My Crazy Start to 2025: Animation, Art Center, and New Paths

This year really has come in full swing, and I just wanted to cover what I am up to. I have so many projects in motion personally and professionally that I am excited to share. Some are publicly available at the moment while some are still in the works. That being said let’s get into it!

The first big project being my new YouTube video “Graphic Designers and Illustrators Need Passion Projects”. I had some work I wanted to showcase but didn’t necessarily feel like they were big enough for their own video. I had seen a similar narrative in another video and thought that creator didn’t talk about points that I would find important. Thus I made the video! The feedback on it has been absolutely incredible. Despite my longer format videos not gaining as many views as my shorter videos the comments and messages I have received since posting that video is really motivating to keep making those longer format videos. I encourage you to check that video out as it is my best so far, the work I showcased I am really pumped on and if you are an artist maybe I have something to say worth listening to.

Second I recently had the opportunity to produce animation for the Iowa Hawkeyes Women’s Hockey Team. Specifically for their senior night. I got to design three merch items, of course do the animations and will be present shooting photography at the event. All of this will eventually get its own page within my “Portfolio” tab on my website by the end of the month. Full of everything I produced. This project has kept me very busy in my free time but I do want to move more and more into the animation space - so I will continue to jump on an opportunity I can. If you are reading this past February go check out my “Portfolio” page to see everything in depth - but in the meantime here is the animation that will be playing on the big screen in the arena!

A third big career milestone is getting active within my local community. I have been asked to give a presentation at the Fort Madison Area Arts Association which is absolutely incredible. I do miss my local art scene since graduating from Milligan University but this feels like the best step towards getting involved again and I couldn’t be more stoked. The topic they asked me to speak on is how to market your art. There are a million roads this could potentially go down but I think I have the direction I am going to go nailed down. While this was pretty last minute it would be so silly to shy away from the opportunity. The event is officially titled “Art Marketing 101” and I will leave the invitation below just in case you are a local artist that would like to stop by!

Lastly this year has already been very self reflective for me. I have my hands in many things as a multimedia specialist - animation, graphic design, video, photography, illustration and several other niche mediums within those skillsets. With that being said I think I have narrowed down the direction I would like to pursue. It is many artists dream to work for themselves one day, and when that day comes for me I hope to be doing animation (primarily hand drawn 2D) and illustrative pieces (both stand alone pieces and indie comics). I imagine my production for things like YouTube and posts on social media slow down for the next couple months while I pursue these things. I have things I feel very natural at that I do professionally and neither of those things fit into that “being natural” category for me. I do wonder if that is what makes me so attracted to those artistic mediums, as a person that likes to be challenged and “lock in”. Looking ahead my next big project that I am anxious to pursue is very heavy in illustration. I am really excited to re-invent my illustrative style, and honestly intimidated (in excitement) by the workload this next project I have come up with will bear. In the meantime I made this owl piece I would like to share with you. Consider it the foreshadowing to what I will be working on for the next couple months.

Lastly - I have never claimed to be a writer. If you are reading this now I appreciate you so much. I know my writing is not professional level but with that being said I do love writing a poem when the mood strikes. I am excited to share a poem with you today, and I also made a little graphic for it as well just for fun. I wrote this while on an early commute to work, and it feels oddly fitting to finish out this blog. Again, thank you so much for reading what I have to say and as always thank you for hanging out.

Along the road are blue flowers

They talk with the sheep to keep company

Along the road are yellow flowers

They have a large field to move into

Along the road are white flowers

They lead the paths to the barns

Along the road are orange flowers

They bid good morning like the sun

Along the road are purple flowers

They are shy and hide among others

Along the road are pink flowers

They have been fostered and cared for

Along the road are red flowers

They know some things take a long time

- Judah Cooper