Eric Feng from Feric.com talks about his work, where his influences come from and his future plans. He is an Animation Designer from Square Picture (creators of the Final Fantasy movie) who seems to really enjoy what he does. He is also responsible for this months’ cover illustration.

Who or what were some of your early influences?

Traditional Chinese painting. Calligraphy. I think I was influenced from traditional Chinese brush painting a lot. I’ve always liked artwork with simple colors and fine lines that are more like implications and symbolism rather than realism. It always gives more to the viewers imaginations.

How did your schooling differ in Taipei compared to NYC (School of Visual Arts)?

First of all, the whole studying and learning environment in New York is more open, and students are coming from all around the world who bring different perspectives and their ideas of what they consider art. It has been a great input for me. I was encouraged to have my own style for my animation project. While with my studying in Taiwan, I was more focused on fundamental classes such as drawing, painting — It’s more skill training rather than creative.

Does any of the work you create for Feric.com ever find It’s way into your commercial work?

That is an interesting question, yes or no? I’m working as a conceptual designer in Square pictures. For now I use the concept that I have created for feric.com to apply on my commercial work (my job), with the different style that you have seen in feric.com.

What is the process you go through to create one of you animation sequences once you get an idea?

After I got an idea and a concept, I discuss with my teammates to see if it works and other interested people because animation project always work as a team, and each artist is in the part of story when they are working on it. I always look for music to go with my animation, when the music is completed, then we can start the visual design — such as the visual development and animation.

Do you have any short films in the works?

Yes, It’s titled The Follower. They are a two story combination off of The Subway Killer by Feric and Day Dream by Jessie Wang who is an illustrator.

Where do you look for inspiration now in your work?

Talking with kids to inspire my creative, watching clouds when I create the characters, also, watching tropical fishes when I apply colors on my works since I moved to Hawaii.

You currently work for Square Pictures, creators of the Final Fantasy movie. What is your role there?

During the production, I was a compositor and holographic designer for creating holographic devices.

What feature film are you working on now?

Well, I'm currently working on the R&D portion of our next project. Since It’s only in its pre-production stage, nothing’s really been set just yet. However, with an emphasis on visual development, the director and I are working on its script and image boarding. Hopefully, with the near completion of the design proposal, Columbia Pictures, Sony Image Works or another major picture company will eventually sponsor our project. I’m crossing my fingers on that.

What projects do you have planned for the future?

I’ve started working on a short CG animation with a friend of mine. The storyline’s very simple. It basically involves three special-ed kids in which together, they will encounter and venture through some pretty unusual but interesting incidents.

Where would you like to see Feric.com a year from now?

Well, I’d want to explore, play and incorporate other new, alternative styles into my character designs. And aside from that, I’d like to see Feric.com grow from not only just a personal website, but also into something interactive, in which the viewers can even purchase some of my original character designs, up-to-date that are printed over on t-shirts and/or made into little action figures.

Thanks Eric.

Feric

interview by: Jarrett Kertesz