stead at the meeting. Not only was he comfortable before an audience, but being a teacher has forced him to think through and be able to articulate the various processes he uses to translate what is in his head to what appears on paper or canvas. Few of our past artist guests could match the clarity and enthusiasm offered by William O'Connor.