My blog and I have an identity crisis. Even though this isn't entirely true. My blog has, but I'm as much clear about what I want as possible.

I have nothing to say | 2012 | mixed media on paper | approx. 30 x 42 cm or 12 x 16.5 inches | 225 €

My dear blog has mostly been about animation and only about very few things next to that which are usually related to my animated works: destuckification, inspiration and I sharing my animation processes.

But with these three major topics I only covered a tiny part of my life.

Over the last six months a lot has changed.
First, I quit most of the jobs that brought some money in but are amazingly time-consuming as well. I didn't quit all, but I now work on my artworks most of the time and on my career in arts. I eventually became a full-time artist.

I learned that I'll probably never a professional animator in the animation industry, like Justin or Nick or Barry, and first I was angry and sad about the fact that my films never looked as smooth and perfect as their films do.

It took me some time to find out what I do want from my life.

But then I learned what my talents are, and my strengths, and now I'm totally fine with what I am: a storyteller in visual arts.

Art

At a party a few weeks ago somebody said to me:

"I wish I had something that I can so passionate about as you are when you're talking about art."

I love art and all its aspects. I love to look at artworks, to create them, to talk about art and to listen to people who love art as much as I do. Art makes me feel whole. When I'm working on my things, I feel alive and in the present. I love to inspire people in museums and workshops, and I love to see the look in their eyes when they feel what I feel.

Animation is only one manifestation of art, and it's one of my favorites.

But while I write these lines, I have a lot of projects going on, and only one of them is 100% dedicated to animation:

• My animated short, Ins Dunkel
  
• Drawings, so many drawings!
• An architectural sound project (that is animating as well)
  
• A temporary off-space gallery project
  
• Three exhibitions that are already settled for 2012, and
  
• A lot of things that exist as concepts only so far.
  

Back to the identity crisis:
I have the feeling that something has to change on my blog, since so much had changed in my life and I want to tell you about it.

Permission

For a loooong time I had been waiting for someone to give me the permission to be an artist who combines fine art media and animation, or to be an artist in general.

I have many old scarves concerning my creativity and my works, it took me several years to understand that I don't need anyone's permission to do whatever I want.

I don't want to wait until someone knocks at my door, and says, "Hey, you really are an awesome artist". – I go out myself.

I write to galleries a lot asking for exhibition opportunities, and from time to time somebody says yes. I apply for art grants and juried exhibitions, and often, but not always people say no. I work on my drawings and animations, and then I try everything again.

It's exhausting, and frustrating and rewarding at the same time. And I tell you what: I don't want to have it differently.

A Living

All of us need one. Right now I live from hand to mouth, but since I don't have children to care for that's okay. I do not need much financial security. But I really want to stay independent from time-consuming-jobs-that-are-not-my-favorites and that's why I opened an online gallery where you can buy original drawings that I made:

Think Trickfilm by Jessica Koppe at etsy.com

There will be more works available soon.
If you'd rather like to purchase a bigger or different piece, have a look at my portfolio and just write me an .

Changes

Next to all the animation-related things I'm going to show you all the other things that I'm working on. I'm going to share all my artistic processes here now, and to tell you regularly what's going on in my studio besides the animation projects. Don't worry, I'll keep you updated on those, too.

Even if you say you're an animator and nothing else, I just want to tell you that art is a huge source of inspiration, and most of its principles apply in animation as well.

– I hope you'll stay with me. I'm glad you're here!

Lots of love and support for your work,
– Jessica ♥

Believe it or not, my animated short Ins Dunkel (engl. Into the Dark) will be released this year, after almost five years of preparation. Officially. On 2nd June, 2012. In a cinema.

With all the bells and whistles!

How so?

I just made a decision. And set a date.

Today I talked to the people of the Filmhaus Bielefeld. They run a small cinema and I asked them if it's possible to show my film there, and if so, when. – I decided to celebrate of the release of my film project in June, so that I have on the one hand enough time, and on the other hand enough pressure to finish it.

So here's the big announcement!

What I plan for that special night:

• An opening reception
  
• introduction & screening
  
• a making of
  
• an interview with a q&a, and
  
• and a small exhibition with props and puppets from the film.

Mark the day in your calendar, it's official! – I'll keep you updated!

Love,
– Jessica ♥

(cc) for the image by Nashworld.

Exactly three years ago I started this blog. It's its birthday today!

Happy Blog Anniversary!

When you turn three, you'd probably start going to the Kindergarten in Germany.

If I'd start to think about this blog as my child, it'll be the perfect time to review the good old times, and sigh a bit about how fast they grow up…

I started this blog in 2008, because I was sure I'm going to be a character animator after all, and I wanted to make this certain film that is a classical, character-driven story. I still want to but it took me some time to understand that I decide what I could do in my life, and what not.

Teething Troubles

The most important issue: Not knowing for what this is all good for. I wanted to be a character animator, but I also wanted to be an artist who combines traditional art media with animation. And I only knew so few things…

But it has changed. By doing research to provide you with interesting information and helpful ideas here, I learned so much (about) myself, and I still see no end.

Today, three years later, I have a much better understanding of what I want, how I want it and how to get the things I want. This sometimes was a difficult process, but at least it got me where I am now. This website helped a lot. A lot.

It helped me to

• improve my animation and my technical skills
  
• get better at teaching animation
  
• understand what a good working situation is for me, and
  
• get in touch with wonderful people around the world.
  
  
  

My 5 favorite articles from the last twelve months

(out of 45 articles at all)

1. 10 Reasons Why I Struggle Finishing My Personal Projects and
   
2. 10 Reasons Why Finishing Personal Projects Simply Rocks
   
3. Orpheus: The Puppet, Finally
   
4. Charon: The Puppet is Done!
   
5. A Title! A Title!
   

– I like those articles best that either reflect on personal development, or show some major milestones at my animated short, Ins Dunkel.

A Wish List!

Things that I want for my blog, and for its readers:

Qualities like support, learning, curiosity, evolving and mindful improvement.

Spammers who start to understand that trying to sell fashion or viagra or insurances over the comment form doesn't work.

A new dress for the blog. And some other changes that I don't want to talk about right now. But they'll definitely come!

And you?

And you, dear reader, whether you're invisible (Hi, Maria!) or commenting, I'm so grateful to have you around! The stats tell me, that there're a lot of people reading this, and I'd love to get to know you better.

If you feel comfortable with this, say hi, and introduce yourself! You can leave some good birthday wishes as well, if you like! If not, that's fine, too. I'm glad you're here, though!

Have an animating week!

– Jessica ♥

Dear friends and blog readers,

We say goodbye to 2011 today. – Whatever the last year has been to you, I wish you all the best for 2012!

Hallo, 2012!

I hope that all those things that you're ready for will find their way into your life, and I wish you strength for those things you aren't prepared for yet.

No Year's Resolutions!

In 2012, I'll finish my animated short, Ins Dunkel – This is a fact, not a resolution; I'm going to tell you how and when someday in January.

Still here?

If you still wait for 2012 to come, I collected some nice animations for you (since this blog is about animation, isn't it?). Here we go:

• once more, once more about the cycles of our life by Katie Armstrong

• Happy 2012 by Alienatio. This is pretty much WYSIWYG and cute. – With monsters!

• Happy New Year Candy Stopmotion Animation by Joonas Utti. Actually this is from last year, but definitely sweet, so lay back and enjoy!

Again: An animating New Year, and lots of love,

– Jessica ♥

In case you won't be able to visit my current exhibition in Herford (Germany), I made you a documentary video:

The shop window gallery Kiosk24 is a lovely, five-angled room with three windows and two walls. It reminds me of the basic shape of a Diorama, and I wanted to produce an artwork that supports the stage-like character of the room.

Since the exhibition's opening has been close to Christmas, I decided to create an installation which has something to do with that time of the year, too.

The single elements within the installation

There's an animated loop projected to one of the walls in which a character collects a lot of stuff. At first, it looks like he is decorating a room or so, but after some time he becomes more and more obsessive until everything breaks down, and then the cycle starts again.

To bring the world of the animated character into our world, I made life-sized ink on paper drawings of the things the puppet uses in the film, and stuck them onto the glass of the windows.

I also build some prop-like paper objects that are life-sized as well. On the one hand they fill the room, so it doesn't seem too empty, and on the other hand they made of paper and they won't work in our real life.

The exhibition is still running!

You can visit the exhibition until 22 January, 2012 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

Jessica Koppe
und selbst wenn…
21 | 12 | 2011 – 22 | 01 | 2012

Kiosk24
Radewiger Straße 24
32052 Herford, Germany
(The gallery on google maps.)

There's also a webcam!

Just wondering: Do you want to read some kind of making-of the exhibition, a look behind the scenes how an artist (as in I) works? Just post your questions to the comments. – I'll answer them!

Anyway, have a great week!

Love,
– Jessica ♥

Christmas is knocking at the door, and beause of that fact I made this animation for you, dear blog reader, to wish you and your beloved ones a

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Santa and all the props are paper cut-outs, and the animation consists of 536 single frames.

I animated the single elements by hand on ones on my old animation stand, and added a Christmas Carol I found on archive.org.

Recommendations

If you'd like to see more Christmas Animations, I also have some recommendations for you, that are a bit more, well, interesting…

The Christmas Card (1968?) by Terry Gilliam

The Insect's Christmas (1913) by Wladyslaw Starewicz

Peace On Earth (1939) by Hugh Harman of MGM

Have animating Christmas Holidays, whether you celebrate Christmas or not!

Love,
– Jessica

Every year we tend to panic because Christmas again has come so suddenly. – Who would have guessed?!

While most people seek for their last presents in town, I'm going to go into the beautiful city of Herford to install a solo exhibition at the Kiosk24, a local shop window gallery.

I am working on an installation in which I combine an animated video and paper objects. The installation is called und selbst wenn… (engl. and even if…) , and shows an animated character who brings a lot of stuff into the window.

This is an invitation!

If you're interested to see what happens with all that stuff, I'd love to see you there! Since it's a shop window gallery, it will be open 24/7, in case you won't be able to join us at the opening. The exhibition runs until 22 January.

The opening

…is next Wednesday, 21 December 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

I would love for you to join me for the opening in front of the gallery!

Jessica Koppe
und selbst wenn…
21 | 12 | 2011 – 22 | 01 | 2012
Opening: 21 | 12 | 2011, 6:30 p.m.

Kiosk24
Radewiger Straße 24
32052 Herford, Germany
(The gallery on google maps.)

You can also download the German version of the invitation card.

I hope to see you at the opening night!

Love,
– Jessica

Currently I take a small break from working on my film, Ins Dunkel.

Over the last 10 months, I went from door to door to find galleries or art other spaces who are willing to show my works next to my work on the film and the paid work. This finally seems to pay off: I already showed my artworks in two exhibitions over the last four weeks, and I'm going to have a solo show in December, too.

I like exhibitions because they force me to think about how I want you to perceive my artworks. It's all about communication, and getting in touch with the audience.

For the latest exhibition I went for a new form of presentation of my drawings, called

Storyboards

Since my drawings often seem to be like separated comic panels, I thought it would be great to combine them to some kind of story. I wrote the headline with electrical tape onto the wall, and added drawings that carry a certain mood. (In this case, it's isolation and feeling betrayed.)

I call them Storyboards since the principle of arranging and replacing is pretty similar to the development of a storyboard for films.

and even if…

For my solo show at a local shop-window gallery I'm creating an installation in which I combine props made of paper with a projection of an animated loop.

Yesterday I finished the drawing for the invitation card which will be printed this week.

This time, I'm going to tell you in time when the exhibition takes place. – I really hope to see you there!

Love,
– Jessica

Herrje!

We still refurbish the front of our house, and the refurbishment brings a lot of problems and dirt and noise, and takes so much longer than we've planned. I haven't work on the animation for my animated short Ins Dunkel for a while, and I miss it.

Ins Dunkel: Teaser

My musician worked on the soundtrack though, and I made this tiny, tiny teaser for you:

Beside all the annoying stuff, a lot of good things happen over the last weeks, too:

• I already have two exhibition opportunities for 2012, both in galleries.
• A series of new drawings is evolving.
• I already have a new idea and script for another animated short.
• I was teaching a lot of art and animation classes, and some of my students had amazing epiphanies, and so had I.

Mourir Auprès de Toi

Explicit content!

Since it's only a week since last Halloween, I'd like to share this video with you I found today via TRIKK17:

Spike Jonze is the guy behind Where the wild things are and Being John Malcovich (et al.). Mmmmh, cut out animation!

Have an animating week!
Love,
– Jessica