Work samples
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Brains: a postmodern Prometheus story
Brains is a Prometheus tale warning us not to loose our heads over AI. This was an experiment to see if I could make use of generative AI while still presenting "the hard of the artist" in an unambiguous way.
I used generative AI to:
- produce the backgrounds
- enlarge these images to be suitable for film
- create a JavaScript function to accept an HTML input and return gibberish text in a terminal screen setting
I wrote the story, made the characters and hand drew all the animation. I also recorded the foley, sound effects and produced the audio in my studio. This film has screen at fifteen festivals so far in the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, and in Canada. It won Best Indie Animation at the Portugal Independent Film Festival.
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The LunaticsWhile searching for “animals of alien origin” in deep space, a crew of astronauts discover it's all fun and games until someone breaks the gravity generator. This animation was made using cut paper puppets on a homemade multiplane camera stand. I created the audio and sound effects. The Lunatics has screened at several festivals.
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Brood XA short animation commemorating the summer of 2021, and our cicada invaders. This was commissioned for the Denver Digerati Silent Screen festival, which ran in September 2021. I then wrote, recorded and added the music to this version.
About Jim
I make tiny cut paper dioramas, animated films, weird music, and I write code for the internet. I'm happiest when I combine all these things. I have a BA in music composition, and an MFA in studio art. I've participated in two exhibitions at the American Visionary Art Museum, some of my animations have won awards, and I have a couple of awards from the Maryland State Arts Council. Please visit my website: https://jimdoran.art/
… moreFound and Chosen
Found and Chosen is a exhibition of compelling materials gathered during the pandemic. I used some of these materials and sounds to make new work, including several films and recordings. Using a generous grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, I was able to produce a CD/Cassette to coincide with an exhibition at the Hamilton Gallery.
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The Art of WarUsing found/discarded war prints and magazine pages, this animation is the first part of a longer work about the futility of war and fascism.
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PLASTICLANDPlasticland is a stop motion animation filmed over four seasons in my backyard, and featuring trash I found in the road.
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Album CoverThe Found and Chosen album cover, which makes use of one of my favorite discoveries.
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Found and Chosen at Hamilton GalleryPart of the "Found and Chosen" exhibition at the Hamilton Gallery (2023).
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Plasticland InstallationNot only is Plasticland a short animated film, it's an installation play-set. This video is documentation of the installation at the Hamilton Gallery in Baltimore, and features some 3D animated scenes featuring 3D scans of some of Plasticland's inhabitants.
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Found ObjectExhibited works of some of the more compelling letters, cards and objects found in the neighborhood.
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Atlas of Found ObjectsI didn't bring everything that I found home with me. I usually took a photo. The "Atlas of Found Objects" shows 45 of my favorite discoveries, including their geolocation information, which can be used on any map app to see where they were discovered.
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CDs and CassettesFree giveaway: CD and Cassettes of my found sound library created in the pandemic. A full track listing is at https://jimdoran.art/fac/
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3-cravistans.jpgOne of my better discoveries, three power restricting devices, called "cravistans." I found them over the course of three days (one per day) in the grass.
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Plasticland Installation in the front window at the galleryPlasticland Installation in the front window at the gallery.
S.Ex. (Sound Experiments)
This collection features sound experiments and accompanying video/animation. I love making these.
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S.Ex. no. 15Featuring iPhone video, animated drawings from my trip to Puerto Rico in 2022, and a song I wrote in my head over the trip.
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ShorelineA surfy animated clip from a song for my upcoming album.
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S. ex. no. 30: Talk it
I recorded the drums in my basement, and then added a guitar track and bass track, each made in one take. I assembled the video and animation using vintage footage and materials in the public domain. Summer, 2024.
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Edward Gorey's OvenUsing a Kilter guitar pedal from Champion Leccy in Philadelphia, I recorded a guitar track to accompany a photo I took of the late Edward Gorey's oven in Yarmouth, MA. Sound Experiment no. 16.
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S.Ex. no. 5Dreamy bass guitar loops and video made from my iPhone in a ziplock bag underwater...
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La Vie en RoseStop motion animation and a hand drawn "Crankie" telling the story of a the day in the life of a solitary scholar.
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S.Ex. no. 13Prepared guitar, and a new use for bread ties.
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S.Ex. no. 10Of alligators, and other alligators. Pocket video and hand drawn animation from my last trip to Florida, with heavily processed guitar.
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S. ex. no. 27 The Shadow of my Doubt
I recorded the meditative video of a woman's shadow in a Memphis, TN coffee shop. I recorded the music in my Baltimore studio a few weeks later. Summer 2024.
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Higher EdMade with animated clippings from discarded issues of College and University Journal, iPhone video and audio all captured in an academic library.
The Benefits of Radiation
The Benefits of Radiation is an animation that tells the backstory of these transmuted figures shown in this entry. This is a hand-drawn animation, for which I recorded and produced all the audio.
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The Benefits of RadiationThe Benefits of Radiation is hand drawn animation that tells the backstory of some of my sculpture figures (which can be viewed elsewhere in this portfolio). I recorded the bar sounds at the Hamilton Tavern in Baltimore, and produced all the foley, sound effects and musical accompaniment in my studio. This has been screened at Maryland Art Place, the JHU/MICA "Made in Baltimore" festival, and the Sweaty Eyeballs 2021 animation festival.
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Roshambo3D print of a melted composite figure
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Cactus Cowboy3D print of cactus cowboy
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Stinky VillainsCast plastic figures
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Trailer for Stinky VillainsI made this short trailer for the stinky villain prototypes.
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Pet SidekickBrass, 3D print of a digitally scanned figure. 2.5" x 1.2" x 1.5"
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Captain LegsMelted toy Army figure
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Cactus Cowboy in the WildCactus headed cowboy at work.
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Lobster MenPlastic casts of lobster tail man.
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Roshambo and the Lobster ManRoshambo and the Lobster Man - a scene from the Benefits of Radiation
A Job as the Moon
The animation happens on a 50' scroll of black tyvek, some of which is filmed under black lights. I set the film to Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy, performed by Amber Short.
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Job as the MoonStop motion animation about my dream where I got a job as the moon.
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Sweaty Eyeballs Official Selection 2020Job as the Moon was screened at the Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival, and at the Brentwood Arts Exchange summer exhibition, "Going Dark."
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My PredecessorMy predecessor retired, She was not fired. Her name was Clair de Lune.
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Space is filled with Mars complaining...Space is filled with Mars complaining. #$%^@!!!!!
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crocodileThe heavy of the film, Croc!
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Late afternoon had a calamityLate afternoon had a calamity, Crocodile chose to eat his daughter...
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The Daughter of DayA decoy made of hay, that looked just like the daughter of Day.
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The Daughter of DayThe daughter of Day returns...
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Me, as the moonMe, as the moon.
Scientifically Sound Questions
The animations unfold on scrolls of paper, and feature cut paper puppets, my foley/sound effects and an accompanying soundtrack.
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Scientifically Sound QuestionsScientifically Sound Questions, part one. I animated this on a long, single roll of paper. Completed in 2020.
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Scientifically Sound Questions: Coronavirus EditionScientifically Sound Questions: Coronavirus Edition seeks to answer some questions about COVID-19 with science. I produced this animation on a single scroll of paper, with puppets, visual effects and foley/sounds. The Scientifically Sound Questions series, which can been seen elsewhere in the portfolio, was inspired by conversations with my teenage daughter.
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The Bureau of Scientifically Sound QuestionsThe Bureau of Scientifically Sound Questions is a website I created where visitors can ask their own questions to be answered in future editions of Scientifically Sound Questions. https://bureauofscientificallysoundquestions.org/
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Coronavirus QuestionA scene in Scientifically Sound Questions, COVID-19 edition.
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If you look young?A scene in Scientifically Sound Questions.
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A question about cavitiesA scene in Scientifically Sound Questions.
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What shape is your itch?Learn the answer to the Scientifically Sound Question, "What shape is your itch?" by watching my animation.
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Is COVID-19 a hoax?Learn the scientific truth about COVID-19 by watching my film.
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Are we also a GMO?Learn about the effect of GMO based foods in Scientifically Sound Questions!
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Are Brains Squishy?Find out if brains (even YOUR brains) are squishy in my Scientifically Sound Questions series.
American Visionary Art Museum
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Three DioramasThree dioramas on display at the American Visionary Art Museum.
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AlwaysCut paper diorama in an old soap tin.
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The Ghost of TritonMy father and I loved sharing smoked herring, and I always loved the tins that required a key to open them. This cut paper diorama shows the ghost of triton in the sea, surrounded by creatures with eyes the truly glow in the dark.
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A ReunionCut paper diorama in a pocket watch. I love the idea of being reunited with what we love.
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Crosshatched charactersAs part of my artist talk, I demonstrated cross hatching, which is one of the traits I share with Edward Gorey. He was also featured in the Great Mystery Show, and we had fun learning about his life and work. I made a zine to accompany this talk, which can be found in the "Other Projects" part of this portfolio.
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Ghost in the Grandmother ClockAnother cut paper diorama, showing a grandmother clock and elements relating to my father's side of the family.
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THE ART OF STORYTELLING: Lies, Enchantment, Humor & TruthThree dioramas, and a letter sent to my best friend during college in THE ART OF STORYTELLING: Lies, Enchantment, Humor & Truth show at AVAM.
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Jim DoranI'm explaining something to two nice people.
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MonofilamentThis diorama is in a cassette tape case, which was given to me by my best friend in high school. While he passed away in the 90's, he continues to be an influence and guide in my life today. Everything in this scene points to our connection.
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A Dark and Gorey NightI gave an artist talk, discussing my place in the Great Mystery Show, as well as the work of Edward Gorey, who was fond of wearing a fur coat.
Small Stories and Other Stories
My favorite is the story of the widower tailor, which appears in the manlte clock. He discovers that if one looks through the handles of scissors previously owned by other widowed tailors/cloth merchants/seamstresses on the 13th day of the 13th month during a full moon, one can see into the Land of the Dead. He's collected many such scissors, and some of these appeared on the wall next to the clock in the gallery.
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Small Stories flier
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Advent of the UnlikeliesA set of Altoids smalls showing a group of characters evolved from spacedust, in an advent calendar.
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Hope is in the OceanDiorama in a discarded tin of clams.
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Small StoriesA collection of small dioramas containing some of my favorite storylines.
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4-shadowboxes.png4 Shadow boxes
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Birds of a FeatherAlfred Hitchcock and Edgar Allen Poe discuss their worlds on a bench in a graveyard.
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Diorama in a mantle clock caseThe Widower tailor conducts research using scissors of late tailors/cloth merchants/seamstresses in an attempt to connect with his dearly departed.
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Inside the tailor's shopThe scene inside the clock diorama shows a widower tailor examining scissors of late tailors and cloth merchants, that be might gaze into the Land of the Dead on the thirteenth day of the thirteenth month under the lights of a full moon to see his beloved.
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Tailor ScissorsScissors from late tailors and cloth merchants, each labeled with the previous owner's name.
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Store Front View of Hamilton GalleryStore Front View of Hamilton Gallery
Two Worlds Touch: Greenbelt Community Center Art
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Where Two Worlds TouchInstallation at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, with several long drawings, shadow boxes and dioramas.
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Two Worlds TouchA 20' long comic and two large drawings with cut-outs above the cabinets.
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A giant centipede chasing some rabbitsThis shows the left diorama in the installation, which measured 8' x 4'.
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A lonely path in the Land of the Dead8' x 4' diorama showing a lonely road in the land of the dead.
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Land of the DeadI created a map of what is known of the Land of the dead, and this map is the cornerstone of the show.
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Three Shadow BoxesThree cut paper shadow boxes.
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Graveyard VisitTwo skeletons greeting happily in a Twinings Earl Grey tin.
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Dioramas on PedestalVarious dioramas under glass
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The Four Horsemen10' x 4' drawing on Tyvek showing the Four Horsemen in their paddock in the Land of the Dead.
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Charon10" x 10" cut paper diorama showing Charon in the dead sea helping a ship along to the Land of the Dead.
Memento Mori
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Memento-Mori.jpgMemento Mori postcard for School33. I also made a zine with details about all the pieces in the show.
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IMG_1890.JPGJust before the opening of Memento Mori at School33.
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The Project SpacePartial view of the project space at School33. The dioramas made a story, if one walked to the left upon entering the room.
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A Muse When You Need HerA tiny diorama featuring paper cut-outs.
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The GuideA rare Altoids gum tin featuring cut paper diorama showing a guide from the beyond offering support to the living.
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The Death Watch BeetleWhen the Beetle opens its wings, we can see into the Land of the Dead. Here, Charon (the ferryman) is launching a ship across the dead sea.
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HOSSENFEFFER & THE CURRY GOAT ATTACKA tiny cut paper diorama depicting Jack Ruby's dinner coming to an abrupt halt.
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Shipwreck LakePaper Cut-outs in sardine tin. A beast of a jellyfish emerges from the dark seaweed and plant life in the background to become entangled in a ship's anchor. The bottom of the lake is littered with sunken ships.
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The Ghoul and the GracklesResearch administrators try to barter with the ghoul for a corpse, all in the name of science. Cut paper diorama in a Hershey's Cocoa tin.
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See into the Land of the DeadTwo open coffins offer a glimpse down into the Land of the Dead (which is illuninated by a tiny, battery powered light).