A Conversation with Glenn Vilppu

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Glenn Vilppu, a legendary instructor and artist. His teaching had a significant impact on my life and career. Mr. Vilppu and I had a conversation and I got to ask him some of the questions you guys submitted.

Glenn Vilppu's website:

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- What part of being an artist do you enjoy most?
- Can you recommend a weekly schedule for a studying regime?
- What do you like to do to warm up?
- Is there any problem using a ruler or calipers in drawing, is it better to just use your eyes to measure proportions?
- Favorite color?
- Favorite drawing medium?
- Why do some artists draw a sketch before painting and others paint a la prima?
- I've been drawing for years, but I still have trouble making bold, decisive strokes. What do you think about this?
- what do u enjoy more, the process or the end product of your hard work?
- How much time should I spent drawing from observation vs. imagination, and what should I be aware of so that I'm always learning and not just copying the model?
- As you are arranging the model for a figure drawing, what do you look for? Position of body and limbs? Lighting? Facial expression?
- How do beginning artists work through the growing pains of being in the same classroom as more advanced artists.
- Have you encountered many artists who have a severe lack of self-confidence?
- Did you ever doubt yourself when you were starting out or at any time in your career?
- When you draw complete gestures, they come out proportionally close to the finish.
- Is this purely from experience, or do you "see checkpoints" that you don't actually draw?

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Music used with permission

#Interview #ProfessionalArtist #VilppuAcademy

[OCDTraci]

As someone who is also getting a late start, it's nice to hear that Glenn wasn't in his early 20's when he broke into the industry. Even the amazing Stan Lee didn't get his break until he was 40!
Maybe I shouldn't be so down about beginning in my 30's. :) Thank you for sharing, Stan!

[Erzkreutz]

this video will be timeless as he stands in the tradition of legendary teachers like loomis, bridgeman and hogarth.

also he seems to be such a nice person.

[kavereon]

Not only is Vilppu a master draughtsman, he's a master instructor. His teaching style is so patient, so concise. Thank the Lord for Glenn Vilppu!

[Kidicoo]

How lucky you are to meet this man. One of my all time favorite life-drawing instructors who I admire greatly was a student of his. I carry around his books like they are my own personal bibles, he really changed how I look at art and how I developed my skills. Such an amazing inspirational person.

[lianglixin]

In the summer of 2007, I saw Glenn Vilppu's body painting instructional video for the first time. It was my third year of work. Although I have studied painting for ten years before, I have never had a deep understanding of human body painting through the explanation of Glenn Vilppu video. I didn't have the ability to understand English at the beginning, but I have learned a lot from the pictures. Thank you Glenn Vilppu and hope you are healthy. Greetings from Chinese students.

[HarelJann]

Thank you! I learnt a lot.
Mr. Vilppu is a living legend. 

[MartinhoIsidroCorreia]

Glenn is the best anatomy teacher in the world. Thanks for this interview.

[ShinjitsunoKage]

In a wholly insightful interview, the most fascinating part to me is during 14:00 - 15:00. He addressed how he was a very dedicated artist in real life while balancing life's demands without an artistic job.

[Bogdancbn]

This guy was the first teacher that actually helped me, following his gesture lesssons I made the first drawing ever that I was actually proud of and I was impressed by myself. That feeling is what pumpes me everyday in drawing and painting and it`s a lot of his "fault" for that!
Thank you Villpu!

[vcrbetamax]

I had this in my playlist and let it auto play. I looked at the video and saw Stan looking so young. I didn't realize this was 2013. Long time lol.

[CaptainFutureman]

Glenn, Proko, thank you for this video. I learnt a very valuable thing, the tip to look for a book that exemplifies an aspect of art that you like (eg colour) and do that for every aspect of art, and that combined is "you" or your prefered style. What a fun assignment, to look for stuff I like in order to figure out what I love most. Great thanks!

[Redrosefortomorrow]

awesome, i met him at ctn he was a great inspiration, and i love his teachings. awesome episode

[GlowingOnion]

I'm a Finn and I've never heard of Mr. Vilppu but I got to say, respect! Lovely old man.

[siddheshwarkumbhar]

Thanks, PROKO for a great interview of GREAT ARTIST

[SuperXrunner]

Great interview. One of the greatest artists to ever live

[anima]

Love Glen 😍 my drawings have improved immensely since attending his online classes at NMA. Thank you both x

[nitinveturkar]

Thank you ProKo for this interview...I had a photocopy of Mr Vilppu's notes from Disney...I'm pretty sure it has helped generations of animators from India...Thanks again!

[irangel]

Thank you for this, I've been a fan and student via Mr.Vilppu's videos for years. Still struggle but more for lack of time. This was an excellent interview, would be awesome if there was a follow up ;-)
and thanks to Proko for the tips on this channel
mil gracias,

[Purplexity-wwnb]

I would love to have his library ... what a collection !!!

[Mortamir_ActionFigures]

HOLY crap. Legendary Vilppu! Awesome Stan!!