Career Advice from a Disney Animator - Aaron Blaise Interview

Aaron Blaise animated for some of the most well known Disney films. We dive into a ton of interesting topics including how Aaron Blaise got his start as an artist, his experience working for Disney and some of his upcoming projects. Want more Aaron Blaise? Check out our latest vlogs where we sketch animals at the zoo.
Zoo Sketching with Aaron Blaise: • Zoo Sketching with Aar...
Aaron’s Zoo Vlog: • 2 Approaches to Drawin...
Painting Aaron Blaise as Santa: • Painting Aaron Blaise ...
Make sure to check out his channel - / aaronblaiseart
TOPICS:
00:50 Internship and working for Disney
05:11 How did you get good so fast?
07:33 How important were mentorships?
09:53 Is there anything you would do differently in the way you trained?
13:28 So you were good at color. Did you also color [on Beauty and the Beast]?
14:55 Aaron’s upcoming animation “Snow Bear”
17:26 Recent small projects - discussing “Bear and the Hare”
18:45 Speedround (not really…)
18:58 What do you enjoy more, quick sketches or longer efforts?
20:40 Favorite animal?
21:34 What medium do you want to learn?
25:16 What question do you hope I will ask you?
26:11 What can people expect from you in the next 5 years?
26:35 Where can people find your courses?
30:15 The importance of Sketchbooks
32:03 Doing anything else in the next 5 years?
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Watch More Proko: • Growing as an Artist -...
The Bear and the Hare video - vimeo.com/7883...
The Bear and the Hare Making Of - vimeo.com/7825...
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Facebook - / theartofaaronblaise
Instagram - / aaronblaiseart
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CREDITS:
Host - Stan Prokopenko (www.stanprokope...)
Artist - Aaron Blaise - (creaturearttea...)
Camera - Brandon Storer
Editing - Yana Popova, Sean Ramsey, Stan Prokopenko
About Proko:
Instructional How to Draw videos for artists. My drawing lessons are approachable enough for beginners and detailed enough for advanced artists. My philosophy is to teach timeless concepts in an entertaining way. I believe that when you are having fun, you learn better. I take pride in producing high quality videos that you will enjoy watching and re-watching.
#AaronBlaise #DisneyAnimation #ArtInterview

[@ProkoTV]

If you haven’t checked out the zoo vlog I did with Aaron yesterday you can find that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/momXfZV_lJqeo7M

[@stvjrmllo]

Hey bro thank you for your work! If the thought of painting makes you feel good, maybe 5 min a day wouldn't sound too bad to start with. It's helping me a lot with my busy schedule to have, at the very least, 5 "happy drawing me time" minutes to work on my art and projects. Its helping me, hope it helps if you need it. Peace!

[@nandhakumargs7176]

Dear Proko - I'm from India, an art learner. Unfortunately I missed to study art education in college. But fortunately learning everyday from you guys. Your channel is more important to me. You're doing such a great. Thank you so much!👍👍 Keep drawing. ~Nandha

[@ProkoTV]

Here's a quick-list of topics if you want to skip around. 00:50 Internship and working for Disney 05:11 How did you get good so fast? 07:33 How important were mentorships? 09:53 Is there anything you would do differently in the way you trained? 13:28 So you were good at color. Did you also color [on Beauty and the Beast]? 14:55 Aaron’s upcoming animation “Snow Bear” 17:26 Recent small projects - discussing “Bear and the Hare” 18:45 Speedround (not really…) 18:58 What do you enjoy more, quick sketches or longer efforts? 20:40 Favorite animal? 21:34 What medium do you want to learn? 25:16 What question do you hope I will ask you? 26:11 What can people expect from you in the next 5 years? 26:35 Where can people find your courses? 30:15 The importance of Sketchbooks 32:03 Doing anything else in the next 5 years?

[@ShaudaySmith]

Wait wait... an internship that actually taught/trained you?! You mean they didn't use you as free labor?!? WHAT?! My mind is effectively blown by this.. because most internships i saw my friends take, including my own, were bullshit free labor for the employer. It was a major waste of my time and money (because it was an unpaid internship and it cost me a lot in gas to drive there) where i did menial office labor instead of learning. But Aaron Blaise is such an inspiration. Love hearing him talk about the craft.

[@pablochamber1622]

Excelent video, everytime I watch Aaron Blaise I get instantly motivated, he is so inspiring, I really admire him. Such a legend

[@305_atharvadhoke9]

Yes absolutely

[@majeddraws5104]

I did not know that he left Disney because his wife had passed away! :(

[@Bax365]

Dang that's sad. Hopefully he's doing well.

[@OscarPerez-hj2hx]

When Aaron spoke about other countries and affordable education. I felt identify, im Mexican and all the aspiring artist that we live here. Struggle to much whit information, finding teachers and above all money. It's great that you guys are thinking in a world wide community.

[@pablochamber1622]

Viste, yo también, soy de Argentina, igual son carisimos sus cursos, pero estoy seguro de que si pudiese los compraria con todo gusto ya que parecen estar muy bien producidos. Aparte Aaron es un grande, se merece cada centavo

[@OscarPerez-hj2hx]

Pablo Chamber Para precio dolares, cada curso es una ganga. Te recomendaría visitar New masters academy y Schoolisim. Son bastante económicos 35 a 14 drls el mes. Al igual que aprender a descargar torrents hay muchísimos libros en diferentes sitios se torrentd.

[@mimim102]

I'm from Argentina and I can't afford my education in animation/illustration right now, so I study online and it's a lot better sometimes, you can learn from any place in the word, peace!.

[@Bax365]

mimi m You took the words out of my mouth! The internet is literally the best resource to learn the craft these days.

[@Patrix8558]

Proko & Aaron together. This is a dream come true. Hope you guys will do much more together! Haha.

[@AaronBlaiseArt]

Thanks! We will have more in the works soon :)

[@Patrix8558]

Oh, I can't wait! This really is Christmas, I guess. :D

[@pablochamber1622]

Two legends

[@jasonevers8958]

Great interview. And I agree with your views on college. Went to a well known online animation university based in Florida and all they did was send you to youtube. You'll learn more getting courses from people like you guys.

[@samrobinson141]

I'm doing Aaron's lessons at the moment (they're amazing) then plan to study anatomy further with Proko then hopefully will finally be able to draw better from imagination. It's a long old journey and struggle a lot but making progress, thanks to you both!

[@PervyOldToadSage]

Sam Robinson I want to do Aarons lessons. But they dont seem to be structured in a simple progression like proko, like how do you know which course to take in what order? Also it seems like Ill need some digital drawing experience before I begin Aaron's lessons as well.

[@chloe3053]

i love aaron blaise

[@BleuTheWitch]

Started working for Disney at 21.. As a soon to be 21 year old still in animation school: Okay.. damn

[@angelbrown6938]

Take it one day at a time. I believe in you. Do you post your art anywhere?

[@discordantfungi2741]

Gotta remember, the industry is a way different beast from what it was back then. We're talking a goooood many years ago.

[@elliotbrough5044]

The Bare and the Hare is incredible. Hands down best Christmas ad ever. No idea Aaron had worked on it, though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised!

[@thomasbroderick6388]

Two genuinely delightful human beings. I feel like I want to have on my bucket list is to shake hands with each of you. Thank you both. Truly inspirational.

[@zakthanos6231]

Thank god he didn't choose Hallmark

[@BrianMarcWhittaker]

Thank you for doing this interview and including the topical timecode. I recently attending a Vilppu figure drawing workshop at Ringling this past week. It was amazing. He's so intelligent, talented and humble.

[@ilariacividini4299]

How can you draw animals from life if they move every 2 seconds?? I tried drawing my dog but it works only if she’s asleep, so now I have several drawings of a sleeping dog…

[@Kitsunefan9]

Man, when I think that there are people like 8 years younger than me working at Disney, feels like its too late to get into art as a career lol. How can you ever catch up to people like that.

[@Discipleluis]

Practice

[@kevinzhang6623]

They started young. You can start late. You can retire and then start. Doesn't matter how old you are. Sure, if you retire at the same age they'll have more decades in the profession but that's about it.

[@reecegrooms8026]

thanks for doing these videos Aaron is an amazing artist I can't believe I haven't heard of him before I'm getting more into animals and there anatomy so finding him helped alot😁

[@TheMrSerraph]

What an amazing bloke =)

[@LightMoonMonkey]

legend right here this is inspirational and depressing at the same time so much talent !!

[@micheladelongis5025]

Great video, really inspiring and informative about animation!!

[@mritunjayvarun6369]

please please interview glen keane once ,humble request proko,i am sure you want him too ,pls

[@PGMT22]

I don't think aaron realized you were talking about Napoleon Dynamite and not Bonaparte haha...

[@AaronBlaiseArt]

You're right! I'm an idiot.

[@PGMT22]

Nah man not at all! Stans the dummy for not specifying, if anything ;D Love you both btw

[@srikanth6861]

Proko is very usefull to me now, i am learning in perfect drawing from Proko formula methods day by day...

[@USCBeastmode]

Aarion blaise is a golden god, his illustrations are sick! One amazing artist and one of my all time favorites ❤

[@gabrielpiccoli1846]

You both really inspire and motivate me to move on with my dream, share the information with the people around the world. Thank you Proko to inspire me with Human Anatomy, you're the master of that.. and Thank You Aaron Blaise to motivate me to move on with my animals draw, I have no words to describe your importance in my personal and professional life. Sry about my bad english, i just want to you both know this.

[@XnogoXshort]

Proko ur lucky have this guy he's amazing artist animator

[@Blacksheep3DLabs]

A big fan of aron, i loved the way he teach , amazing.

[@spunsiverse]

Thank you for posting this interview. I work with people with various disabilities and the hard part is trying to find people willing to sit for 20-30 minutes and do informational interviews. I’m working with someone who wants to be an animator and we just weren’t able to coordinate with anyone. So this video and another video done by a freelancer had to serve the purpose. But he found your interview with Aaron Blaise to be very helpful, so just wanted to say thank you for sharing this story.

[@celestethoms]

That’s was an awesome interview. Wish it was longer. His KZbin channel is The Art of Aaron Blaise, at least that’s what I’m subscribed to.

[@JellyBeanGD]

Definitely someone to look up to, it's really encouraging to see how everyone starts somewhere. One thing though, I feel that this was barely an interview.

[@michelepepiera3298]

Thank you for these amazing videos!! 😊

[@DragonNinjaGaming]

Could you please have Aaron back on the channel again. Love hearing you both just relax and chat.

[@ValkiriStudio]

What a great interview, I'm going to have to go subscribe to Aaron's channel now. Thank you so much for taking the time to do all of these fantastic and helpful videos, Proko. You're a force of good for the arts. I've learned so much from your channel!

[@yodigoquechale4028]

maestros...👋👌

[@kylejones6984]

proko has a mil subs, . where are all the views this vid should have

[@MrShabz117]

420 blaize it

[@1devotioninmotion]

A Legend and a Legend in the making : ) such an inspiring duo

[@mykhull]

correct honest answer: be an occultist mason, and practice

[@miblert3717]

Theres a bit of awkwardness. But that can't be avoided lol. Good Video. Thanks for this

[@victorcercasin]

I am globaly known as the best awkwardness detector to ever live and I can attest that the levels of awkwardness present in this interview are calssified as medium-low.

[@DoingStuffWithDiana]

I agree. He rolled out if it quite well. :3

[@raindropsneverfall]

+Noel Uchendu • Come on, it is obvious how giddy Stan is.

[@seapossumsforrest8162]

I really enjoyed this interview! It was a real treat to hear your journey as an artist. Thanks!

[@garykuovideos]

17:50 Wow! That spot turned out beautifully, too! As a composer, I would have loved to have scored a project like that! Congrats to everyone!

[@orsonwelles4254]

"Speed round"

[@jaydibari]

Yeah..so where's the career advice mentioned in the title?

[@jiraiyaapprentice5733]

I am alreast suscribed to aaron's youtube channel and im already a fan *BUT* I had no idea he made "the bear and the hare" commercial! That short film is AMAZING!!!

[@GinoGabriel-t5c]

Aaron blaise is legend. I really love his style of drawing. When it comes to drawing animals, he is the artist to learn from. Love your channel Proko, you're also a legend, keep teaching and keep inspiring.

[@johnbarrows1024]

Great, I enjoyed that! I recently got my artwork accepted by Disney which is a life long dream come true for me.

[@spiderspyy]

You two should get an oculus rift instead and get into Medium and or Quill, an example of Medium here, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpndp3SbZduHhLc

[@Saiarts_yt]

hey Stan! I heard in this one podcast that you used to do karate. I'm guessing is it shotokan karate. See I am a artist and I used to do karate as well. I used to do a full contact so we emphasize more on kumite and real fights. I have an question when you said practice slowly does that mean practice smart and effectively. If so will you do an video regarding to the tips on practicing art effectively? Thank you!

[@Maffi96]

wtf am i first?

[@pablochamber1622]

I admire you MonsterTooth

[@lomushv]

I draw every day

[@jrhudz5181]

Dan I had no idea he made the John Lewis ad

[@OutsideAndStuff]

Such a great interview! Does anyone know what town in Florida Aaron grew up in?

[@kevinho1922]

Had no idea he went to my dream school, good interview!

[@alphinart]

Thanks for doing this interview! I didn't even know about this guy! I saw what he was drawing in the video/checked out his channel and insta-subbed!

[@seallustrator]

My mentor

[@vincentnguyen8199]

While sculpting kneaded eraser, "The last time I ever sculpted was in college"

[@HamztaZ]

This was awkward

[@LawnMowerLapDance]

What cool guys! I was smiling the entire duration of this video... and now that it's over :(

[@ronilocarillerojr.1641]

both of you sir are very inspiring...godbless you both sir

[@SlayPlenty]

Sponsored by Industrial Grand Coffee

[@martearty922]

great interview!

[@BillSchiffbauer]

Great interview!

[@malikadraws4817]

You Art experts are the reason why I draw today. Thank you😄

[@angela14962002]

Great interview! The bear & the hare - I have never seen it, but now I want to!

[@ProkoTV]

+angela14962002 I have links to the video and the ‘making of’ in the description.

[@aspenram3885]

Great interview, thank you!

[@gtheartist1206]

This was fantastic! Thanks for sharing! Funny guy

[@DimiArt]

dudes voice reminds me of chris sabat

[@martearty922]

What was Aaron's website again?

[@rudycueto6171]

thank you for the work proko, much love from Peru.

[@kairneya]

come to india ...goa

[@carlosmirandajr508]

Wow! My masters together!

[@karltoontv]

That was a great video interview.

[@daniellekriner6385]

Aaron Blaise = Inspiration

[@zakthanos6231]

proko your jokes crack me up

[@toequantumspace]

Thanks for sharing - great stuff

[@Kagemusha247]

Love these guys.. ❤️

[@sirninjaraiden]

Ooooh

[@timmykwee]

Thanks so much Stan for doing this!! very inspiring and educational. And thanks for the subtitle as well

[@truchoemail]

liger predates napoleon dynamite