Featured Artist: Dave Pryor
Introducing the unbelievably talented Dave Pryor! I've gotten to know Dave over the last two years and consider him a good friend. I'm always amazed at his creativity and drive to create great work. I especially admire his community-building skills, he always brings artists together, and you can tell he truly loves his craft. Keep reading to get to know Dave better!
How did art play into your childhood?
I, like many kids, drew a lot. I would draw from influences like Sesame Street, Batman, Ultraman, and Star Wars. My mother would always bring a pad of paper and a 4 color pen so that my brother and I could draw when we were outside the house. I had stacks of drawings based on my favorite shows!
When did you decide to pursue art as a career?
I identified as an artist from a young age. I recall drawing the “Letter People” in kindergarten and as of first grade I was acknowledged for my passion for drawing. I always felt like drawing was something I was meant to do. I was also pretty crafty with tape and cardboard. I’d build a lot of environments, vehicles, and spaceships for my action figures.
Were your parents supportive of the idea?
Very much so. I was almost always creating something and wanting to show it off. By third grade, I would be taken around to upper classrooms to “show off” things that I created. I recall making a 3D cut-away human body out of cardboard after being influenced by visiting the Museum of Science and Industry. And small scale models of Chicago - I had some drive towards architecture at a young age.
Were you more focused on the path of animation or illustration?
I always drew and figured art might play a role in my future. I made a few flip books an a kid. Animation came into more serious practice during my final years of high school. I had a film class where I made my first stop motion short. I took Animation more seriously as I found that I enjoyed it at Columbia College in Chicago.
Could you give a short timeline of your time as a professional artist?
I started out doing work on Warner Bros. Cartoons (Tiny Toons and Animaniacs) at a place called Startoons in Homewood Illinois. This is where I got my best education at the craft. I worked at Startoons between 1992-2001. After that I jumped around with freelance for a bit. I finally found a home at WMS gaming in 2002 (now Light & Wonder) and have worked on slot games ever since. I also participate in gallery work and other freelance design work.
Now that your job is more managerial, how do you keep your creative muscles healthy?
I do get to participate in game creation to a limited capacity, and outside of that, I do my own work (illustration or small form animations), and participate in freelance projects and group gallery shows. I also lead in gallery events for Light & Wonder.
Where are your favorite places to sketch?
I sketch mostly on my iPad these days. It provides me the opportunity to work and paint wherever I want, like on the train or while lying in bed. When outside, I do use a sketchpad at a work field trip or with my nature journaling group. I also use a sketchpad during Inktober, where I focus on quick bear-themed sketches during the full month of October.
Tell us how you got involved in the Monster museum project?
Was it your idea? Yes, for the last few years, I had been participating in “Monsters Go”. An online challenge where numerous artists redraw children’s art. I am a guild member at my local Museum, and proposed showcasing the kid-monster drawings in the educational center. That idea snowballed into the “Monsters in Wilder Park” exhibit, which showcased over 300 kid monsters, and featured six select monsters that I recreated and are on display in the park as 6 foot sculptures. Each recreated monster is showcased with the child’s original art. The exhibit is on display until July 31.
Congratulations on your Emmy nomination for puppet design. How did you get involved in the new Donkey Hodie character design for Fred Rogers Productions?
In 2017, I was approached by puppeteer David Rudman, known best for now being Cookie Monster on Sesame Street, as well as several other Muppets. David was looking for an artist to help design new Fred Rogers characters for a new puppet series. I was excited for the opportunity, and we worked well together as the show was pitched, piloted, and then produced for PBS. It was surely a surprise and an honor to be nominated for the Puppet design Emmy (the first time this category was established and recognized in the Children’s Emmys).
Tell us about how your “Alien for Christmas” short film came about. What tools did you use? How much outside help did you have?
When Startoons animation shut down in 2001, it had been a long time since I produced anything for myself. I wanted to make another film (the last being a student film I made at Columbia College). The song “Alien for Christmas” by Fountains of Wayne drew up vivid images in my head, and felt like the perfect audio to make an animated film for. With computer advancements, it looked like Macromedia’s Flash was a program that would offer me tools to create digital 2D painted animation with traditional techniques. I learned to use Flash at a small company called Motion Picture Studios, from my friend Bob Rissetto, who was using the tool to create short form animations for the company. I learned to use Photoshop for backgrounds and After Effects for compositing. As I grew those skills, I’d work on the film a few hours a day after work - then by 2007 I finally wrapped and set it off to festivals! Very rewarding to create something like that.
If money and time were no issue, what project would you do?
Good question. I really would like to focus on an exhibit with larger painted illustrations. I think these days I just gravitate towards single illustrations because I can spend a few days on them and then move on. Bigger projects feel more daunting, but projects like I’ve done with the Elmhurst Art Museum this year make them feel less daunting. Then maybe another film? It would be hard to choose!
How can people follow your work?
I am on many social networks - just look for @davepryor72
My link tree provides a lot of info on my latest endeavors and where to find me. linktr.ee/Davepryor72
