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brandondayton [13995270] [2010-06-01 20:27:00 +0000 UTC] "Brandon Dayton" (United States)

# Statistics

Favourites: 19; Deviations: 101; Watchers: 348

Watching: 144; Pageviews: 27197; Comments Made: 83; Friends: 144

# About me

Brandon Dayton was born in Los Angeles, California in 1977, the third of 5 brothers. He developed a love for drawing at an early age, and after his exposure to such animated films as The Little Mermaid and Akira, decided he would make drawing and storytelling his life’s work.

During his high school years, he experimented with comics, music and film, ultimately enrolling in the Film program at Brigham Young University. During his stint at BYU, Brandon produced and directed four short films, including the award winning Coney Island, and was one of 18 chosen to participate in Orson Scott Card’s Writer’s Bootcamp.

Since graduating in 2004, Brandon has worked as a writer, animator, illustrator, storyboard artist, and concept artist. In 2008, he contributed writing and art to Impact Book’s Making Faces. In 2009 he self published his first mini-comic, Green Monk which was selected for the YALSA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens Booklist.

He has worked as a concept artist for Disney Avalanche and EA games on such titles as Disney Infinity, Nerf N-Strike and Monopoly Streets.

He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife, Annie and kids Lucy and Grey

# Comments

Comments: 42

seanwthornton [2014-02-09 08:50:59 +0000 UTC]

How the hell do you only have 5,800 page views?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

brandondayton In reply to seanwthornton [2014-03-03 17:35:40 +0000 UTC]

Lol, I guess my deviantart skills could improve.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

seanwthornton In reply to brandondayton [2014-03-04 17:19:05 +0000 UTC]

Yours and mine both! And my skills overall!

Gorgeous work Brandon!

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Audio-Vector [2013-12-13 17:56:35 +0000 UTC]

Just read your blog, fantastic work. I don't understand wht you meant in the study phase to take notes that are used in the application phase. Could you please explain or give a drawing example because it feels pretty neglected in the article. Thanks so much. :) (Smile)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

brandondayton In reply to Audio-Vector [2014-03-03 17:35:06 +0000 UTC]

Sorry I haven't been around deviantart for so long! I'll put an demo on my agenda, in the mean-time, let me try to explain better:

In the study phase you are trying to learn a principle/technique/skill, in the application phase you are trying to use, apply and play with the skill.

Let's say you are studying composition. For the study phase, you would find a illustration by an illustrator you like, that has really good composition. You make a copy of the work and take notes of what they are doing to make the composition awesome. Sometimes this will take some digging, sometimes you may have to read a book or blog post on composition to understand some of the principles, but most of the time yo u should be able to figure some things out on your own, just by making a copy of the piece and thinking hard about it.

Once you think you've identified some principles from your study, start your own illustration and try and use some of the principles you've just learned to make your won piece of art. Play around with the principles, how can you use them differently or vary them from the artist you've studied? If you make a discovery in your own work, take notes on that too! I keep a document where I just write down notes of techniques or approaches I discover.

Does that make sense?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Audio-Vector In reply to brandondayton [2014-03-31 20:04:20 +0000 UTC]

Makes a lot of sense, and I appreciate the response. I will save this for future reference.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

EnXio [2013-11-17 03:52:10 +0000 UTC]

Yo Brandon Dayton, love your drawing tips on your website. They are going to help me take a good look at where my artwork wants to go.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

brandondayton In reply to EnXio [2013-11-17 18:07:50 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! Nice to know someone is getting something out of it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

EnXio In reply to brandondayton [2013-11-18 07:21:58 +0000 UTC]

Yeah i've done the warmups and they help loosen me up good. In the Study Phase I understand a bit about focusing on a skill I wish to learn from skills listed about my library, but the drills part confused me and I'm unsure how to proceed. Could you clarify how drills are used relative to the skill you are focusing on?

Also, would copying someone's artwork from sight and then drawing it on a seperate piece of paper from memory be considered a Drill or visual cataloging? I enjoy doing the former and I'm considering working on the latter.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

brandondayton In reply to EnXio [2014-03-03 18:07:05 +0000 UTC]

Hey EnXio,

Sorry it's taken so long to respond. As far as drills are concerned, there are tons of drills you can do, all of which are specific to the particular skill you are learning. With some creativity, you can think some up, but I'd be happy to offer some suggestions if you're looking at developing a particular skill.

I think copying someone's art and then drawing it from memory would be an excellent drill. You would be improving your visual perception and your visual memory, two fundamental skills of draftsmanship. The key is to be as precise as possible and to never, never, trace.

Always ask, how can it be better? Push yourself. It will be challenging, and you will have frustrations, but keep at it and you will improve quickly.

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lao-wa [2013-10-19 10:22:02 +0000 UTC]

^__°

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Storied [2013-09-06 01:49:26 +0000 UTC]

Love your work, dude! Hope you're having a blast at Comic Con! I am a dummy!

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Mei-Tsugumi [2013-08-13 15:58:07 +0000 UTC]

cool style, you have a great gallery

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CaseyD2K [2013-06-07 16:29:16 +0000 UTC]

Your art has a ton of energy in it man! Great stuff!

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Doartchie [2013-03-03 01:07:49 +0000 UTC]

nice art work man keep doing it cause u are good :D (Big Grin)

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Diaff [2013-01-27 00:07:03 +0000 UTC]

really love your art Love Love Love Love Love

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LeonardoV59 [2013-01-15 00:55:19 +0000 UTC]

please write me at jose.vasquez@comcast.net I will let you know more about the character I need illustrated, thanks.

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LeonardoV59 [2013-01-14 18:41:53 +0000 UTC]

Hello Mr Brandon I am looking for some one to do an illustration, do you have time for it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

brandondayton In reply to LeonardoV59 [2013-01-14 22:43:08 +0000 UTC]

PM me the info.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

FableImpact [2013-01-09 14:42:24 +0000 UTC]

Hi Brandon - I just heard yo on the Art and Story podcast... I came to them verrrry late - and thought I'd check out your work. Really nice gallery - great range of styles going on here.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

brandondayton In reply to FableImpact [2013-01-09 20:11:00 +0000 UTC]

Better late than never! Thanks for checking out my work.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MonsterBrand [2013-01-05 19:40:24 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the watch back Brandon! Glomp! Glomp! Glomp! Glomp! Glomp!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MonsterBrand [2013-01-04 04:43:36 +0000 UTC]

Hi there! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! You've been featured in my monthly artist feature, here: [link]

Keep up the great work and have a wonderful new year! Heart Heart Heart Heart Heart