Amelia Giller on the Balance Between Art & Business
“There’s no secret to breaking into a career except a combination of work ethic and talent.”
Amelia Giller is an artist and Associate Creative Director for BUCK.
What was the Lightbulb Moment that inspired you to fully dive into what you do?
Even as a kid I was drawing and animating, but as a teen I didn’t think it was a viable career. Many of my colleagues went from high school to art school, and I took a different path. After high school, I went to the University of Texas and their prestigious little liberal arts program called Plan II with hopes of becoming something more “practical.” I love to read and question, but I wasn’t creatively fulfilled. My dad and I were talking on the phone one day and he said “Why don’t you do animation? You’ve always done animation,” and so I added a second major in film. I’ve been lucky enough to have had a lot of mentors who guided my path, including my dad who always encouraged the technical side of being an artist.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned in your current career?
This actually stumped me for a while, so I reached out to my friends and peers for their takes on this question. Shannon Rollins, an amazing illustrator and art director in her own right, brought up how pervasive imposter syndrome is among people who work in creative fields. We are all artists, that’s how we got into animation, but because we also work in a business setting sometimes the inner emotions of being an artist get cast aside in preference for quicker, faster, more accessible. I’m not shy about admitting my own experience in doubting my ability to perform as a designer, director etc. in this fast-paced environment. But as Shannon mentioned, everyone feels this way: From the intern to the executive. There is some solace to be found in the fact that we’re all feeling this together..
What often sparks your creativity or gets you into the creative zone?
It depends on the project I’m working on, but I love to do a deep dive into reference videos and imagery. While these days most of my main artistic output is creative directing at BUCK, I don’t often look to current motion graphics to inspire my animated work. Instead, I love to send my team references from vintage animation. Anthony Gross made wild futurist films in the 1930s. There is one shot in The Fox Hunt where a horse leaps into the air and twists around like a ballerina leaping across the stage. It’s one of many gems to be found from a time period before the influence of the internet made everything look the same.
What is your unfiltered advice for anyone looking to break into your industry?
Be kind and work hard. Because my industry is so portfolio driven, there’s no secret to breaking into a career except a combination of work ethic and talent. But, without exception, kindness goes a long way. The other artists, directors, producers, assistants — basically everyone — will remember how you make them feel and are more likely to want to work with you.
Follow along with Amelia on Instagram here and view her portfolio here.
*Lead image by Andrew Lee.
July 30, 2021
By Ashley Tibbits