"I suppose that I was a kind of consultant for taste. Is it good taste? Or bad taste? I had an attention to detail, to what would tell best the story. Because many people get excited about the work and drift off from the story"

John Hench, a legendary artist and designer, was deeply associated with storytelling through visual media, notably at Disney. His quote reflects the essence of his role, which went beyond basic aesthetics. When Hench discusses being a "consultant for taste", he refers to his capability to recognize and curate creative components that line up with and enhance a project's narrative purpose. This function needed not only an intense sense of aesthetics however also an understanding of how visual choices can influence storytelling.

In the world of artistic venture, particularly in a studio like Disney, "good taste" and "bad taste" are not merely subjective judgments about the art's appearance however regard how efficiently the art serves its narrative function. A piece with "good taste" supports the storytelling, immersing the audience in the story, while "bad taste" detracts, possibly distracting or misguiding the audience from the story's core message or emotional impact.

Hench stresses his "attention to detail" as vital to his consultancy function. This attention ensures that every creative decision, from color combination to character style, reinforces the story's themes and emotions. This precision guarantees cohesion and clearness in storytelling, avoiding creative elements from "drifting off from the story", as he puts it. Such drift could happen when artists become so enraptured by their creative processes that they lose sight of the story's foundation. Hench's function, for that reason, was to realign and refine these elements so that every aspect of the work served the story's goals.

In essence, Hench's quote brightens the fragile balance required in art direction-- to influence creativity while maintaining narrative discipline. His insights highlight the significance of lining up artistic expression with storytelling, ensuring that all visual aspects add to a meaningful and compelling narrative experience.