Illustrator's Fantasy-Based Art Lands Dream Job

By Tarah Thomas ’16
June 29, 2018

 Illustrator's Fantasy-Based Art Lands Dream Job

Jason Flack has had a passion and true calling for illustration since childhood. Flack often spent hours inventing mystical worlds and fantasy creatures using every sheet of paper he could find. 

Flack’s mythical creatures and overdramatized human forms may look different at first glance. But behind the deep-sea creatures and monsters is Flack’s own quirky sense of humor, inspired by images in nature, movies, books and the work of other artists.

“I think having an appreciation for the wonderful, creative and absolutely bizarre world that God has created really enables me to translate that passion to my artwork,” Flack said. “My faith is the basis of my positive and weird personality that inspires me to create illustrations that are fun, quirky and hopefully help the viewer laugh a little bit.”

Today Flack, who graduated in 2010, fulfills his dreams by working as a 2D artist/ designer for Imangi Studios based in Raleigh, N.C.

Imangi Studios is best known for the development of the popular video game app, Temple Run,which, along with its sequel Temple Run 2, has been downloaded 1 billion times and is played in countries like China, India and Germany. 

Flack, a double major in illustration and graphic design, sketches, draws and paints a variety of projects “ranging from marketing and promotional materials to conceptual illustration for upcoming games.”  

“This is by far the best job that I’ve had,” Flack said. “When I decided to enter the video game industry, I never imagined that I would end up at such a great, laid-back and creative company.”

My Caption

As a senior at JBU, Flack branded himself as a freelance illustrator working on video game and app design for clients as close as Kentucky and as far away as London. 

For two years Flack also served as art director over the design department of Collective Bias, a company that creates logos, branding and web design for corporations like Starbucks, Target and Disney. 

Growing up in Siloam Springs and with JBU alumni parents, Flack decided to attend JBU because of the proximity, affordability and the quality of JBU and its art program. 

Flack is grateful to  his art professors who guided him to rekindle his love for art. 

“The art department professors were very patient with me and helped me to discover the sort of art that I enjoy and have a passion for creating,” Flack said. 

“Specifically, Joel Armstrong was a great mentor to me and really pushed me to stop dragging my feet and find a direction for my art.”

As an artist, Flack hopes to inspire others to always practice drawing and build relationships with fellow artists. 

“[Flack] was a great student, and grew both in character and as an artist while he was here,” Joel Armstrong, associate professor of visual arts, said. “As we have remained friends after graduation, I have seen him flourish professionally as an art director, illustrator and fine artist.”

 

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