Author: Suzanne Skaar

Tacoma based artist and writer. Currently working on as yet untitled video game with support from the City of Tacoma Artist Initiative Program. You can follow progress on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok: @nominestudios. E-mail: nominestudios@gmail.com.

Spring Break

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

First day of Spring Break, and the kiddo and I are not going outside unless we absolutely have to.

2D pixel art black and white dino holding broken umbrella in front of worn-down building. Character design from as yet untitled dino game by Suzanne Skaar, 2020-2022. All rights reserved.

Sneak Peek

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Here’s a look at the latest progress on the interior of “The Very Diverse Society for Old Dude Bros” from my as yet untitled dinosaur game. Enjoy!

Work in progress: “The Very Diverse Society For Old Dude Bros.” Graphics and sound by Suzanne Skaar, 2020-2022. All rights reserved.

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Suzanne

Audio Design

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I started adding sound effects into the game engine (Unity) last week. It took me a long time to get into audio design projects, but now that I’m here, I’m having a lot of fun.

Stegos are peeping. Trilobites are shuffling. Volcanoes are blorping.

I could have been blorping volcanoes for decades!

I never felt like I knew enough before I could start, but this approach is backwards. I’ve learned so much more from the actual doing than the researching beforehand. There need to be more spaces for women and girls to fail and be encouraged to move forward anyway.

Video: in game engine clip of black and white dino walking through underground tunnel system past trilobites. Multiple pipes of varying hues (gray, yellow, blue, and orange) are seen in the foreground. The concrete walls lining the tunnel are greenish and braced with rusted orange steel beams.
Graphics and sound by Suzanne Skaar, 2022. All rights reserved.

Game Background Art

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

Good morning!

As many who follow this site already know, the background art for my as yet untitled dino game is loosely based on real spaces in Tacoma. Of course, since the characters in the game are dinosaurs/ other creatures of the Cretaceous Period (for the most part), some liberties have been taken.

Here are a few examples of what I have been working on. What other local landmarks would you like to see represented?

Pixel art illustration of "Whelks Temple," loosely based on Elks Temple in downtown Tacoma, WA.
“Whelks Temple.” Digital illustration by Suzanne Skaar, 2022. All rights reserved.
Pixel art illustration of yellow and white house. No, Mine! Studios logo in bottom right hand corner.
“Yellow house.” Digital illustration by Suzanne Skaar, 2022. All rights reserved.
Pixel art illustration loosely based on Normanna Hall in Tacoma, Washington.
“Nostalgia Hall.” Digital illustration by Suzanne Skaar, 2022. All rights reserved.
Pixel art illustration loosely based on Johnson Candy Company building in Tacoma, Washington. Sign reads "Iguanodon Candy Company."
“Iguanodon Candy Company.” Digital illustration by Suzanne Skaar, 2022. All rights reserved.

— Suzanne

Power Lines

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An experiment with color balance for this side project.

Photo, power lines near Port of Tacoma. 2022. Suzanne Skaar. All rights reserved.

I had a much longer post, but I deleted it. My heart has been heavy lately, and I don’t want to send direct messages in case they cause issues in the current political climate. Love to my friends in Ukraine and Russia, and those who escaped but left their hearts there. Please stay safe. — Suzanne

Accessibility and Technology

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A year ago, I went through the very frustrating process of trying to get help from Novation tech support to remove the unnecessary flashing light display on the Launchpad X due to flashing lights being a known migraine trigger. At the time, it did not go well, but it inspired my essay on accessibility and technology entitled “Rock Salt.” Today, I received the following message:

“[W]e have released the 1.0.5 update for Launchpad Mini Mk3 and Launchpad X that will disable the Vegas mode display when a PC connection is unavailable (as you had requested).”

Even though I returned the product a year ago, it’s good to know the company took this concern seriously. There’s always room to grow.

Suzanne

New Work on SoundCloud and Bandcamp

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Experimental track “In the Foyer with a Candlestick” is up now on SoundCloud and Bandcamp, along with other work from the as yet unreleased EP “And in Time of War.” Check it out and share with friends!

“In the Foyer with a Candlestick” on SoundCloud and Bandcamp. Track artwork by Suzanne Skaar, 2022. All rights reserved.

On a related note for those wondering: I decided to stop pseudo-hiding behind a pseudonym (DJ Living Wage) for the sake of sharing some of my more experimental work. It was funny for a minute, and who knows? Maybe I’ll change my mind again in the future…  But in the meantime, you can find me at suzanneskaar on both sites.