Busy Mind ~ April

This month's Busy Mind print!

Time for something new.

A favorite new focus is acrylic paint markers... They've been around forever and many artists I admire use them religiously.  For some reason, it took years for me to get the courage to start playing around with them.  

I realized I've been dragging myself to sit and paint. That's not me. In returning to an effort to paint regularly and refresh my sense of creativity, I decided to stop stopping myself from trying new styles and materials.

I'd rather have fun.

Now, I am slowly but surely overcoming 'imposter' thinking: my art won't be any good... no one will like this... why waste time when I could be painting the usual stuff?

It is really easy to fall into routines with my process and immediately gravitate to the detail and unique challenges of symmetry.  I'm centering myself back on the fact that my art is my art because I made it - not because there is a routine style or process to it.  

In conclusion, brace yourself for more weird art this year.

All 5x7 acrylic on chipboard pieces are buy 3 get 10% off! Discount automatically applied at checkout.

For in person pickup: Send a message to talk details, and get a special code to waive the shipping fee.

Tape Art

Leah Smith and Michael Townsend have been collaborating on a wide range of art projects for over a decade. "While we met making dance and video artwork, our primary medium is tape. We use tape to create large-scale temporary murals on buildings around the world and teach Tape Art workshops in schools, hospitals, and community centers. Tape Art has continued to move me because so much of what I love to do is built into the process — going on long road trips, making art outside with my friends, eating junk food, meeting new people, staying up late, working hard, causing friendly mischief, and literally creating the world I want to see around me."

Instagram: @tapeart

Tips for starting artists

Where is the line between inspiration and copying someone else's work?

1. Intent: Say you are literally copying a piece with sole purpose of testing out a new material. Replicating another artist's work, especially without intentionally adding your own personal interpretations or touch is copying. It should be kept as a personal practice of skill - not shared, duplicated, or available for purchase like your other original artwork. Don't duplicate another artist's work simply because it was well received.

2. Personal touch: Inspiration is taking aspects that resonate with you and running it through your own creative lens. Stay honest and continue to ask yourself - Does this look and feel essentially the same as the inspiration piece? If yes, there is a good chance others may feel the same way. Consider key areas of composition, color palette, and context. While the inspiration may be recognizable, the final piece should involve change. What could be a little more "you?" Are there other styles that inspire you that could be mixed in? Honesty- with yourself and others - is key.

3. Legal: Selling or distributing direct reproductions of someone else's copyrighted work or intellectual property without their permission or acknowledgement is dumb and rude. Don't do it.

4. Respect: How would you feel if someone took influence from your work and failed to mention where they got the idea? Give the artist a shoutout in your write up. Mention them to others. It is a great way to connect and learn about where other artists find their inspirations. Everyone is putting in time, effort and energy. Pay respect and it will come right back to you. Acknowledge your influences!