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Short profile
Name: Coinbeat (Shanice Muntslag)
Place of Birth: Suriname
Occupation: Animator / illustrator
Hi Shanice! Would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Shanice Muntslag. My artist name is Coinbeat. Make of that what you will.
I am a visual 2D artist with a main focus on drawing, whether that’s characters or animation. My work is a reflection of what I love: cartoons, colour and characters.
Animation has always been a huge part of your life. Where has this fascination come from and what role did it play in your formative years?
Network TV shaped my life. In my childhood home in Suriname, there were two TVs in the living room placed on opposite sides of the room. I still find it funny when I think about it. On one TV my grandpa would view the news. On the other TV I would watch loads of cartoons. After I came home from school I would rush to the TV to see what cartoons were on. Whether it was the Disney Channel, Cartoon Network or old-school slapstick animation like Tom & Jerry and The Looney Tunes, I love cartoons. After watching cartoons, I would draw cartoon characters for fun.
When did you know you were going to pursue a career as a visual artist?
I’ve always had support from my family when it came to my creativity. Consequently, art has always been a big part of my life. Near the end of my time at high school, I considered a career in arts. That’s when I started to get more serious about drawing. I taught myself how to draw manga and went from there, slowly growing into my own style.
What artworks have inspired you throughout your career?
Inspiration comes from anywhere. I’m often inspired by other character designers, because of my strong fascination for characters. Among the artists that left a strong impression on me are Ursula Decay (@ursuladecay), Fukari (@makabrotka) and Jackie Droujko (@jackiedroujko).
You were born in Suriname and moved to the Netherlands at the age of nine. From growing up in Suriname to living, studying and working most of your life in the Netherlands…how has this influenced you as a person?
I don’t think I experienced this move as life-changing at the time. Perhaps I wasn’t completely aware of everything going on or maybe I was overwhelmed. Obviously, I had to get used to a different environment and school system and making new friends. I managed. Having said that, I was really bad at maths both in Suriname and the Netherlands haha. Jokes aside, I think at a later age I realised much better what a huge change the move was. I suppose my focus back then, when adjusting to this change, was to aim to be kind and respectful of others and going through the motions.
Do you think in hindsight, there are cultural differences that have impacted you in some way as an artist?
My environment and school surroundings have always been diverse and inclusive, which generally made me feel accepted. When I did struggle, it was because of my oddities like my introverted personality or taste in music. I sometimes felt off and I felt like others perceived me that way too. I still experience this feeling.
For me as a person and artist, there have been significant moments of change. The natural hair movement for one, with its most recent wave in the 2000s. As a Black woman, it inspired me to take care of myself in a different way. Not only did I see new possibilities of doing my hair, I had a lot of fun with it! This change translated into my work: I began to draw more Black characters. During art school as well, I was reflective on my work and my position as a Black woman in society.
Amongst many of your characters are beautiful Black women. How much of who you are is reflected in these characters?
Once I started drawing them, I just couldn’t stop drawing Black women with beautiful curls! The curls are fun to draw and fun in real life. Sometimes it’s just that simple. As I’ve said before, my personal struggle so far has not predominantly been about how I look, but who I am. Regardless, I try not to worry too much about it. I suppose I create characters that are an extension of that: they’re fun, colourful and confident.
You describe yourself as a generally happy-go-lucky person. Do you want your audience to feel a similar way when looking at your art?
Not per se. This may sound weird, but I create things that make me happy. I want my work to be fun and light. People can feel about my work how they want to feel. However, I do want people to just be able to enjoy life and be happy.
To you, what is the most beautiful thing about writing stories and creating worlds?
I find it super cool that you are able to create something with your own mind and then use your hands to bring that creation to life. Once I create something, I get really excited. A part of that is knowing you’ve got certain skills to create something that emotes and has the ability to move people.
Your work shows a variety of styles and techniques. What challenges come with working in such different styles and techniques?
As an animator, it’s an asset being able to develop and work in a variety of styles, especially when working in a team or studio production. Having that said, working with different techniques or in different styles can be a struggle. It makes me debate my position as an artist, because I wonder where I fit in and whether I have to fit in a certain category. Moreover, I worry that my work is hard to market, but that could be me overthinking things.
How do you decide what style or which technique fits a certain story or artwork?
The style depends on whether I work independently or on commission. With commissioned work, a certain style is often required. It could depend on practical things such as time constraints or the budget. With independent work, it depends on the techniques I want to learn or it’s based on a colour palette that I want to use. My choices are often based on experiences, learning goals and my ambitions. I would describe my process as intuitive and fluid. I take bits and pieces from things that I like and I put those together. It’s like a puzzle.
What would you say have been your biggest challenges so far?
My biggest challenge came after art school. I felt like I wasn’t good enough for the professional field, which was hard to swallow. I realised it would be best to keep developing myself professionally by learning new things. However, it was difficult to stay focused. Procrastination is truly a curse. I really have to force myself to get to work. Once I’m at it, work is much easier to do.
How do you stay motivated to keep learning and avoid the habit of procrastination?
It’s important for me to keep sight of my goals and ambitions.
It also helps me to know how I as a person study. I found that I cannot work from home. I need to remove myself from my private surroundings – this was not an easy thing to do during COVID-19. When I was studying Motion Graphics, I made sure I had to physically travel to school. Another thing that has helped me is working together with other people, whether that’s via Skype or a face-to-face work meeting.
Seeing what others are creating is another motivator, because this keeps me on my feet.
Do you have any advice for others on how to keep improving on themselves as artists or as people in general? What are valuable lessons you would like to share?
Change is inevitable, whether you like it or not. I think one of the most valuable things I can share is to accept that you have to keep learning. This isn’t always easy, but it helps you to manage your expectations in life and professionally. Especially for artists and animators, it’s important to stay flexible. The world of animation is constantly changing and expanding. New technologies mean change, but they sometimes also mean a better workflow or new possibilities. Besides, it’s fun to obtain new experiences.
Are you currently working on any projects?
The Kepler Film Award I received made it possible for me to work on an animated film called Charging, which is in the pre-production stage. The film is a small slice of life about an introvert. I have been working on the script with screenwriter Sofie Tseng, who has helped me enormously with getting to the core of the story I want to tell. Other than that, I believe this year will be a year full of learning.
What is the ultimate dream for you as an artist?
The ultimate dream is to create an animated series. Whether it’s individually or a collaboration with a studio, I would love to learn about the entire process and see my ideas come to life.
Do you want to know more about Coinbeat and her work? Read more here.
Instagram (@coinbeat)
Vimeo
Artwork by Coinbeat
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