Okay it’s time…it’s autumn.

For the first time in 37 years I’m a little sad to see summer slip away. (I can’t even believe it’s me typing that.) Maybe it’s because the winters feel extraordinarily long living here. Maybe it’s because I’ll have soon have a newborn and I’m not quite ready (is anyone ever?) Or maybe everything and everyone changes and I’ve actually come to really love summer…

But…*wipes a tear away… I can’t be that mad because it’ll soon be autumn and it truly is my favorite. This is the time we cozy into apple crumbles and sweaters and (slightly) scary movies and crisp windy days. With that indulgence of magic in mind, I bring you September’s installment of my Year Long Celebration of Things I Love About Art - something also close to my heart…tiny magical worlds. Last month we talked about tactile work but stop motion sets and puppets are of another realm entirely and one I never tire of. Over the years, I’ve done 3d work, though never enough and really only dabbled in stop motion. The itch is always there.

Here are a couple from over the years…

Hortsense and the Leaf Bug 2014, mixed media

Found objects, mixed media for Hortense and the Leaf Bug, 2014

Emogene Blue for the INBOX Exhibition, 2015

What people like about stop-motion animation is that it's real. It's like a magic trick, taking real things, real sets, and making them come to life with movement.

—Joe Clokey

Of course when I think of stop motion sets and animations, some well known ones come to mind. Aardman’s Wallace and Gromit or Tim Burton’s Nightmare before Christmas (which I have been in love with since the age of seven.) There’s of course Laika - they make brilliant animations like Kubo and the Two Strings and Coraline. (I’ve visited to see their stuff in person and at exhibitions, completely mind blowing!) But as I can’t share every single one I know of, I picked five!

PINOCCHIO

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio came out last year and I’ve already watched it three times and have plans to do so again…like maybe tonight! My mind was BLOWN away by the puppetry, the sets - omg the interior of the church alone, and Geppetto’s workshop…sigh. The timing and emotion of the puppets…the soundtrack..everything! It’s true mastery. The only thing better is watching how the movie was made (it took 15 years!!)

Look at this image below…it takes such skill to make a place look that lived in.

Guillermo del Toro on the set of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, 2022. Image courtesy Jason Schmidt/Netflix

"Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio"Netflix

Image credit: Michel Amado Carpio / Netflix 2022

If you’re in Portland, OR there’s a couple more weeks left to see the film’s exhibition at the Portland Art Museum. Let me live vicariously through you??

ROBIN ROBIN

We’ve lost track of how many times we’ve seen this movie, which came out in 2021. We’re obsessed and we tell everyone to watch it. A totally different feel than Pinocchio, this Aardman’s film was spearheaded by Daniel Ojari and Mikey Please. The puppets and set were needle-felted, creating a soft organic texture to everything on screen. The timing in this one is so on point as well…the tiniest mouse turd can be missed if you’re not looking. I especially love that the concept work was done by Matthew Forsythe and it feels like stepping into his world. Also, Briony May Smith did illustrations as well and the book Robin Robin is such a visual treat too. Also obviously the BTS is so interesting! We are so excited to have this be a Christmas tradition for our daughter in the years to come (and I feel like you can’t really say that of many new Christmas movies…)

Robin Robin on Netflix

Robin Robin on Netflix

Exterior burrow for Robin Robin

JIŘÍ TRNKA

Jiří Trnka was a Czech puppeteer and illustrator, creating over thirty animations and 130 illustrated publications, mostly for children. For his films, he was the writer, director, puppet fabricator, animator, set builder, everything, which is completely wild and inspiring. I have only seen bits and pieces of the animations but I’m in love with the style of the worlds he builds. I have a ton to learn about him still but I couldn’t not put him on the list bc I’m super inspired by his stills. This is a super interesting read about his life and work if you’re interested! You can find some of his illustrations here as well…

A still from Jiří Trnka

A still from Jiří Trnka

A still from Jiří Trnka

TULIP by Andrea Love & Phoebe Wahl

There’s a good chance you’ve seen Andrea Love’s Cooking with Wool videos where she animates felted culinary ventures. Here’s a lovely breakfast one (which perfectly captures every single morning of my pregnancy!). They’re mind blowing along with the rest of her work. I finally watched TULIP (2021) from her and Phoebe Wahl, who you of course know from picture books and more and knew it needed to be on the list. It’s such a lovely little film and the craft is incredible. (Also equally cool is this Behind the Scenes of the music video they collaborated on).

A still from Tulip from Andrea Love & Phoebe Wahl

A still from Tulip from Andrea Love & Phoebe Wahl

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

I went back and forth on whether or not to include this Roald Dahl classic turned stop motion by Wes Anderson because it seems too obvious to list but with it being September I can’t not add it. And because I’m really into the sets, this one is hard to beat imo. It screams Autumn. Liquid Gold! All the tiny details of the apples and the farmland. Such a warm and cozy and brilliant film, that really doesn’t get old to me. If you’re into the film, I also really loved the FMF Making of the Motion Picture Book, though there’s lots of behind the scenes online too. It’s hard to pick just a few of my favorite stills but I’ll attempt it…

Still from Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox

Still from Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox

I know some of you out there have brilliant recommendations for stop motion films/sets and I’d love to hear them in the comments. It’s a world I’m definitely am not entrenched in, but always inspired by.

Also, to celebrate September, I’m running a Fall Studio Sale! I put up a handful of originals, discontinued ghost prints, and a few test/discounted prints.

I hope this September brings with it coziness, all the most beautiful colors, and lots and lots of apple desserts! Thanks for being here every month, it means the world to me.

Until next time,
Becca