We had the good fortune of connecting with Sean Burke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sean, how do you think about risk?

Frankly, taking risks has been a huge part of my life.

Growing up, I was shuffled around at the whim of my family, changing schools or homes almost every year between first grade and High-school. People who knew me always thought I was fine with this because I am easy going and content to simply go with the flow. But that’s not true. The constant changes, introductions to new faces and places bred in me a comfort with turbulence, and an aversion to settling down. It feels like an itch. A compulsion to never fall into a routine for too long. I am stuck with this “itch” that I get every so often, it could be summed up as a risk taking compulsion incarnate. It has led to impulsive decisions, some regrettable and others that were the most important decisions of my life. Here are a few of the risks I’ve taken in my life and career in no particular order, dropping out of college, moving to China, leaving my career at Disney, starting a company with my peers, and coming out of the closet.

It can be straightforward sometimes, for example when you are working as a creative at a large company, the risks are pretty cut and dry. I don’t think all risks are equal. Every project, every pitch, every meeting comes with their own risks. I think what’s important is that you are able to recognize why taking a risk, in any capacity, has crossed your mind. There isn’t one answer to that. Most of the time I have found that if I understand why I want to take the risk that lands me somewhere better on the other side no matter how it turns out.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

As a concept artist the goal no matter what is to use your artwork to tell a good story, and I love telling stories. I have had the opportunity to make a wide variety of art for many major and minor entertainment studios across a wide range of mediums. My work for Lucasfilm, Dreamworks, Disney and Warner Brothers include animated features, television series, mobile apps, video games, theme park attractions and more.

In 2012 I began my career with Dreamworks Animation, where I worked on the animated features “The Croods” and “Abominable”. Soon after, joining Lucasfilm to work with the “Star Wars Rebels” Look Development team, also creating artwork for Insomniac’s “Spyro Reignited” trilogy and Disney’s “Forces of Destiny” mini-series.

In 2016 I started creating for Walt Disney Imagineering as a Concept Artist. Apart from conceptualizing and designing for various domestic Walt Disney Theme Park experiences I collaborated with the Shanghai Disney Resort team to bring the “Zootopia” expansion to life (set to open in 2023).

In 2020 I joined Warner Brothers Animation as a visual development artist on the upcoming animated series “Gremlins Secrets of the Mogwai” and other unannounced projects for HBO max. Currently I am working as a Visual Development Artist at Netflix Animation on the upcoming series “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.

Throughout my career, whether a project is big or small, I’ve found a few things to be crucial to success. First and foremost, find inspiration from the people around you. I have learned more from my peers than anywhere in my life. There is nothing more exciting than being surrounded by artists that are way out of my league, it’s the best way to grow as a designer. Put yourself through the wringer, show your designs, and let people walk all over it, make it better, and do it again. As a designer, I believe there is nothing more important than seeking out a creative community to support each other.

Another important lesson I’ve learned, especially early in my career, is to say “Yes”. There is something to learn from every design discipline. I have done all kinds of odd design jobs, and sometimes for little to no pay, from logos, to fashion ads, to making magnets to sell at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. All of the different experiences play into the design work I do now for animation. It’s all about telling a story through a design, and your ability to do that will only grow through various experiences.

Lastly, I think it’s important to never ignore your passion. Although it seems totally unrelated, my passion for Chinese language has opened doors for my concept art career. About half of the jobs I have had involved using mandarin, and some of those jobs I don’t think I would have gotten without that skill. There will always be a part of you that feels its not worth pursuing something you like if it isn’t lucrative. But I am so glad that I didn’t fall into that trap. I think there is always room to nurture our passions no matter what our lives look like, and that always pays off.

I think it’s worth re-iterating, as a concept artist the goal no matter what is to use your artwork to tell a good story. I try to keep that in mind with every new project I am tackling, always asking what story a design is trying to tell whether it’s an animated gremlin or an entire museum building facade, what do we want people to feel when they see this and how can I bring something unique to that?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Hiking Griffith Park Silverlake has great dinner and nightlife spots

Chinatown for a lazy Sunday food day and end in highland park brewery

Sawtelle for amazing asian food

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I would like to Shoutout to one of my peers, a long time colleague and friend Timo Wang (王晓冉) . I met him during my brief stint at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. We both were accepted at the eleventh hour to the academy and put into what we referred to as the “leftover” student housing in the city. We both struggled to find our footing in the city and often leaned on each other for artistic critiques and advice. I was fresh off of my time living in China and he was new to America from a city called Qing Dao (yes like the beer!). What I thought would simply be an excuse to keep up my Mandarin became a lifelong friend.

Throughout my career he has always been an endless well of support and inspiration. He is the type of person who forces you to push yourself to look at the big picture concepts when designing. He will raise you up when you are deflated and call you out if your head is getting too big. I can honestly say there isn’t a single creative endeavor of mine he has not put his two cents into. I feel lucky to have someone like this every time we chat! He is an incredible designer and human being and I look forward to continuing to watch his work change the world!

Website: https://seanburke.carbonmade.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanburkeart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-burke-9784386a/

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