Paul Richer(II)
- Animation Department
Paul Richer is a self taught artist who began selling drawings,
pastels, acrylics and oil paintings at the age of 14. He continued to
sell his work in Montreal as a street artist on weekends during his
studies.
Atkinson Film Arts were advertising for animators, opaquers and fine artists. Paul applied to all positions. He was asked to show his animation works so he went to a pharmacy close by and bought a pad of paper and animated a stick man walking his dog. The dog was jumping around him as he walked. When asked for fine arts portfolio pieces, he returned to the pharmacy, bought 8 1/2 X 11 paper and drew for an hour, submitting this as his portfolio. He was immediately granted an interview.
He was presented with a cell to opaque to test his skills as an opaquer. it was completed in a few minutes and the precision was to professional standards. Paul began his career in animation as an opaquer.
For two years Paul worked as an opaquer producing approximately 1000 cells per week. He was proficient and a quick learner, moving to the different departments as the productions evolved. He was able to fill many roles: he worked as an in betweener, an animator, a camera operator's assistant, a special effect artist and a storyboard artist, and was therefore never out of work. He was an opaquer first and was credited as such on 4 animation productions. The other productions were commercials, training vignettes and television episodes.
He developed a method of correcting painted cells without staining the paint or scratching the cell. This meant the animation would be flawless. Paul became the corrections department.
He left animation to pursue a career in the graphic arts, and multimedia. He was the creator, host and producer of the television series "Art d'oeuvre" . Twenty three episodes aired from 1991 to 1994
He's retired from the arts professionally. He enjoys watercoloring and woodworking, and many more artistic endeavors in his spare time.
Atkinson Film Arts were advertising for animators, opaquers and fine artists. Paul applied to all positions. He was asked to show his animation works so he went to a pharmacy close by and bought a pad of paper and animated a stick man walking his dog. The dog was jumping around him as he walked. When asked for fine arts portfolio pieces, he returned to the pharmacy, bought 8 1/2 X 11 paper and drew for an hour, submitting this as his portfolio. He was immediately granted an interview.
He was presented with a cell to opaque to test his skills as an opaquer. it was completed in a few minutes and the precision was to professional standards. Paul began his career in animation as an opaquer.
For two years Paul worked as an opaquer producing approximately 1000 cells per week. He was proficient and a quick learner, moving to the different departments as the productions evolved. He was able to fill many roles: he worked as an in betweener, an animator, a camera operator's assistant, a special effect artist and a storyboard artist, and was therefore never out of work. He was an opaquer first and was credited as such on 4 animation productions. The other productions were commercials, training vignettes and television episodes.
He developed a method of correcting painted cells without staining the paint or scratching the cell. This meant the animation would be flawless. Paul became the corrections department.
He left animation to pursue a career in the graphic arts, and multimedia. He was the creator, host and producer of the television series "Art d'oeuvre" . Twenty three episodes aired from 1991 to 1994
He's retired from the arts professionally. He enjoys watercoloring and woodworking, and many more artistic endeavors in his spare time.