Ep.61: Jessica Laurent on finding yourself as an artist

Iva Mikles
Ep.61: Jessica Laurent on finding yourself as an artist

Jessica Laurent is a film director and Story/Visual artist from France. Fascinated by rhythm, she wants to literally immerge her audience into her creations. While every part of her filmmaking is planned, and scrupulously structured, Jessica thrives to bring hope and tenderness to her audience.

She graduated from The Animation Workshop “Character Animation” Bachelor in Denmark after studying filmmaking in France. Jessica directed several short films and commercials and in her last school year, she worked on the music video “Stellar” for the Danish band “Kenton Slash Demon”.

Through one of her last internships, Jessica worked in Cartoon Saloon (Ireland) as Shadow Director, Story and Concept artist as well as Assistant Animator on the features films “WolfWalkers”, “Breadwinner”, the short film “Late Afternoon” and other secret projects. The same year she also interned Filmes Da Praça (Portugal) as Character Designer on the feature film “Nayola”

As the Water is one of the essential components to her work, Jessica is currently working on her next short movie “SIBLINGS” where she develops another relationship toward this element.

Get in touch with Jessica

Key Takeaways

“For the world to recover its greatness you have to look at it with the eyes of a child”

  • Jessica finds inspiration in Movies in terms of composition, screenshots, pieces of dialog. She loves movies that make her reflect, that make her ask “What happened?” Such movies make you think about the perspective of life from different angles
  • When comparing France to Denmark, Jessica says that in France, you have to be the best and you always work in that goal and almost everyone around you is working in this individual goal. In Denmark, you are ashamed of bragging, they want to be an equal society with more time for family and less burnout
  • Before starting, Jessica wishes she knew to get to know herself. It’s easy to jump into a box, but asking who you are moves you forward. We are all afraid to fail, but we don’t know anybody who went from 0 to success in a straight line.
  • As a director/writer, Jessica’s vision is that at the end of her creations, the audience embraces each other. It’s easy to be misunderstood in this world and she wants people to open more to each other.
  • Happiness is not something that happens to you, it’s something you ask yourself, what makes you happy so you can be also happy in the present!

Resources mentioned

Special thanks to Jessica for joining me today. See you next time!

All artworks by Jessica Laurent, used with permission

Episode Transcript

Announcer  

Creative, artistic, happy! That’s you. There are endless possibilities for living a creative life. So let’s inspire each other Art Side of Life interviews with Iva.

Iva Mikles  

Hello, everyone and welcome to the next episode of Art Side of Life where it’s all about how you can turn your creative passion into a profession. My name is Iva, and my guest today is a film director and story visual artists from France. Now living in working in Denmark. After studying filmmaking in France, she graduated with character animation bachelor for the animation workshop in Denmark. Fascinated by rhythm she wants to literally immerse her audience into her creations. While every part of her filmmaking is planned and carefully structured she thrives to bring hope and tenderness into her audience. Through one of her last internships, she worked in cartoons alone in Ireland as a shadow director, story concept artist, as well as assistant animator on the feature films like Wolf Walker’s breadwinner, and the short film late afternoon. And other secret project. The water is one of the essential components for her work, and she’s currently working on her next short movie siblings where she develops another relationship toward this element. So please welcome Jessica lrm. And before we get to the interview, a little side note that technical glitch code and my video was not recorded at all. That’s why I only put a static image of myself. And now let’s just get to the interview. Welcome everyone to the next episode of Art Side of Life. And I’m super happy to have my guest here, Jessica. Hi. Hi, how are you? Great, great. My pleasure that you are here. So I’m really excited.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, I’m excited to

Iva Mikles  

Let’s start with your background, then maybe you can share some stories from your childhood. Like how were you creative? Or what was your creative outlet at the time?

Jessica Laurent  

It it’s quite funny that you talk about my childhood because I think everything come from the childhood and I love like studying about psychology, and why are you doing this right now. And for example, my mom just told me not so long ago that all my child would join. I had joined characters with like, 10 finger per hands, because I wanted to do so much that they were like, Yeah, you just needed to be sure you have all the tools. So yeah, I think when I was younger, I really like to create story. Most of all, like not, I was drawing the drawing was just a tour and, and I was writing stories about like Smer for I was taking with whatever was under my hand and like drawing from my parents. And yet since I’m literally I really like telling story. And I think it’s where it came from that I went to animation because thanks to the movement, you can tell stories. And then from there, I decided to actually be more director because I really wanted to pass a vision and that’s basically what I was doing since I was

Iva Mikles  

So you were writing stories already when we were a kid.

Jessica Laurent  

Yes. Yeah. I mean, a little story. I was sleeping Merce Smurf that was falling asleep and that was crossing the whole city and everyone was falling. I mean, as you can see, that was really high. High stories you

Iva Mikles  

Ate a lot of sugar.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, I love I love candies are so I don’t think if it’s a good match together,

Iva Mikles  

Then we are we’re hyper?

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, exactly. I actually one of my things on my bucket list is to write a book at one point just to you know, to get to dive deeper into what is the construction of a story and, and also because I think everything is connected in art anyway. So it’s not just because you’re trying to join you have to draw that you have to inspire yourself by things around so I mean bucket list is also something that you know, you wish to do, but maybe never gonna

Iva Mikles  

Did you have some other creative outlets. Also, when you were a kid, like a board games, or I don’t know, building something from grass or something crazy.

Jessica Laurent  

I was a I was a part of a sporty family. So we’re doing a lot of sports. And in every sport I yeah, I was pushing myself to the to being the best and basically, you know, fighting against myself. So I think that was maybe my way of building things. But yeah, when I was a teenager, I was living in a big city with a lot of I mean, yeah, kinda suburb from France. So we were basically all the time outside and I had a big brother, so I was following him all the time. So I guess it’s, it’s where I was so active, maybe valid. I got a lot of story for actually all the time we did mistakes or things we shouldn’t have done.

Iva Mikles  

So when was the time where you told your parents you want to take this professionally or do you remember this conversation?

Jessica Laurent  

Actually, it’s, I’m really lucky because my parents were really supportive from the start like I come from a family where, where maybe they, I mean, they did something that was interesting them. But by talking with them later and maybe 10 years later, I understood that they had some dreams, and maybe it wasn’t possible at the time to do it. And in that way, they were really supportive about always following us, and what do you want to do and not pushing us not giving us the final answer. And for example, the moment that I truly had to take the decision to go into art school was after my bachelor. So when you’re 18, in France, you know, you leave at high school. And that’s, that’s actually quite funny, because in France every year, you know, that you’re passing in the year after, or you have to take over the class. But suddenly, when you’re 18 is like, Oh, now you’re free, you decide where to go, you have to pay your rent. Yeah, it’s like, it’s really crazy. So it’s a huge, stressful moment. And I remember searching with my parents, or the school I could do. And, of course, there were some public school because I’m new to new Paris, or an hour, so it was possible to go to Paris. So there was this good public school, and I was a good student at high school. But then, you know, it was passing from theory, because in high school, you just go in class, you’re listening, and you’re writing to like drawing school when you actually drawing all the time. And I was really scared. So with my parents, we also looked at literature, I read school, like, basically, you know, you work your work, you’re kind of a preparation school. And, and I couldn’t shoot, and I was asking my parents to shoot, but they didn’t want to. And finally, when I took the decision, I remember my dad saying that, leave leaving me a note on my desk, because my dad was the first one to go in at the morning in the morning to work. So you left me a note saying that? Oh, but you could also have been great in that way. And it made me sad, but at the same time, I was like, No, you know, I took my decision. That’s when I think that’s the first time I really took a decision that was going into my direction. And also knowing that I could have take the normal, easy decisions, one of my own life is prepared to like work, listening, repeat. And, you know, being a good leader of friendship, girl, but in this with this decision, I decided to No, let’s try to find maybe what is more me. And I was really lucky that my parents were supporting a lot.

Iva Mikles  

So and then you moved. So how about

Jessica Laurent  

I mean, I didn’t really move because that was to Paris. I went to Western. That is a, it’s a public school. So basically, the two first year I was staying at my parents place, and I was commuting every day. And I was so dead that I please asked if I could have an apartment. And so that’s the year so I had one. So for me, the transition wasn’t really, I mean, I was still being with my parents at night, I was eating dinner. I was working a lot, but I was still with them. So with this transition happen when I moved to Denmark, and they’re like, yeah, like at night, I had to do my own dinner. And it was I was pretty far away from my family. So I had to grow up really so. But I was still being the same and drawing. So I didn’t really fear the before and after drawing because for me, it was really smooth.

Iva Mikles  

And how was it the adjusting to a different country? Because it’s also different culture and different weather.

Jessica Laurent  

So it was funny, because right now it’s really sunny. But no, no, no, guys. And also, I just actually have some news. That’s why I’m taking on but if this interview happen in three months, I’m going to be white as a drone pilot. Nice country over to Mr. Peterson. Yeah, well

Iva Mikles  

Take vitamin D. Yeah.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, I’m doing a lot of sports. I don’t know if it’s works. But But basically, to come back to your question, it was really hard for me first to speak English. Because even if you you can maybe understand me that is because it’s been four years. Just like the language how the teaching English in France is not maybe as good as you know, the country. And when they arrive, I believe I was really good. And actually I couldn’t, really communicating you more than you more is a huge part of French culture, or like insinuation, or little game of words. And it was really hard at the beginning. And also the culture. Even if Denmark, the bar where I am is like only, it’s a few 1000 bits, maybe 1000 kilometer from Paris is not so far away. But it’s really the culture is very different. In France, if I if I’m really like caricatural, in France, we have to be the best. And we have to be original. And if you if you are on top of those users you’re already paying for you’re like, Oh yeah, you did really great to deserve this. And in Denmark, it’s more like, you’re ashamed of like bragging and and you should really, it’s more the, you know, everyone is good. Everyone is the same not pushing you down. But you know, you should remember that you’re part of a society and they’re more time for the family. It’s not so much individual so that was really a clash. That just basically friends to Denmark, I learned that it’s it’s okay to not be the best. It’s okay to not want to always improve and it was something really new and, and I mean, I think really nice because in our job we work so much that we also need to understand why we work you know, and to not just burn out ourselves and burnout burnout.

Iva Mikles  

Yeah, so actually like find your work life balance so you can have The fun or just socializing your friends are just relax as well.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah. And also just understanding what is the goal of your life? You know, of course, some people is like making a lot of movie or the best of movie, but they’re never stopped. You know, some people can make 10 or 100. You know, where are you going to stop? I’m talking about making movie but about animation can be the same. You know, if your your dream is to work on the feature film, like after working feature film, what are you going to do? You’re going to continue to do it? Well, then it’s nice to know what, what you want here in order to know.

Iva Mikles  

Definitely, and what would you think what was the best advice you ever received during your time either studying or just like starting your career?

Jessica Laurent  

When actually, I think it was when I was in my first year in France. So I was 18. And it was the first time I was drawing throughout all the days and my teacher at the time. We really admire this teacher because she was really close to us. Like, of course, she was younger. So compared to the other teacher we had in the in our year, but also she was she was actually pushing us and staying with us after school hours. And I remember at one point she she took me apart from the class and she told me that Jessica, it’s She almost got me like a mob. Like seriously, she was pretty harsh, saying that it’s not because you work 40 hours or join that you’re going to be better than the person worked in our or is it genius or that a better ID. And I remember that time that was really hard. And I cry. I know that thing. But I think she understood that I needed someone to basically slap me and say like, you’re not in high school anymore. This is Art is not just, they’re not like one good answer. And it’s because you work a lot that you’re gonna find center. And you’re gonna have to, like redefine your life. And of course, at that moment, I was a bit young. So it took some years to really merge into my head. But I’m really, I really like things this this moment. Like I think also maybe she could see I was a person that was able to get this kind of advice, harsh advice, because she was pretty harsh. But But I think it really helped me to understand that it’s okay, you don’t you don’t have to be the best you don’t you have to find why you’re doing this. And you don’t just have to do it because society or because grades are because this is what you should do you.

Iva Mikles  

So was there something which helped you, you know, to set your goal or kind of the reason why are you doing this? Did you do some research meditation or talk to other people,

Jessica Laurent  

I move so much that I try meditation or yoga, but oh my god, I’m just so bored. So I do something that is maybe a bit weird, but I talk to myself a lot. Like if I have a problem, I just if it’s a really big problems, and I take a paper and I write for example, or the good thing or a bad thing. I tried to put everything out because also by being in a different culture in Denmark, I realize I love talking to people and understand why the things that way. But I discovered a lot about myself. And you know why I truly do this kind of fraction of the user. And I realized that by seeing things now it’s become true. And by becoming truly become workable. Like just saying I love you to someone, for example, it’s just, it’s stupid. But a lot of time you say it’s more to you to like, oh yeah, I actually love this person, and it makes you happy, because then you’re in phase with yourself. But if it was still in your head doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, but you didn’t really accept it. So in that way, I really tried to accept my decision and not just say like, I shouldn’t do that, because this is not the moment because then I’m gonna, I’m gonna think about it during night. And during this time, I’m like, Okay, let’s try to understand why you choose a decision.

Iva Mikles  

Oh, great. Yeah, because I heard also these theories where you can also draw your goal, like, Okay, I imagine myself like, I don’t know, like having a dog having a wife, this having this type of computer working on this project. So you kind of visualized every detail so you can kind of make better decisions along the way. So it can become true afterwards.

Jessica Laurent  

Yes, yeah, I mean, me I’m more drawn writing person than drawing, because I’m thinking that you know, with writing, we all have kind of the same alphabet, the same word, even if we have different meaning. But with drawing, it’s so easy to you know, to get less objective about something and also because it takes more time.

Iva Mikles  

Right so people can choose like they want to write or just save or draw it and but just setting a goal actually helped.

Jessica Laurent  

Exactly and it’s helpful to your self confidence because by writing things down you know, you have a clear goal to accomplish it doesn’t have to be in five years but you can that can be the good of your days because of your week and then you can cross them over that’s really like a nice good thing but I realized I really liked doing this because it especially when you’re working alone you know you have to have kind of a guideline you know because you don’t have Professor anymore or you don’t have like work to get you what to do so

Iva Mikles  

And now with the team as well as in the animation workshop or like do work alone at home in the studio or how does it look like

Jessica Laurent  

So right now I’m actually at the residency at the open workshop so this is my my my own but I don’t work so much here but just I was thinking this better is that just like a black room you know to interview you have an interview, but um yeah, I’m working at the residency so I’m Working basically alone, because I’m working on my short movie right now and writing a script. So I mean, so I’m yeah, basically just working alone. But I also do several jobs on the side, like this month and I was a teacher as a storyboard class in the animation workshop, as well. I’m an assistant teacher in first year, character animation. So because I love doing a lot of things, and I also teach friends boxing.

Iva Mikles  

Boxing, yes. You said like, I teach French or like French Oh, well, these French boxing.

Jessica Laurent  

People say like, it’s basically boxing your French people out of the society because there’s so many. No, no, it’s, you know, huge boxing and certainly with the hands and French boxing is hands and feet. So it’s more like kickboxing you can’t use your elbow or you need. That’s, yeah, that’s Motzei. So I don’t want that my student destroys.

Iva Mikles  

Or even you will, and if you have something with the hand,

Jessica Laurent  

I’m a director, I’m more like the person on the ship that say like, oh, we go that way. We go that way. So maybe this doesn’t work anymore. It’s okay. But my students if they’re like, become work, if they’re working with me after they need their arms.

Iva Mikles  

When How do you find people to work with like, someone who would fit with your project or right personality? Right skills? How do you go about that? But actually,

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, I started this project not so long ago. So right now, I didn’t have so much to think about these kinds of people. I mean, I, in my network, like I follow people on Instagram, or on Facebook, or on social media, basically. And I just write people that I think would fit that because I don’t really need them right now. I only like it’s only proposition if I can, you know if I can hire them later. That was the fact that I’m at the open workshop that is a residency around the school. I also see a lot of teacher coming in, and a lot of people coming back from their internships. So basically, I have a pool of people to, to basically hire later. But right now I don’t, I’m really going step by step. Because I know that rushing something like first of all, I really wanted to have a producer some months ago, and I basically wrote that a tiny bit too much. Then realizing that No, you go to your own step, because putting deadlines, it’s nice for you to advance. But sometimes it can also like, kill your inspiration or your process, especially when you’re writing a story. You know, you need to digest. You need to write but you need to do just what you’re right to actually see better.

Iva Mikles  

Yeah. And what what is your biggest inspiration, like for stories? Or do you have something strange which inspires you as well, or other people think it’s strange.

Jessica Laurent  

I mean, for stories, I really always dig into my life or into experience that I could have, like, for example, some time, it can be just I sit in the metro and some someone enter in the metro and this person had kind of Nora, or kind of some clues that inspire me a little story. But a lot of times for big story, like for short movie, or like trailers or things that I that I did, it was more are coming, but something that really interests me, and dig into myself understanding why I like this thing, and then try to push it toward my vision. So it’s, it’s a bit more also biographical. But for drawings, it can be like any kind of inspiration, I’m really inspired by, by fashion, because it’s a mix of shapes and color. And I love resumes. So when I when I see a good resume somewhere, I can just draw, but for story, it has to have some things that I can dig to really like analyze why I’m gonna go that path and that user and when you’re scientific person, sometimes

Iva Mikles  

It makes sense. And going back to the like, when you decided like to go to the school in Denmark, we talked about this before the recording a bit, would you decide again to go to the school? Or would you study online? Or what would you advise young artists, they’re just deciding they want to work with animation, and maybe what is the difference in schools in in France or in Denmark? Or just studying by yourself or something like that?

Jessica Laurent  

I would, I mean, so this warning, this is exactly what I think doesn’t mean this is the truth. Okay. But from my experience in France, so I only did one school after after my high school so I also only have like one one view of it one experience, but I realized that in France we don’t have a lot of studies that go really high up like you can go bachelor plus two for free but after you have to pay and it’s a to be a private schools are doing well. So the private schools are also more expensive than in Denmark. So for example, that was also why I came to Denmark. But also generally speaking, we’re thinking in France, it’s more like, you have to prove yourself and you have to be the best. So a lot of time you’re going to be really good technically, but maybe you’re going to miss this. This kind of being at ease with yourself and understanding why you’re doing the job. And that’s also why a good thing for the school. I was in the animation workshop because you work a lot, but they also remind you that you’re human you No, no, you have human need, and you need to be social and to sports and, and also this is setting the board like the board. This is not Paris, you know, you have way more witness attraction. But if I forget to say it, if you want to come to be boring, it’s really far away. But it’s reward free because of the pool of people that are here. But generally speaking, I will totally redo the same experience again and again, to come to the school because I really think this is the best school in the world. Like without bragging, it just if you ask everyone in the school, we are all happy, because it’s the students who like, make the school better make the curriculum better, or the time and the teacher will respond to it. We don’t have grades we grade our teacher schedule is really up to us. And it’s, it’s really nice, because they let Of course as as a school, they help you and guide you. But little by little your lesson is guided until you can become autonome. And I think in France, maybe at least a way of working in France, it’s so much into a structure that maybe when you arrive in the in the professional areas, and you jump on something first, because you need this kind of structure again, but again, that was maybe only the experience I had. And for me at least as a Jessica, it was really nice to go to Denmark and to study there. I’m still there. So I’m over, I’m an adult, but I’m still in the paperwork. So

Iva Mikles  

To be born again, the report itself is not so exciting. But as you said, like people and the school and everything. So that’s really good that you had a good experience. So yeah, that’s

Jessica Laurent  

A good place, like a friend will come from France to the residence in Denmark, because they only need to work two months, and they really want to be dedicated to their work. And that then that’s the best place to do it. But it’s true. Like after it’s a tiny city. I mean, Denmark is really not a lot of inhabitants inside. Like, it’s it’s a tiny bit more than Paris. Like, just so you can see. Versus spread. And yeah, it’s different. It’s a different culture, as you said,

Iva Mikles  

And is there something you wish you knew before you started the whole artistic career

Jessica Laurent  

That people will ever tell me to do? Or?

Iva Mikles  

Or just like your experience? Maybe what would you advise to young self?

Jessica Laurent  

Ah, well, I would advise to get you know yourself. No, because it’s so easy to jump into, into as I sell books and like just follows his books. Because because it’s it’s easy, you know, but when you start asking yourself the question, who I am, and I mean, you’re the person you spending the most time with. So it’s better that you get to know yourself before. And also, of course, we all are afraid to fail. And we don’t want to fake but I don’t know anyone who just went from zero to success, you know, I think they really went to the success thanks to, to having failing, this way. Failing, okay, that is what it is. And finally, at the end, the witch who they are and they’re better because the faith so don’t be afraid to fail and be yourself and, and get inspired by things outside of your, your comfort zone, of course. But like for example, if you’re working in animation, like go to a theater, maybe dance, I don’t know, do sports, read books, it’s like everything is connected, like geography and history. You know, when you understand that monetization is connected, then you start being clueless because it’s crazy.

Iva Mikles  

Yeah, so also like just trying writing or like, I don’t know if writing even poems or stories, or everything, and then at least you find out what you don’t like. So you

Jessica Laurent  

Can exactly yes, yes, I really advise people to do that. And also because it’s easy to say, I mean, animation. Yeah, I would only watch animation movie. For example, when animation is on your draw, you know, it doesn’t mean that Kubrick is not well worth to watch or you know, other bigger artists.

Iva Mikles  

So what’s your favorite movies inspiration? Do you have one or some? Well,

Jessica Laurent  

I don’t think I have a favorite movie because I think we all change and you know change with time but right now my, my favorite movie, Francis and mysteries America, actually, this is Francis. It’s very new album Black, and it’s co written with Greta Gerwig. And I think it’s, I mean, it’s movies about the crisis of the 30s in the New York kind of romanticize romanticism New York so inspired by French new wave of really nice composition really nice dialogue and overall really nice reason and I think it’s why I really connect to it because yeah, they keep you inside for it’s not just because the story is good, but because the actress is good but the whole thing

Iva Mikles  

So is there anything else you look for in the movie like I don’t know layout colors and Do you maybe write down what you liked about it? Or do you just remember and the inspiration come later?

Jessica Laurent  

Screenshot that movie? I love I love composition. So when there’s a composition I really like a screenshot it or I write dialogue, like piece of dialogue that I really like or even like stories, but I think what if I’m attracted to movie it’s a movie that made me reflect you know, not just the movies that I’m an audience But some things that during the movie, I’m like, what happened? Oh, what would happen next? Oh, I knew it, you know, like when I’m engaged in it, because then it’s, it’s a movie playing with you. And I think like, for example, I was I really, really liked Milan and drive. Also, I saw it like from David Fincher when I was 18. But I think it was in a totally new kind of movie, because at the end of the movie, I was like, what happened? I didn’t understand anything. But actually, you understand thing, but then you have to rethink in your head and put things back together. And that was, for me a new kind of abstract way to tell him a story. And I think this is what movies are so nice is that because they show perspective of life from one directory to another? So if you see a lot of them, then you cannot expand your thinking. And also you seek things that you’re like, Wow, this is, this is so well thought and I wouldn’t have never thought about it. So thank you. It’s really short. So it’s okay, it doesn’t consume 20 hours of your life like a theory.

Iva Mikles  

That’s true, that’s true. And do you have also like, favorite books, which inspires you or something maybe you will learn from,

Jessica Laurent  

I would say I would, I will say two different kinds of books and books that will inspire me as me, Jessica, and a lot of time talking about myself, because I think as a director, you know, you’re basically creating what is a bit yourself, you know, so for me, it’s really important that you get to know yourself to become a better director. So as a book to myself, so real story of Peter Pan by Jim Smith, Barry was really a milestone in my life, because it was showing you just kind of see Kennedy’s of like children’s thoughts, and how the society was putting what you should do and what you should not do. And also see the curiosity of like real, real feelings. And, of course, like forgetting about time, and I mean, I think I still have to dig into myself to understand why this book is so important to me. But I think it was really like, a really big thing for me. But on the outside, I will say that I was really on the technical side, inspired by the forces by Medici by Mike Medici, because you really show like how in the body, you know, the muscle address forces, you know, when you draw, and that how can you understand, like to create a dynamic drawing by having a resting pose or, and it was really, for me, it was another way of looking at, at life, you know, by, okay, I’m seeing forces now. And not just construction and understanding things. And also books, of course, there was a visual story by Bruce blogs that for me, it’s kind of a bible of what you should do and what you shouldn’t even if you know, it’s nice to be remembered, and how to make how to make a good script better. That’s how the, it’s by Linda Sawyer or mayor, I don’t really remember. But it’s really good, because like Bruce Brockie gives you like, kind of ins and kind of a scientific way and approach to learning to art, but then that’s tools that you can use, because now you had put them in a box in your head, you know, so it’s easier to reuse them than if they were a mess.

Iva Mikles  

Oh, perfect. Yeah, you have so many good books, I need to put everything on my to the read list.

Jessica Laurent  

I actually just discovered them like a year ago. So that’s why it’s so fresh. And I’m like, Yeah, books.

Iva Mikles  

Perfect. Yeah. Because now it’s like, how do you organize your day? Or how do you kind of manage to read and do your projects and everything at the same time? Do you have like a special structure of the day or like routines,

Jessica Laurent  

I’m eating a lot of sugar. I don’t know if it’s pretty good. I always have candies next to me. I tried to keep because right to work. Now. It’s different because I’m actually I have like your job next week. But if I’m only at the residency working for myself, so nitro to go at the same hours as I was going to the school, so the working hours of the day, but I’m more flexible about it. Like I play a tiny games were on the way or sometime at lunch, I take a strategic more to like watch part of the movie or something. So I try to get to still do an hour of discovery something a day, like you’re reading a book or are looking just online at the new videos that are posed or like following some website. But also that this when I arrive at my work, I just plan like what do I need to do today? What do I need to do during the week? And then I answer email. I mean, I do the normal thing, but I do a lot of administration in networking actually without noticing it because just the organization of your day. Take a long time.

Iva Mikles  

And so how do you do the networking? Or how do you get yourself noticed as we talked about it a bit before the interview as well. Like you mentioned the school networking do you do also networking online? Or what would you advise people what is the best from your experience?

Jessica Laurent  

I don’t what was best for my experience is that I’m someone who is really who liked to, to socialize a lot. We like to talk to people so I I do most of my networking like in real life with people that I can see around that. I’m doing a lot of different activity next to the school and the networking place that I have here. So I get to know people on a different level. But as I say to you like so the residency is a school that is next door so to a company, that is yes. And also, it attracts a lot of professional every week. So every month, for example is your teachers, they come in and go out and also the students come back from their internship. So in that way, I have the I have a knowledge of where the industry right now, but I also keep contact with people I did work I interned at their place. And so a lot of times the people you spend time with are so people that share kind of your what you like. So in that way I can follow the part of the industry I like. And I get of course, I continue to go to festival or I apply to pitch to festival, my own project to get known to by always go to NC every year. I’m trying to go to Catherine movies, but it’s a bit too expensive. But I mean, it’s no try to know what is happening around you like me, I’m talking about Europe, because I’m really into the European way of thinking. And I also forgot i this year and part of ISEF that is animate animations of Katya, let’s mean animation without borders. And it’s a four time two weeks trade trading workshop in four different animation school in Europe. So you can understand that we’re thinking of phones and of the industry by seeing so it’s a two weeks in Rizvi sport in Germany in the female Academy, two weeks in, in Budapest in domain, two weeks at the animation workshop here and two weeks in gobbler in Paris. So and through this workshop, you can of course get to know more people from the industry. But you can also pitch No, but you’re basically no but the industry nowadays. And I think, at least for a director, it’s really nice to keep updated about what is happening right now. And that’s my way of doing it like keeping my relationship with people, but also not just on the networking side, as a friend know what is happening around me and always like being curious, but it’s because I’m a really curious person. So I guess he tells me,

Iva Mikles  

What do you think? Because some artists or creative people are really shy? And what would be maybe the approach if you are more shy and you are like not really directly talking to people right away?

Jessica Laurent  

Yes, sorry. I think that it’s really nice to do different things from your from working, for example. So yeah, go to some sports big or go to some activities. Because even if you’re shy, that’s a way to start bonding with people. And basically, if you become friends with people, then you’re not going to notice that you’re networking. So that’s a way also, of course, there’s social media. And if you’re more sheis and following people on Instagram, on Twitter, on Tumblr, like me another I’m not on Tumblr, neither and Twitter because it takes so much of my time. And it’s also that was my choice to decide to be more like with people that they can see around. But this is I have a lot of friends who got really window and thanks to Twitter, or Instagram just by posting every day they go to the blog, and after they can follow people they like and at one point they got confidence enough to ask people question and they become friends and and after they develop a network.

Iva Mikles  

Yeah, definitely. And when you mentioned the festivals Do you also go to what was the name here fun Tosh festival here in Switzerland? I think that’s the Animation Festival.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, no, I’m, I mean, I still graduated like only in January. So it’s not a long time that I say an adult. So I didn’t really like went to other festivals and the one that was in NC or like a comic festival in France in January, because I was you know, I was in school at that time. But right now, I’m not gonna go to all these little festivals, but I keep myself updated about them. I mean, there are lots of little celebrities just like for me, and she’s kind of the biggest networking moment in Europe. So I keep myself updated about with going there. And a lot of time I have friends who got selected to go there or push there. So I’m asking themselves also about like the industry but I think when you go to one or two big festivals a year, you basically see the same thing you know, kind of you feel the pool of the of Europe or of the world at that stage. For example, right now in two weeks there will be a festival in De Boer, and there I mean, it’s an Nordic, Japan and Danish festival. So of course, I’m going to see more things, but they’re also things that were already shown in and see so it’s kind of you say to get you know, and again,

Iva Mikles  

Yeah, so because maybe this interview will be probably a bit later than in two weeks so people can check it out online. Oh, sorry. September is usually yes.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah. And it’s really nice because then that’s also it’s a smaller festival for example and see so you get to know more maybe things that are normally not selected to like I went to another festival in in April that was a festival of Bruges, Brittany in France, because I got selected to pitch my movie and it was also nice to see more maybe indie movies and movies that also don’t get selected to big festivals. So I would suggest to people want to network to maybe don’t do all the festival but select like when a small festival and when big festival to do at least a year because then you have your booth approach but there’s no point of doing so much because because money is because some of your time and some of your energy, so you need also to be wise about how to use

Iva Mikles  

because the NSC one I been there two years ago, I think. And this one was really nice, because you can also sit outside watch the movies, the area is beautiful. And there’s so many theaters you can watch the movies in. So that’s actually good for networking unanimous.

Jessica Laurent  

And all the people came together at the same time of the year, like not just from Europe, but I mean, I have some friend will go to NC, and they don’t watch any movies, it just has like meeting all days, because that’s the only moment they can manage the group or the people from their studio or from from the CO production they’re doing. So it’s really it’s a really diverse festival. And this year, I was a professional in it. Well, before I was a student, and I discovered a notice side of it. We’ve actually way more party and networking moments. But when I say party, it’s always networking, but you know, like different kinds of events. And I was like, Okay, well, this is a really deep festival. And actually, it’s like life, you have to decide what you want to do with it. Because you can just lost yourself.

Iva Mikles  

So you have to learn how to prioritize what do you actually want to do on the festival? So it’s good to plan ahead.

Jessica Laurent  

Yes, that’s, that’s maybe the end, the end sentence of my talk, you need to plan what you want, you can’t do everything, it’s not possible, you’re gonna die.

Iva Mikles  

So when you have to decide about the projects you will do, how do you say no to projects? Or what is kind of going on in your head? Like, what is the decision process?

Jessica Laurent  

Well, it might sound a tiny bit like carry your focus. But I really ask myself, Is it in a nine in alignment with what I want to do with my career? And this is really new, because I I was asked to this question last year by Tom Moore, Director of saloon, which I, I pitched my project with my short movies that I’m working right now. And the first question that he asked me was like, Okay, but what is your plan of your carrier? There was a carrier what? This is something that they have to think about. Yeah, exactly. And when you’re so young, you know, in your in your career, you don’t want to ask yourself this, because it’s a bit presumptuous, and you don’t want to push yourself too far away, because you don’t want to be disappointed. But by actually asking myself this question, I realized that there are no not one way of becoming what you want. So me, I want to become a director, but so not have I could, for example, go inside the studio and little by little, have more responsibility, prove myself and then at the end direct for the studio I really like. But I could also try to direct a lot of things by myself and try and get my experience on the field until basically I get noticed. And maybe, like I get, I don’t know, I got sponsor, I got agents. So I realized by actually deciding which way I want to go, that was my way of playing my carrier. So when their job or an opportunity that come in front of me, I always ask myself first, if I really want to do it, and what’s the good thing? And I think about it, but then after, is it really the best thing to my career right now. So, and it’s really funny, I have a little anecdote for this actually. That was I think, in March, or I mean, this year, I knew about a super awesome job in Spain about being storyboard on a feature film. And because, I mean, I was lucky enough that the director already pitched me the project when I wasn’t at another work. So I saw that this project would be really awesome. Really a nice thing, and it is Spain. I love Spain, I want to speak Spanish, fluently. But anyway, I really wanted to do it. But there was like, no, no, I’m doing something else. At that moment. I can’t do it, then because I just said to myself, I can’t do it. During the night, I was I was thinking in Spanish, like a dream in Spanish that I was having an argument with someone like I was really talking Spanish in my head. So when I woke up the day after was like, No way, I need to understand why I you know, I decided not to go there. And then I put self on the table. And as I said to you, I decided and I really understood why it actually I was right at at first when I couldn’t do it. And because I understood it, and I was able to speak to German French again, and be good with myself and really understand, okay, this was a good opportunity, but I shouldn’t have regrets about it. Because I understood why right now it’s maybe not the best to apply. And also, I mean, maybe I have applied maybe not get it, you know, it’s just like you have to be it. I mean, there were no point of applying and then waiting to have an answer because then I would have been in front of the thing and you know, it’s better to think before I think to also keep your energy and

Iva Mikles  

So much kind of what do you want to achieve? Or yeah, either working for big studios or like on a project you just really admire or or on your own things. Yeah.

Jessica Laurent  

Because I mean, I I don’t maybe only because I become my career and it’s at a really good time in the industry. But right now there’s so many jobs around like I’m also really lucky to not like to do one thing. So of course I have more options. But I’m I’m basically kind of refusing a tiny bit of job you know, and that can really choose what what is me so because I’m so lucky, like it’s better that I do the best and I don’t jump into the first project ever. And also without being pessimistic, you know, all life is quite short. So it’s better that we do what we really want to I mean, we’re spending so much time and so much energy into into some things It’s better that it’s meaningful to us.

Iva Mikles  

Yeah. And so in how do you find new paid projects? Or kind of we could talk about the networking a bit before. So, maybe or how what do you live from right now, as you mentioned, that you are teaching as well. So is that the main source of income? Or do you have also sponsors for the movie? Or how does it look like when you are creating a movie, you need to still need to leave from something right?

Jessica Laurent  

Yes or No to to leave some lovin freshwater.

Iva Mikles  

Really good.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, exactly. No, no. Yeah, I do several little jobs right now. So it’s like teaching during conferences, fix feedback session, everything that is around around teaching and workshop weekend or something like this. So tiny incomes. But I also still have a bit of funding that I got from last year. But I really like advanced day by day. So right now I have enough to leave like until the end of this year. And I think I would maybe have more for the next semester. But I think it’s okay, because the residency that I’m going to is free. My apartment is quite cheap, because it’s been some years and here so. So right now, it makes me not be so worried about money. And I also have like some How do you say when you actually get some money some years before and you just accumulate savings? Yeah, exactly saving. So I have a tiny bit of savings also. So I can survive. But of course, this is because I just stopped my carrier, let’s say so I don’t want to jump, as I said before into the first job. But I think it would be nice in one or two years to have at least more than just in case I have saving to survive, because you should be paid for what you do. But right now I took the decision of like, yeah, just working on my script. And normally, it doesn’t take you two months to do this, but I’m letting myself time. So it’s a decision that they took, yeah,

Iva Mikles  

Perfect. How would you describe your your brand or your creations? Is there something which always goes through your, you know, like, either directing writing or drawings, you know, some like vision or mission? Yeah,

Jessica Laurent  

I would say that, as a director, you always have a vision. And even when I’m writing like this is also directing, because you know, you put a vision into it. So I would say that my vision is really, I want that, at the end of my work, that is a video on drawing or writing, I wanted my audience embrace each other, you know, like the goal, and maybe say I love you to this person that never said before, that could be a member of the family, maybe someone that is close, but just, you know, basically, I want to connect people more together and realizing that helping them to do the first step, because it’s so especially, it’s something that I really understand, like the past few years communication is so important. And we we just use communication in so many ways that I am not going to say bad. But, you know, we say something to someone and this person understand it in their own way. So it’s so easy to be misunderstood. So with my work, I really want to make people open more and like and just like cherish the people that are around them at that time. As well as I want people to work with me because I can push them further as well as he pushed me further on more professional level.

Iva Mikles  

Did you have some kind of experience as well of, you know, like miscommunication or something.

Jessica Laurent  

I think the family is a huge example of this. I don’t know for you, but I think it’s just an example of like people that you live with, since you’re really little. So you’re used to someone you are but you’re changing so you do mistakes that maybe you only get maturity to Vagator so of course, I mean you don’t say I love you to them so often but you know, we love each other because we don’t need to say it but you need to say it sometimes, you know because to remind who you are and that that they’re important to you. So I mean I’m using I’m using family but friends I mean any people around you like we never say to someone that for example is it’s teaching to us something or that give us a book we never truly say thank you are like it was really inspiring. Yeah, just thank you because we’re like oh yeah, but they know that they do good work you know they know they don’t need that but yeah, sometimes it’s nice to to say oh I like your shoes or or you have to this is nice or like little attention make people they’re brighter. You know like when the sun is out in Denmark I’m so happy

Iva Mikles  

That’s your that’s your I learned it as well more in Denmark because you appreciate so much like the small things and we were discussing this with some people as well when I was living there like oh yeah, like you really learn to appreciate everything and you have maybe not even just a lower expectations but you are more happy from you know, like, kind of normal things other people would say.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, and I totally agree with you. Like I think happiness is not something that arrives on you like oh no, no, it’s something that a weight my life is like this and I’m actually like to do that like a I’m happy. I think it’s more something that you think about and that’s why for happiness sorry guys, we go into like, like a philosophical discussion, but that’s why I think that’s it and this can be sad for some people, because they realize they were always happy in the past. But the way to be happy in the present is to actually ask yourself the question, what makes you happy? Yeah, exactly.

Iva Mikles  

Yeah. But I mean, this is also part of the motivation when you don’t, like, you know, you don’t feel like you want to create stuff. And you just want to like, oh, okay, don’t feel like throwing or creating, and then just to know, what makes you happy. Like, if I’m really enjoying having coffee on the stand, you know, on the balcony, then I can do that. And I’m like, yeah,

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah. And you don’t need to be motivated all the time. It’s okay. To have bad days, it’s, I think I heard a person who says that, like, it’s okay to not be 100% every day, but some days, you’re gonna be less your, you know, your possibility will be less. But if you try as much as the day before, then it’s the same that if you were 100% of the time, so it’s really important that you pushing yourself, but also being aware that we are different every day. So we are humans.

Iva Mikles  

Yeah, exactly. So if we have a bad day, we can just accept it. And then just I don’t know, we can watch a movie. And when you feel productive, then okay, you just do. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Perfect. And so And did you ever receive like really bad advice, or you think or you see someone giving other young artists like really best bad advice, or just like really worst thing ever?

Jessica Laurent  

It’s really weird to think about bad advice, because of course, like people can say something that you can disagree with. But I don’t think someone really say like, I mean, I don’t remember right now, if I think about something, it’s hard, but I have an example of someone that was just going different than me. And for me, that was a bad advice, but doesn’t mean it was bad. Like it was in my third year at the animation workshop. So we have to do a bachelor or together. And I was in a group of nine people. So quite a big group. And we had some problems along the way of communication, communication again, bad like problem, just, yeah, artistic problem. And I was the only one stepping in and saying, like, oh, we have problems we need to deal with. But because I was alone, that was kind of hard to have some weight. So I was asking to one of my friends that was in the group a what, what you don’t like, you know, help me and raise this problem, because by raising them, of course, it’s gonna be hard, but we might be able to overcome them. And he was like, I think saying something like, this is not a battle I should pick, I will pick. And I prefer to step out of it. And I was really angry toward him. The because, for me, he was a coach at that moment, but I realized that was a judgment of me trying to like, I see a problem, let’s make it better. And of course, I wasn’t in his shoes. And for him, maybe he or Josephine and his life to take at that point. And for he for him, like maybe work was only work. So for me, that was a bad advice. Because it was saying to me that if something doesn’t work for you, you should just, you know, find something that you step back. So for me it was that, but it could have been nice for him at that point. And I just think it’s it depends if you decide to go left or right without political sorts needs.

Iva Mikles  

So sometimes it’s also good to say if something is not working, you know, even for yourself, if the project you are working on that doesn’t work, then you can just at some point, maybe you have to like okay, maybe I have to do something else.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, you have. I mean, for me, that was my way of dealing with this problem. Like I was fighting them, and I was trying to find a solution with it. But for other people, that’s okay. torso, stem, Daikon uses different thing. But then you really have to ask yourself, you can’t just see the problem and say, Yeah, we have problems. Because even if you step back, decide to step back, you know, it’s, you have to take decision. I said, in both cases,

Iva Mikles  

And did you experience something like the most difficult career moment or kind of the worst moment, maybe it can be just like after school, and you are not sure what to do, or just any moment of your creative career.

Jessica Laurent  

I choose. That’s quite funny. Because after school, I didn’t have a lot of problem because I was, as I said, to really planning, and I was planning what I could do, and I have a bit of savings. So I wasn’t really in the rush of finding something. So for me after school was really nice, really start retiring because I didn’t get of course, you know, when you working alone, it’s easy. So you don’t take any early days, because you’re like, Yeah, but you know, I shouldn’t take holidays should work. So that was hard. But I think my hardest carrier moment was when in third year I didn’t get to be the director. Because in my school, it’s students who pitch a project and students who vote for it. And my project, I pitch it I got a lot of good comments and people voted for it. But I did not have enough people. So I didn’t become a director. And it was really hard for me because it was at the moment I wasn’t thinking about planned career and Ibiza to become a director. You don’t need to direct and luckily I had like, two months of summer every day to kind of make this plan like what is good, what is not good, what do I want and blah, blah, blah. So I actually understood that different way of I mean, I could still learn by not being a director. And for me that was really that was really difficult moment. Because I really had to improve I was losing a whole year, you know, by not being a director. But, but I decided to learn it by another way that was actually being on the other side of the mirror. And I’m happy to this decision because I could have just had a bittersweet year, just thinking all the time. Oh, you know, I would have done better than this person and stuff. But no, I was trying to be like, No, this is my place there as a director, let’s work under it and learn from what they do and how I react to them also, because now I’m, I don’t have to project myself into the people that work with I’m the person you know, that work with the director. So actually, it was a really nice experience.

Iva Mikles  

Yeah, sounds good. I mean, like, when you because you can learn something from it. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And so what are kind of the projects, which you are working on now something upcoming, you want to share something exciting.

Jessica Laurent  

I mean, is too exciting thing at the moment, I just say I’m part of ISEF animation without Berto so I’m really I didn’t start yet, because it’s starting in October. But I’m really excited to, to, to have I mean, you know, I’m from France. So I know a bit networking of friends. And most of working in Denmark. So I know tiny bit, and I did internship in Portugal, Spain, a tiny bit in Spain, and Portugal and Ireland, sorry. So I know tiny bit there. But I want to have like a broader view of Europe. So I’m really exciting about just going there and learning and meeting new people. But I’m also super excited about the short movie I’m working on right now that the name is siblings. And it’s a story about two sister that basically we connect years after separation and the reconnect through the elements that was connecting them. First of all, that was a water. And they’re going to talk about competition and relationship and problem of communication. And I’m really excited about this project, because I already directed tiny project, but this one will be 20 minutes, or right now it is a 20 Minute, the two day short movie with dialogues. And I really want to create not the kind of dialogue that we see often in short movie, you know that you don’t have a lot of time. So you go really direct, I want to create dialogues that have meaning maybe a reason and a poetry to it. So that’s why I’m taking so much time to work on the on this credit. I mean, I’m really excited about this project also, because it comes from a lot of things that are important to me like water, it’s one of my elements. Of course, I also talked into two of the movie before, but also a family, you know, some things that I’m 25 right now. So I’m totally in the moment that I’m questioning my relationship to my family. So and my brothers and these kind of things, I think it’s totally a moment of actuality for me as a person and as a director. So, because 20 minutes is longer than four or five. Yeah, that’s

Iva Mikles  

A you can have a lot of dialogues and a lot of story and yes, looking forward. Yeah. Me too. What do you work with? Do you wouldn’t be like Photoshop Premiere Pro? Or do you have a favorite sketchbook you work with or what are your tools?

Jessica Laurent  

So me I say I write more than natural. So I have a lot of different planners and notebook and I, I write a lot on word. But every time I have to create a concept I always draw first, traditionally and then on the computer because I don’t feel so comfortable in the computer that I am with traditional media. So let’s say I’m more I love crayons, color crayons, or, yeah, actually, I’m really into colors. I love expressing my feelings toward coders or with colors. But also if I’m on computer, and something really not with a lot of shade, but something really easy with like flat colors, like kind of graphical. This is more how I express myself. Let’s say

Iva Mikles  

Do you have like a favorite crayons? Like a special brand or special like blender you mentioned?

Jessica Laurent  

Oh, well, I mean, I don’t like too much advertising. But I think I have like, I don’t remember the name offense. That’s a federal Yeah, that’s a federal casted crayons because there are a lot of different trench. But before I also had like some other kind of crayons, that was watercolor one, so I could also play with it. But basically, I think any kind of crayon is nice. It just That’s me. I’m someone who is sometime really violent in my web drawing. So I need a crayon. Norbertine I’m like a kid like, that would be cooler. Because that’s also I mean, I think it’s I also play when I draw. So I want to affirm and expressing my emotions. I want to kind of strong Korean. But I don’t really care about the brand so much. I mean, of course, it’s one that you have this in some years and then things are bred is for something but

Iva Mikles  

Yeah, because it’s like when you find something what you like then it’s easier to create stuff. Yeah, so yeah, exactly. And let’s talk about the future. What are the imaging? You will doing in like five to 10 years and you cannot fail? You’re not afraid of anything and you’re just enjoying what you want.

Jessica Laurent  

Everything was working perfectly use exactly how you want. Okay, well, I think I hope I will. I will still be doing actually what I’m doing right now. And, and it’s funny that you asked me this question. because in a way that saying if everything could never fail, that’s mean if I was happy, but I think I’m pretty happy with my life right now. So I will did such a good things to say I’m gonna watch this video again, you know, oh, I was at that time. But I think I will continue to work out I mean, I hope I would be finished with siblings. And I will be working on a feature film because I want to do feature film later. And if it works well then doing another one and another one until I I want to stop sharing my perspective of life to other people. And of course I want to maybe maybe travel continue to travel to like go and work on really interesting project with really interesting people and be still be able to see the people like love my family partner friends. So yeah, basically Oh, yeah, and one thing okay, maybe this is a really difficult but I would love to be fluent in Danish. And this. This is really hard. Oh, yeah. If I could, like, succeed in everything, please make me succeed in learning dentistry. Yeah, I

Iva Mikles  

Just got to the level where I understand something, but I couldn’t speak so yeah. So good for you, then go for it.

Jessica Laurent  

Yeah, I have a really difficult time with the accent, but I think coming from France, or whatever you Jackson. So

Iva Mikles  

If you would think like really far, far in the future, like 100 years? What would you like to be remembered for?

Jessica Laurent  

There was 100 years I would be dead. So Okay. Well, that’s maybe a bit cliche, but I think I would love to be remembered as, as me. I mean, first, I would, I would love that the people around me are I mean, they will be dead. Like other people, like they remember who I was as a person. And then the movies that was really talking about who I was me because I think that art is an extension of a person. At least it’s how I see it for me. So that’s why I think it’s really important that yeah, they if they try to get beyond the art of the person and try to understand the way it is, so yeah, I would love to be remembered for, for me and for what I can give thanks to my movies, too. So basically, to part of me, you know, like, I can hear I’m bracing my audience. I want to like people continue to have open the end, you know, and with them saying you can do it. It’s okay, I’m with you. You know, this kind of thing. Like a creepy site a ghost like.

Iva Mikles  

A good good. And, like, before we finish this interview, maybe you can share like last piece of advice or key takeaway, and then we will say goodbye.

Jessica Laurent  

That’s based on advice where I can maybe say a quote, that is, I mean, it’s a French courts. I’m gonna say it in French first, but I think is Booker mototcycle Honda, you see the legality of it is you don’t and that’s mean for the word you understood?

Iva Mikles  

Because maybe I will, but no,

Jessica Laurent  

sorry, it was very speaking fast. But it’s like for the word to be cover is gret is greatness. You have to look at it with the eyes of a child. And I think that’s pretty interesting code because it shows you that basically to be happy you just have to change your your point of view sometimes just changing your point of view a tiny bit further to the left a server down, you can understand that Okay, actually what I’m doing right now is not that bad because this of this of this, and I think it’s always nice when you’re when you keep your plus your motivation to just like, Okay, but what did I really do like and how can I do it better. 

Iva Mikles  

So really nice. Pew. Thanks so much again for being here. And it was Thank you.

Jessica Laurent  

And good luck with oddest interview and I hope this will reach some people.

Iva Mikles  

So hopefully everyone will enjoy these. Thanks, you guys for watching and listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode. Though, I hope you guys enjoy this interview. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode at artsideoflife.com. Just type a kid’s name in the search bar. There is also a little freebie waiting for you. So go check it out. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on iTunes, hopefully five stars so I can read and inspire more people like you. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to Art Side of Life. Because I post a new interview every single workday. If you want to watch the interview, head over to artsideoflife.com/youtube. Thank you so much for listening. Don’t forget to inspire each other. And I will talk to you guys in the next episode. Bye.

Announcer  

Thanks for listening to the Art Side of Life podcast at www.artsideoflife.com

Iva

Hi, I am Iva (rhymes with “viva”). I am a full-time self-taught artist behind Art Side of Life® and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. I have 15 years of experience in the creative field as a concept designer, illustrator, art director, and now freelance artist, content creator, and art instructor. My goal is to help you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art through practical classes, tutorials, Procreate brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies and resources. About me »

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Iva

Hey there!

I am Iva (rhymes with viva), and I'm the artist behind Art Side of Life. I'm all about helping you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art! So on my website, I share Procreate classes, tutorials, brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies, and resources such as these interviews. Ready to create and make amazing art? Then explore, join and have fun ♡

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