Find Your Inspiration with Pixar's Dan Holland

Published: November 17, 2016 | Author: Lola Taylor | Read Time: 2 minutes

Dan Holland WorkDan Holland, an animator for Pixar Animation Studios, will be presenting an artist talk at the Southern Utah Museum of Art on December 1, 2016, at 7:00 pm. Holland’s presentation is part of the Art Insights series hosted by SUU’s Art & Design Department. Admission is free, and the general public is invited to attend.

Holland studied art and film at Brigham Young University and animation at The Vancouver Film School. He received his BFA in character animation from the California Institute of the Arts. Holland currently works at Pixar Animation Studios. Holland has worked as an animator, sketch artist, and art director at Pixar over the last 12 years. His latest project was as sets art director on the feature film Inside Out. He has taught and lectured for the past 10 years on character and animation design.

A love of animated films led Holland to become an artist. He describes his work as creative problem solving in the most entertaining way possible. While working on a design, Holland and his fellow animators at Pixar often use the phrase ‘Push it to 11’. Holland says this encourages his creativity so he can push the design as far as it can go, and then some.

When asked where he finds his inspiration for art, Holland said, “Where DON’T I find it? The most fulfilling part of my work as an artist is distilling life into something fresh. I enjoy the research and the process rather than the final product.”

Holland’s Art Insights presentation will cover his personal inspiration, design philosophy and method, as well as what it takes to collaborate with a team of artists. He will also discuss some of his experiences from his work at Pixar.

Art Insights is hosted during the fall and spring semesters by SUU’s Art & Design faculty. Students and community members meet to experience presentations and discussions by visiting artists and art educators from around the nation who share their work and insights.


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