Animation and Emotional Storytelling
Thirty years ago, I created my first video with my family’s VHS tape recorder. I dressed my friends in costumes and set up my Barbies. I was using animation techniques without even knowing what stop-motion was – I honestly thought I invented the technique! This passion continued through high school and college and it lead me to co-owning a video production company and to developing my own art practice. Now, I produce, direct, and edit music videos and documentaries, while also creating sculpture-based video art installations that incorporate hand-drawn animated elements. Utilizing time-based media as a story-teller is so powerful and magical to me, so when I started teaching thirteen years ago, it was truly a natural fit.
While teaching animation techniques, I take inspiration from two other Detroit artists: filmmaker and painter Nicole Macdonald and animator Gary Schwartz. Nicole is a good friend and was my first and only animation instructor! I took one class with her at the Detroit Film Center in the early 2000’s and then immediately incorporated it into my practice. Gary was a great mentor and gave me some valuable advice early on that really transformed my life as a teacher. He told me to focus on teaching how I create, myself. This is such simple advice but as a working artist balancing creating and teaching, it has allowed me to stay energized and engaged in the work that my own students create.
The heart and driving force of my work and the work I inspire my students to create is emotion and story-based. Utilizing animation as a tool to tell a story is really amazing because a viewer already understands and accepts the possibility of surreal elements or exaggeration. With animation, you have the freedom to use images as metaphor without distracting your audience so it’s a tool that is helpful for not only the artist but also the viewer!
I also help motivate students to feel more comfortable trusting their own creative instincts and to get out of the perfectionist loop were you get hung up on details and lose focus on the greater whole. In my classroom, we never use pencils because this encourages the erase and redraw cycle which often never ends because we’re stuck on thinking ‘this isn’t good enough,’ instead of accepting and moving on to completion. Looking back on a finished piece and realizing what could be done differently next time is always more helpful and satisfying than being stuck on one detail and never finishing. A goal for myself and for them is to share and to continue to share – we can’t do that if we don’t finish the project.
Video Animation - Iris Jimenez
Hi my name is Iris Jimenez, I’m 13 years old, and I go to Living Arts. I've always been really passionate about art and animation and Living Arts is the place that has brought out the best in me. I take 2 classes in Living Arts: Video Animation and The SPOT. These two classes have made me feel more passionate to do what I love and the teachers are the best people to get along with.
The first time I came to the animation class was during the summer of 2018. The animation class is a place where I can be myself and do what I love. The class is so much fun and I learned so much about animation. I even got to make new friends there. Ms. Natasha has helped me so much with animation. She teaches us different types of techniques and honestly I just think she's the best. She is very caring and super easy to talk to. But most of all I love working and being with the people in this class. We all share such similar interests and are passionate about what we love to do.
Video Animation - Elise Moore
My name is Elise Moore, and I’m 16 years old. I go to Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy, and I am a junior. I have participated in Living Arts’ Video Animation class since Summer 2013. In my free time, I like to write and play music, create different types of visual art (like drawing and animating), and read.
Throughout my time in Video Animation, my favorite part has been working with the teacher, Ms. Natasha Beste. Ms. Natasha runs the class very smoothly and keeps all of us students on the right track. She introduces each project with such enthusiasm that it is contagious. When I first started this workshop, I was very shy and rarely spoke about my ideas. Ms. Natasha really helped me come out of my shell and to this day allows me to express who I truly am.
In the near future, I want to continue in the Video Animation class, and to create more short films there and in my free time. Later on, I plan to attend college to learn more about animation and character design. I hope to work at an animation studio as either a storyboard artist, animator, or concept artist.