All About Amy! the Artist
// August 3rd, 2011 // Dejobaan News, Ugly Baby
Those who are brave enough to play Dejobaan’s Kick It with open eyes will soon have more things to look and shoot at, thanks to Amy Mazzocutelli. Another of Dejobaan’s recruits from the WPI camp, Amy’s blogged previously about her concept art and ideas for a central skyport user interface on Kick It.
If Amy’s art seems somewhat influenced by video games, that’s because she actually plays and enjoys them! She’s been asked a lot if she plays games and wanted to confirm that she IS a gamer. She also has a special place in her heart for pixel art, the Triforce, and Miyazaki.
Below Amy answers some very tough questions and earns some yummy gummy bears for her participation. (More industry professionals should be so open about the bribes they offer).
If you could create art for one generation of gaming, which would it be and why?
I really have a soft spot for pixel art, especially the tile-based styles of the Gameboy Advance era. I love the art in Sword of Mana, and I’m also a huge fan of the art for Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire, and Tales of Phantasia. It’s not that I don’t like 3D, but it’s kind of too bad that pixel sprites seem to be an endangered species. They’re so cute and colorful!
You’re on a bender with your video game buds, and suddenly it seems like a great idea to get a tattoo. In fact, it’s the most important thing in the world! What is it, and where?
The Triforce on the back of my hand!
You’re locked in an elevator with one famous, inspiring artist. Help is on the way, but it’ll take four hours. Whom would you chose?
I would probably have to go with Mr. Hayao Miyazaki.
What’s his inspiration? How does he come up with everything? Could he make an epic masterpiece about being trapped in an elevator for four hours? (I think so, and I’m the perfect Miyazaki heroine since I have short brown hair!)
If I could learn how to breathe as much life and passion into my characters I’d be stoked. His characters are all so relatable and believable, and that’s something I wish I could bring to my work, as well. …Although, it would be a super awkward conversation, considering I don’t speak Japanese. It would be like a game of charades. Or maybe we’d play Pictionary on the walls of the elevator.
What are your worst habits as an artist? Mountain Dew at 4 a.m.? What vices do you need to kick?
Close– it’s actually Black Forest gummy bears. They’re best at any strange hour of the night. Also I sometimes play Cooking Mama on Facebook. I can’t help it; it’s addicting!
Tell us about the Amy of the future. It’s Monday, 5 years from now. What’s that like?
The Amy of the future is surprisingly similar to the Amy of today (hopefully minus some of her student debt…). She’s working as part of an awesome team doing amazing art for a game that people are going to LOVE! The details are a little fuzzy, but I’ve still got a year of school to iron things out!
Yeah, why not?