Meet Jean Coenders

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jean Coenders a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jean, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

As a teenager I worked the cash register in a supermarket. This area wasn’t exactly known for it’s youthful population, so many of my customers were chatty retirees. I’ve heard many tales, of swashbuckling adventures on cargo ships, to heart-wrenching love stories spanning decades. And all were told to the backdrop of beeping machines and the rustling of many plastic bags. It made one thing very clear to me; If there’s a life there’s a story.

And boy, do I love stories.

Stories can be made from anything, can be found in anything, and even told from nothing. Over the years I’ve found that if my creative flame seems to be dimming, It’s time to head outside and just look around.
I’ve had so much fun drawing people I see and making up stories for them. Sometimes with visual nuggets of info, a geeky shirt, a patch on a bag, a tattoo on their arm. Sometimes its fun to just make up random things with no bases.

I’ve delved into folktales, books, movies and the world itself. There’s never a reason to be bored. And even if I don’t draw it now, the stories always stick around in my brain for later. Creativity is everywhere. Even when I’m not being creative myself. Stories are told wherever and whenever and I make sure to always listen.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

The power of art is that we can visually breathe life into these stories and that’s where I’ve found my calling.

As a character designer and visual development artist for animation I get to pitch and play around with how a story wil look. We have such an endless sea of art and influences to choose from. Especially now with the internet it’s all there on your screen at the click of a button. Nothing makes me happier than a Pinterest full of a million things sent to me with the question to make SOMETHING from it.
I’ve always prided myself on being very versatile in art style, though it’s not as flashy it’s very useful for this line of work.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think every artist brings something unique to the table. And every production is different. That being said, I’d like to highlight the soft skills.

It’s easy to get wowed and caught up in flashy art but being reliable and good to work with is more important than any hard skill you’ll ever obtain. Nobody wants to work with you if you are a pain to work with.

Being quick and flexible is also recommended. Things can change at any moment and feedback is endless. It’s good to be able to adapt to these environments and still deliver good quality work.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

I think like many other people in animation it’s been hard to keep a head above water. Productions are scarce and it seems like we have a new threat to fight every year. I’m not gonna be an ass an say it’s nothing or that we should just to give in. It’s not looking good but I have faith we’ll bounce back.
I’m currently working in a bookstore to make ends meet and I’ll be frank and say I have little energy for the hustle. I’ve been focusing on my own passion projects on the side as well as smaller gigs I can piece together left and right. And I try to enjoy my time as much as possible and enjoy the stories I find along the way.

For where there’s life, there’s a story.
And boy, do I love stories.

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