Πρόσκληση σε εγκαίνια tumblelog

Αγαπητοί φίλοι,
σας προσκαλώ στα εγκαίνια του tumblelog μου που γίνονται στη διεύθυνση

http://koutsis.tumblr.com

Ανοιχτά όλο το 24ωρο και δωρεάν πλοήγηση στην ατομική μου έκθεση όπου παρουσιάζονται οι πιο πρόσφατες πάντα δουλειές και νέα.

Είστε ευπρόσδεκτοι όλοι και όλες,

ΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΟΥΤΣΗΣ
http://koutsis.tumblr.com

It was in Athens, Greece, in ’72 when obstetricians confessed I was a difficult birth. I gave them a hard time bringing out all my artistic equipment…

Coming from a family of Architects, I had tones of paper at my disposal as well as the freedom & understanding to absorb thousands of mainstream US comics and French – Belgian BDs! But it was only after getting my Diploma from VAKALO School of Graphic Design and Interior Decoration, (graduated June 1992), when I actually gained the knowledge and understanding of visual communication, a tool I would soon utilize in my illustration skills. And it was right in the middle of my studies when my career actually started…
After almost a year’s training in the Basic Principles of Character Animation at STEFI Cine & TV Productions S.A. (March – December ’91), which was a great experience, I felt ready to prepare an animated short film of my own, named “the Circle”. It was three times awarded in domestic and international short film Festivals in Greece (Drama ’92 Short Film Fest, Larissa ’93 International Short Film Fest as well as by the Greek Ministry of Culture ’93) and was also chosen to be in the “open screen” at the ANNECY International Animation Festival in ’93, though my film never made it to the screen.
That film became something like a ticket to work for McCANN ERICKSON ATHENS S.A. as a visualizer and conseptual artist for a period of two years (June ’93 – February ’95). My heart belonged to animation at the time, but having commercial money overflowing from my pockets was an instant choice to me!
My love for animation was still moving me though, so I managed to get the interest of DISNEY CONSUMER PRODUCTS PARIS (February ’95), where I had a very fruitfull offer by the Vice President of the studio. Well, now I have a very serious question for you! Would you grab such an opportunity knowing you would never be able to go back to your country due to inevitable 18 months military obligations you haven’t fullfiled? Believe me… I had no choice!
Right before the army and for some period after it I spent some of my time working for SPICY TOONS S.A. Animation studio as an animator and lay-out artist. We were working on a German feature, “The fearless Four” as well as a few other French TV projects. The era of traditional animation was being over though and my interest in the medium was somewhat over too…
It was early ’97 and the internet connection as well as Adobe’s Photoshop software came to my life to give some important solutions to a freelance commercial illustrator’s career, that I decided for myself. Though I was somewhat charging high bills, I was offering a quality that hooked my clients, so I had an easy way of establishing myself in the advertizing market and lifestyle magazines of my country.
Through the years, I realised that many clients wanted the cheap way/low quality bargain and that there are many artists willing and able to offer them just that! I was never this type (spoiling the market) and I decided I would always put the higher possible standards to myself as well as high challenges to overcome. I’ve worked for many of the high-end advertising companies, lifestyle magazines and newspapers of my country as well as international clients like the Very ADOBE SYSTEMS LTD EUROPE (UK) among others and the website you’re now visiting is a proof of my efforts and (hopefully) an example to newer artists like my students, to respect their art and build a market to respect them too.

Since the year 2000…
I’m giving lectures to seminars and conventions taking place in my country, I write tutorials for Adobe magazine (Greek edition), I teach at ACTO ART & DESIGN COLLEGE as a tutor in the Sketch – Comics – Cartoon course, validated by MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY UK for a BACHELOR OF ARTS HONOURS DEGREE, (2001 – 2004). I have also given several interviews in Greek Graphic Design and lifestyle magazines and had a Retrospective personal exhibition, hosted by Vakalo School of Graphic Design (March 2000) and sponsored by SMIRNOFF MULE and PAVLIDES’ ESCAPE.

For more information about my thoughts or my schedule, please visit my “news” link.