set rendering w/ environment graphic designs
responsibilities include: set design and paint, environment graphics, logo design, retouching and illustration
© Robert "Bob" MacNeil All Rights Reserved.
responsibilities include: set design and paint, environment graphics, logo design, retouching and illustration
© Robert "Bob" MacNeil All Rights Reserved.
project completion time: 2 1/2 weeks (from concept to final painting)
This project was part of a submission package I created for Pixar Animation Studios. I was applying for a graphic design position on Toy Story 3. The subject I chose was 1950's American era graphics. This initial sketch of a small town street scene served as my jumping off point for the eventual environment graphics I produced.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/6f4a7c1c-8ea2-4318-a8af-1be5075ee34c_rw_1200.jpg?h=5339c83f91dce9b387d7cdf1d56546f7)
Because there were no parameters set for this project, what I created was solely up to my discretion. The first graphic I created was this time period styled newspaper. The actual text on the page is a recounting of my artistic career.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/626582f1-e0cb-44ea-b714-8483131086b4_rw_1200.jpg?h=a8c98a982d3448a91a25ad8ae369ec6b)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/15b89b42-47a8-4810-ab32-51040f240e4d_rw_1200.jpg?h=842f515f52be3b187964a08a727b2f22)
It was fun to immerse myself in the graphic language that defined this period. Through an exhaustive amount of research, I was able to identify key elements such as font faces, colors even the wording that's typically found on a variety of era specific graphics. Because this material does exist and can easily be found by anyone via a simple internet search, I had to be conscious of my design choices and how I reproduced my samples. Because I was using programs like Photoshop and Illustrator, I had to make sure my work didn't look like it was created in a computer. It would have lost all it's connection to the era I was depicting.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/191d6f8e-f398-442b-be4b-47f8684ef658_rw_1200.jpg?h=686465dbde2fd97cda96082ba6e82bae)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/d2a2127f-0ea5-4fdf-af26-f1cfb75ff862_rw_1200.jpg?h=68b6a75dd40d40233bba00cb7837b410)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/3da95837-f579-4dfc-97d4-18c5948052fc_rw_1200.jpg?h=2980b2cfa0ae7ab1037c528104b56a41)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/4d39c417-1687-4ee1-a0e0-5c7ac3c7ef5a_rw_1200.jpg?h=421b670f12612a0658fcfccc3513e24d)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/c228fa0b-ab17-418b-af87-c8896dd3b7bf_rw_1200.jpg?h=171308aefce0af665216e32df9435085)
Once I completed all the graphics for my submission package, I decided to fully render my initial sketch. Even though I was applying for a graphic design position, I have always enjoyed creating environment concepts and designs, and figured it would help to show that I possessed skills beyond what I was applying for. I also thought it might be helpful to the review staff at Pixar if they were able to see my work in context of an actual scene.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/db27ddfc-9689-41b6-8410-d330ce5f2c95/5f2848a2-414f-47a2-9855-6f72a2e51de8_rw_1920.jpg?h=7a12fd21f05a7e0336d4e296e422d70b)
I was granted an interview at Pixar for my work, but unfortunately, did not get the job. I never got a real reason as to why, but I did hear a number of people I interviewed with all thought I was a perfect candidate. I did however, gain some great friends from the experience. So their loss or mine, you decide.....