Category: South Side Animation Club

Happy October!

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

Long time no blog!

No, Mine! Studios has been going through some major changes, as have I, as has everyone else. [Skip ahead if you just want happy news. I do not blame you in the slightest.]

WHINY RECAP HERE

For the last two years, I have been dealing with “temporary” mobility restrictions for one hand, thinking that I was going to get surgery any day now.  This sad excuse of a Sam Beckett play called “Dealing With LNI” left me worried about starting anything major lest it mess with my treatment or recovery in terms of timing and pain, stressed that insurers would blame me for making the situation worse, and overly anxious to be near other people outside my immediate circle. The most important lesson I learned from this is that LNI doesn’t need an excuse to deny surgeries: that’s what third party reviewers are for. Ba-dum-dum-tsss (insert drum sound effect here). I’m still anxious to be in public, but I’m trying to fix this. If you see me, approach slowly and don’t tap on my [sun]glass[es]. (I mean, that really should go for everyone.)

HAPPY PART HERE

So as I start making my way out of the Shire again, like a disheveled little hobbit, here are some updates:

1: No, Mine! Studios was accepted into Tacoma Arts Live’s Accelerating Creative Enterprise (ACE) program! I have the opportunity to start crafting community events for others interested in animation and game design at the Tacoma Armory. Details coming soon, but if you have special requests or would like to help out, please email nominestudios@gmail.com.

[One of the other unofficial yet amazing benefits of ACE is that a cookie from The Cookie Clubhouse just magically materialized before me while typing this. Go buy some delicious cookies!!! )

To learn more about ACE, click here.

2: Before getting accepted into ACE, No, Mine! Studios was also accepted into the City of Tacoma’s Arts at the Armory festival! More details about all the amazing artists that will be there can be found here.

3: A group of stellar volunteers has formed to help make a prototype of one of my game ideas. From sound design to programming, this team is doing a lot of heavy lifting. In addition to wanting to make the game demo available to the public as soon as possible, I want to make sure everyone who works on this project is equitably paid. Part of that rests on building up a strong social media presence so we can get the Kickstarter funded as soon as it goes live, so, without further ado:

FRIENDLY REQUESTS HERE

Please take a minute to encourage your friends to subscribe to this page. Also, please like, subscribe, and follow @nominestudios on Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram. If you’re interested in being contacted for one of our live game test sessions or helping get the word out about this project, reach out to nominestudios@gmail.com.

GRATITUDE HERE

Thank you for your supporting a woman-owned/Tacoma-based animation and game studio! Comment below if you’re in ACE too, I’ll see you at the Armory this November, you shared and subscribed, or if you just want to say hi. 😊

Suzanne

2023 Out!

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

It’s December 27, end of the year, almost made it through another one. Woot woot!

This year was jam packed with activities and new opportunities. I had the chance to help artist Mauricio Robalino complete a series of videos on his working process. I taught Game Design and Animation for two terms at Tacoma’s School of Industrial Design and Engineering, and mentored student interns through the Next Move program. I can’t wait to see what kind of projects my students and interns create in the future.

No, Mine! Studios Interns Jillian and Sterling helping assemble the South Side Animation Club Animation Kits at the Tacoma Public Library Moore Branch.

I directed “Parenting GO!” for the 72-hour 253 Film Festival, my short animation “Yeetcosystem” premiered at the Tacoma Film Festival, and I launched the South Side Animation Club (a City of Tacoma 2023 Community Arts Project): all three of which wouldn’t be possible without The Grand Cinema. I shared my in progress game demo and Yeetcosystem sales training manuals at the City of Tacoma Arts at the Armory and met and reconnected with a lot of great folks. (It’s not too late to get your training manual and complimentary sticker!)

Original logo (2022) and illustration (2023) for the South Side Animation Club, Suzanne Skaar.
South Side Animation Club Sticker. 2023, design by Suzanne Skaar/ No, Mine! Studios. All rights reserved.

In not-so-great news, in-person animation club meetings are on indefinite hold.  My car decided it no longer wants to shift out of first gear, and the lack of a working vehicle has made hosting the free in-person animation club meetings too daunting a task given the amount of equipment and supplies that need to be moved back and forth. I’m holding out hope that this will be figured out by Springtime. (If anyone wants to donate a Vespa with a cargo rack, or a more practical working vehicle to the studio, now would be the time.) The next virtual Animators meeting be in February; the registration link will go live in early January. Pre-registration is required, but the online meetup is free.

The month of January will be dedicated to studio time and planning. I have a lot of new goals and projects in the works for the studio next year, including collaborating with other artists as possible. If you’d like to work together, reach out to nominestudios@gmail.com.

Thank you for supporting No, Mine! Studios. If you haven’t yet done so, follow @nominestudios on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. (No, Mine! still has a Twitter account, but … yeah. Not on there so much for some reason…)

Cheers to the New Year, and thank you to everyone who made this year possible! A special thanks especially to Tim Kapler and my Junior Tester Izzy, both of whom helped behind the scenes on many of the studio’s projects.

All the best,

Suzanne

Film Screening Time Change

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

I just learned via Instagram last night that the Tacoma Film Festival screening of “Yeetcosystem” (my microshort about yeeting rich people – I mean, revolutionizing modern luxury housing) has been changed to Tuesday, October 10 at 3:30 p.m. (originally 7 p.m.). (Look for the PNW Animation and Imagination block).

I know this is a difficult time for many to attend the festival as it’s in the middle of the work day (and my kid’s regularly scheduled school activities). But if you are able to go, email nominestudios@gmail.com by 10/5 so I can get you a free “Yeetcosystem Licensed Agent” button for the screening.

Cheers,

Suzanne

Upcoming Events and News

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

Good morning!

It is a lovely rainy day in Tacoma. I returned to teaching high school half-time this month (game design and animation, as well as Photoshop), so I am just now getting back into preparing for all the exciting events coming up. I also have news about the South Side Animation Club, so grab your tea and let’s get started!

Upcoming Events

GeekGirlCon 2023

I am excited to return to this year’s GeekGirlCon! I was invited by Maddy of Foulplay Games to moderate the panel: “DIY Gaming: ‘How to Self-Publish and Promote Your Own Games”. We’re on at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, in the America Room! Get your GeekGirlCon passes today!

Tacoma Film Festival

My micro-animation “Yeetcosystem” was accepted into this year’s Tacoma Film Festival! Come check it out on Tuesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. as part of the festival’s larger animation block!

Tacoma Arts at the Armory

Third time’s the charm! This year, I’ll be returning to Tacoma’s free community event, Arts at the Armory, on November 11 and 12 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Come say hi, see the progress on my game, and get some No, Mine! Studios buttons and stickers! Some of my favorite Tacoma artists will have their work on display at the Armory, too, so put this in your calendar now!

South Side Animation Club/ South Side Animators

Based on programming needs and feedback, I am announcing a change in direction for the South Side Animation Club.

The all ages South Side Animation Club is on a temporary hiatus due to a number of factors. Wednesday nights are just a hard time for families to meet, especially with school, work, and other obligations. Wednesdays also conflict with the wonderful Tacoma Artists Meetup group. They meet weekly, so check them out! Moving forward, we need access to a venue that would be available on Saturday mornings and is near major buslines if we’re going to stay accessible. If you have suggestions or connections for restarting the all ages club in January or later, please email nominestudios@gmail.com. No, Mine! Studios will have a table and game demo at the Arts at the Armory event on November 11 and 12 that is all ages (including adults!) appropriate, so please feel free to chat with me about this program.

For adults interested in creating animation, we will return virtually on Saturday, November 18 at 10 a.m. Pre-registration for South Side Animators is required. There is no cost to attend and the meeting is open to all regardless of geographic location. The new format will give us a chance to discuss topics like techniques, funding, and technical issues, and share work. With that said, this virtual gathering is a safe space. Material which is sexist, racist, homophobic, ableist, etc. is not permitted or tolerated, and will result in a ban from the group. By signing in to the meeting, you agree to abide by these terms. Click here to pre-register. The South Side Animators virtual meetings will be scheduled for the third Saturday of the month moving forward.

As always, thank you for supporting a small, mom-owned studio, and I hope to see you at one of the above events!

Suzanne

Your feedback is requested!

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ 2 Comments

Hi Animators,

I have some news, but more importantly, a whole lot of questions for you.

Our host, The Grand Cinema, is welcoming us back in person in September from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 12 (the second Wednesday of the month). However, due to two scheduling conflicts, we need to make alternate arrangements for October and November, whether that is simply moving the meeting to another week (1st or 3rd Wednesday), exploring virtual options for these months, or another option (like taking a break for October and changing the venue for November).

This leads me to another issue I have been weighing since the start of this club: how do I make an all ages animation club where professionals, amateurs, and hobbyists feel welcome? I originally made the age range “all ages” so as it to make it possible for animators with caregiving duties to attend, but I also want to make a space for kids who are interested in/ serious about animation to get their questions answered and to form connections. Do adult animators feel welcome at this gathering? If not, why not? Should I separate the club into two age ranges with two separate meeting times? Is there enough interest in a more formal class for kids? Would parent artists interested in making animation be able to attend if I institute an age limit on one of the meeting times?

To help me figure out what will make the South Side Animation Club as accessible, useful, and enjoyable as possible for animators in the Tacoma region in terms of dates, times, and meeting location (virtual vs. in person), it would be great to get your feedback! To complete the survey, please click here. If you have difficulties opening this link, or if you have thoughts on the issue of whether to make a separate meeting for kids and adults, send me a message to nominestudios@gmail.com. If you want a more formal class for yourself or your kid(s), let me know!

If you live outside the region but would like to participate if there is a virtual option, please email nominestudios@gmail.com with the subject line: “I want a Virtual Animation Club Option!” In the body of the message, include your name, age, location, a link to your portfolio if applicable (not required), and times/ days that would work best for you. If you are a parent/guardian emailing on behalf of your kid, please let me know. If you are under 18, please have your parent/guardian email for you.

Thank you!

Suzanne

See you tonight!

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

The South Side Animation Club returns to The Grand Cinema from 6 – 8 p.m. on August 9 (tonight)!

Animators looking to collaborate, work on projects, or showcase your progress, this is for you! This meeting is free & all ages; children are welcome with adult supervision. Some general supplies such as newsprint and light tracing boxes will be provided for shared use, but feel free to bring laptops, tablets, sketchbooks, tracing paper, pens/ pencils, or anything you need to work on your own project. The Grand is providing a projector and screen so that we can share works in progress, so please consider bringing a USB drive with your work if you’d like.

Indie game devs, writers, voiceover actors, composers, sound designers, and more, you’re welcome, too!

Thank you to The Grand Cinema for hosting us, as well as the City of Tacoma Arts Commission and Office of Arts and Cultural Vitality for sponsoring the Animation Club as a 2023 Community Arts Project.

See you at The Grand, and bring a friend! 🙂

Suzanne

South Side Animation Club Meeting May 2023

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

Exciting Announcement!

Because the weather has been in our favor lately, we are holding the next South Side Animation Club outdoors!

Join us on Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Wapato Lake Park (6500 S. Sheridan Ave
Tacoma, WA 98408). The exact location will be posted on the website (https://www.nominestudios.com/) and Instagram (@nominestudios) once we set up, but we should be easy to spot! Bring camping chairs, blankets, sunscreen, snacks, and cold drinks (non-alcoholic per club and park rules), as well as a sketchbook, pencils, pens, watercolors, or whatever else you would like to work with outdoors. I’ll bring some supplementary art supplies to share (colored pencils, sharpeners, loose flip book supplies). [As this month’s meeting is outdoors, it will be relatively technology free except for what attendees choose to bring.] Wapato Lake is a wonderful setting to work on background art as a group, but as always, everyone is free to work on their own projects and encouraged to share progress with the group.

For those who sign in on Saturday, we’ll have a drawing for some mini-door prizes halfway through the session. We’ll announce the drawing winners at the meeting.

The South Side Animation Club is all ages, free, and intended for artists of all mediums and skill levels with an interest in making animation: digital and traditional animation and stop motion, sound design, writing, directing, and more.

Children are welcome when accompanied by guardian. Please note: We are unable to provide supervision for unattended children. Thank you for understanding.

Please refrain from smoking/ vaping near the club meeting spot out of respect for individuals with respiratory and other conditions. We also still encourage masks and/ or social distancing as appropriate to keep our group as accessible as possible.

This Community Arts Project is made possible with support from the City of Tacoma Office of Arts and Cultural Vitality and the Tacoma Arts Commission. Please feel free to email any questions you may have about the club to Suzanne Skaar at No, Mine! Studios: nominestudios@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you this Saturday!

Suzanne