The San Francisco Chronicle published a great article about another living legend. Phil Tippett. It’s a really great read, and once again a lesson to all of us young artists craving for the opportunity to make our mark.

What’s the rush everyone? The legends of our industry didn’t do their best work until almost 30! I think if more time was spent honing our craft rather than rushing for credits and burning out…we might make some legends of our own. I don’t know…just a thought.

LINK: Phil Tippett a special-effects pioneer

With no special-effects industry jobs to aspire to, the young Tippett mowed lawns for the money to make his own stop-motion films. After college, Tippett says, he “and the 10 other geeks who were interested in this stuff” ended up at Cascade Pictures in Los Angeles, honing their skills on commercials, including ads for Brawny paper towels and the Jolly Green Giant.