Andrew Foerster
Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?
I chose to go to OCADU (just OCAD at the time) because at the fine age of eighteen years old my guidance counselor said "What would you like to take in university?" (Really meaning, what would you like to do with the next four years of your life, and then your career after that, but at eighteen, you don't really think about it that way.) I stared up at the ceiling and mustered a mumble... and said "Uh... something.. like in... like... art...?" And she pulled up all the info from all the schools that could possibly offer such a thing, and I applied to three schools, OCAD, Sheridan, and Concordia. I was very happy to find out that I got accepted to all three schools in their illustration programs, however, I decided to go to OCAD based on it's Toronto location as it was easy to get to from my home, and it was much cheaper to live at home than move out, and I wanted to save every penny we had.
Please briefly describe your current job / practice.
I work as a freelancer in animation and illustration. I work primarily for TED Education's Youtube channel putting out around one lesson a month with them. I love what I do and wouldn't trade it for anything!
How did you get started in your career?
Over my four years in school I gradually realized that I really, really, really didn't want to do editorial illustration as I was taught at OCAD, thank goodness I took Hector Herrera's animation class. It completely changed my perspective of what I could do as a career after graduating. I decided that I really wanted to learn more of After Effects and pursue a career in animation.
I lived at home for three years after university while I got my career off the ground. I worked diligently day and night looking for any place that needed animation at all. For the first year and a half I was working part time at a pub. Most importantly, when I had any time where I wasn't working, I would work on my own personal projects. If I can give any advice to someone reading this: Always ALWAYS make time for your own projects, they are the most important things because YOU are doing them because you WANT to! I don't see the point in putting you entire life and energy into a job that is just a job, show something for your time on this planet!
Did you volunteer or work in your field while you were a student?
I did not volunteer when I was a student, but I did volunteer after graduating with Hector at OCAD in the animation course. While volunteering with him I was able to ask many questions and help students understand After Effects better, which then helped me understand it better in turn.
What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?
In this case, I pestered Hector until he said yes and allowed me to volunteer with his class, and my main motivation has just been to learn as much as I can from him and the students. I did this volunteer position because I really wanted to, and I wanted to be there, and I wanted to learn. It was only one class a week and wasn't much time out of my schedule.
Regarding paid work and free work, my policy is something like this:
Work for free for; your parents, someone who you owe a favor to, or if it's part of a project that you really want to be part of or have some personal investment in.
For everything else, if someone is looking to get something done, charge for it. It's your time that's going into it.
I believe that volunteering is a wonderful thing that you can gain so much from, but it's good to know why you're doing it.
When I was starting out I was often approached by people who had written a children's book and wanted it illustrated. Now, they were looking to get the illustrations done for free but when the book exploded in the market we would obviously be swimming in riches.
My attitude toward this way of thinking is this:
This book is your investment, why should I be the one to invest in it? It's your investment, you invest in it.
And when I do my personal projects I don't ask people to work for free, I am aware that this is my investment and I invest in it.
What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
I think my favorite part of my job, after all these projects, is still the moment when I bring a character into After Effects. I love that it goes from a static illustration to being alive! Makes me feel like I'm some kind of really tame mad scientist.
One of the most challenging aspects is knowing when work will come in, and how to schedule your life around your work life. Especially working from home, it's good to give yourself office hours and take your weekends. Sometimes I won't want to take on so much work because I'd rather be working on my own projects, but the worry is that there might not be work when you come back into it. It's a hard mindset to get over, but it's important to have the confidence that there will be work for you later and if you need to take a little time to do your personal projects, then take it. There's really no sense working yourself to death.
An aspect that I really enjoy but to some people is quite difficult is being your own boss. I love this because you can set your own hours and take jobs if you like them and decline them if you don't. The hard part about this is this process to get the work done on your own is entirely up to you.
What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?
I'm happy that many of my friends from OCAD are currently working in the creative field. They are a great help to bounce ideas off of, or participate in projects with. When you're done in school stay in touch with your friends. Embrace their projects and make time for them.
I have endless appreciation for Hector Herrera for helping me along my path and teaching me a skill that has led to a career.
I am eternally grateful for Kathryn Adams for teaching me how to run a business.
In a perfect world I would suggest that OCAD put far less emphasis on the liberal studies classes and much more on the model drawing and illustration classes. In my time at OCAD I often found myself worrying and stressing so much about essay writing and attending lectures that my core drawing development was frequently put on the back burner. I believe this system is completely upside-down and the emphasis in a school that teaches art and design should be put on developing those skills in a practical way. The one liberal class that I strongly feel should be put into practice from first year until the final year, would be a class like Kathryn Adams' business class. Knowing how to handle a business when you're out of school is just as important as knowing how to draw. The people attending OCAD need to know how to run a business. Kathryn's class saved me when I was out of school, but I can't help but imagine how prepared I would have been if this kind of class was taught from day one.
What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice?
I feel the best way to maintain my sanity as a freelancer is having normal work hours. I only work Monday to Friday, I get up around 8am, I start working around 9am, and I finish around 6pm or 7pm. I eat meals during the day and take an hour for lunch.
Never stop emailing people and showing your work. Always keep creating new stuff, especially for you. Meet people, go for coffee or dinners, meet the people you're working with, have conversations with them. Enjoy human interactions.
What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?
I'm currently working on a five minute short film, after that I have a whole bunch of projects planned, basically for my whole life, not sure which one is next but I'm just going to continue creating projects that make me happy and continuing to learn and grow, and do the best that I can!