In Conversation With Creative Explorer, Rodrigo Bravo

Why did you decide to take up your creative trade?

It seemed like a natural progression, I have always valued my creative explorations. Ever since I was young I was encouraged to explore and draw, I grew up in Chile watching lots of vivid 80s and 70s anime, reading comics and books, spending time at the arcades and then with my own early consoles.

Eventually, I came to Canada where I found that I could pursue my creative desires within the robust art program at H.B. Beal High School in London, Ontario. From there I went to college for animation and eventually made my way into a VFX studio where I wore many hats and eventually found my jam in motion design.

I still draw and fill my sketchbooks, it is my first love after all and the foundation of all my other work.

How do you get past creative blocks?

It can be very tough to push through, although as I grow older I’ve come to understand that those moments of creative block are just a pause in between the moments of creation, and to have ebb and flow is important. The creative process is running in the background always and things will emerge. It’s important to be kind to yourself.

What is your creative process?

Depending on the project, I like to start small and block out rudimentary thumbnails to get the rough shapes and layout as the initial foundation and then scale it up. If it looks harmonious as a little drawing then it will work when it’s full size. Microcosm/Macrocosm.

From there, one takes the leap and begins to assemble, arrange, output the content in question and keep an open mind to see where it could end up. Things could change so it’s important to be flexible and confident in the art.

Where do you look for inspiration?

Nature, alleys, books, comics, manga, anime and of course the work of my peers.

I like to seek out old design magazines, dive into social media to see what inspires me, study it and try to see if I can take some of that influence and give it my twist. Make mistakes, lots of those and keep going.

These days I’ve been really enjoying the work of Tina Touli, I love her hands-on organic approach.

What are you reading or listening to right now?

The Shogun Audiobook, beyond that my playlist is quite varied. I did have Dee Edwards on repeat for a while recently and also I have been listening to some Lamb, Terje Rypdal, Cosmosis, Khruangbin, etc.

What does your typical day involve?

Morning routine helping get the kids ready for school, drawing them a Pikachu for their lunches (that always looks quite demented), making sure the kitties are fed and then when everyone’s out of the house I can get my coffee and dig into what needs to be done for work. I put my music or audiobook on depending on what I am working on.

Later on, I walk to go get the kids from school and then finish the work that needs to be done. After the work day is over, I hang with the kids and my wife, help with dinner and chill out after the kids go to bed, get some drawing done and or watch something fun with my wife.

What has been your favourite project to date and why?

I have fond memories of working with Planters to make a fun stop-motion Mr Peanut spot, collaborating with a skilled stop-motion artist to bring my special concept to life. It can be seen here.

How do you switch off?

I enjoy my walks and going through my “to-read” pile, but there’s never truly a switching off, there’s always a process running, even if subconsciously.

Who inspires you?

My kids inspire me with their fun ideas, comic artist Enrique Alcatena, Moebius. Tina Touli’s motion design experiments are hot! I am never lacking in inspiration sources.

A big thank you to Rodrigo Bravo for contributing to our series of creative conversations with industry experts.