For the past few months I’ve been teasing this project on my Instagram and I’m so pleased to finally share it. I was commissioned by Smith Creative Labs to illustrate 3 short animations for the InterContinental Hotel Group’s Live the InterContinental Life campaign.

The animations were based on podcast interviews which told stories of empathy, worldliness and fascination and were recorded in London, Beijing, and New York City. Smith and animator Mark Bellncula were incredible partners to work with, granting me a tremendous amount of creative freedom and support. I couldn’t be any happier with how the animations turned out.

I loved that these pieces were created in a mostly traditional way, using sequential hand made drawings and paintings. Some of the longer panoramic drawings were so long that I had to work on my floor…and my floor became my desk! Whatever works.

I did my best to document the process of creating the animation art which I’ve included below. I appreciate you taking the time to look!

Pose 1

Large scale thumbnail drawing

My floor/desk

Many hours hunched over the light box!

chop chop chop

Mole

Panoramic drawing of the kitchen

My wife and I enjoying a drink

self-portrait