Annette Marnat

Artist Spotlight is a place to showcase new artists as well as revisiting talent.  Enjoy this interview sharing the stories about their work, career, and process for navigating the winding road that artists must take in order to become a professional in such a creative, respected, and sought after career.

This is the artist Annette Marnat.  For more about this artist visit their CTN Profile: CLICK HERE

Can you first tell us where you are working now and how you landed there? 

Well, I'm leaving near Paris, but I come from a tiny village in the middle of France, and I landed there because my lover is working here.

What was your path to Animation? Were you always interested in animation or fine arts growing up?

I grew up with animation because I spend so much time to watch the Japan or Warner's cartoons, Disney films, and Hannah Barbara's productions.

As far as I can remember I always tried to reproduce my TV heroes without thinking it was a real job / I could one day work as character designer for animation!

Since my childhood, I'm connected with arts or the beauty in general, even though there is no artist in my family, no museum in my village!

However I remember I had a special approach with academic arts when I was young: I wasn't a dunce but since I got bored by classes, I spent time to watch picture of my school books illustrated by famous painting or piece of art.

Where did your path lead you from there?

I studied academic arts and particularly illustration during 4 years train in Emile Cohl School in Lyon.

I completed my art training with animation, so I came to the Gobelins School in Paris. But I left the school one month after because my heart belongs to ... illustration!

What were your artistic inspirations growing up and how did they change over time?

Milt Kahl for animation and most of all Jiri Trnka and the Provensen are my lifelong inspiration. Landscape, and people of daily life are my favourite inspiration as well!

And that never change over time!

Do you mind sharing your artistic process a bit? What are your mediums of choice or tools artists might try?

There are no mischief or special tricks in my artistic process, but I want to keep some secret on the way I'm working.

My favorite mediums are: watercolor, gouache and wax pastel! Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to work with one of them, so I'm always working on Photoshop but I attach importance to obtain textures or effects similar to traditional mediums.

How do you stay driven creatively in-between projects and on your own work in between studio projects?

My blog and the different projects I drive for children's book industry help me a lot to keep creative. They are like laboratory or playground for me, and publishers give me "carte blanche" That a great chance!!

What have you learned about your art and the life of an artist that you may want to share with people?

Year after year, I learned a lot about me through art!.

And I want to share something I'm saying to myself: "there are so much over talented artists through the world, so keep humble, keep doing what you have to do, the best way and the more love you can, keep focused on your own identity and your own singularity".

How did you get involved with CTN and what have you found CTN brings to you as an artist?

I heard so good things from friends about the CTN, and I know brilliant artist are there every year, that was an evidence to say YES to the Tina Price invitation! I guessed it could be a very rewarding experience!

Are there things about the industry that CTN has helped open up?

Since I'm working for animation from my home in France, CTN helped me to meet the people I worked with this last years, or the people I admire.

It was also the occasion to have a global vision of animation industry, and estimate the artistic level of quality presented there!!

I felt so small and so overwhelmed by this entire big talents panel!

Interview by Heather M. Shepherd

Heather is an experienced artist, modeler, and CG designer. She has worked at Disney,Dreamworks, Jim Henson and Warner Bros. Recently shehas been writing, directing,and producing her own award winning films.