I apologize for the last of updates around here.
I’ve been having a mild crisis regarding my career and creativity recently, which I may elaborate upon at a later date, that had put a halt to any real desire to write or make images. And I’ve also come to the slow conclusion that the things I want to write about encompass much more than just design and illustration, though they certainly do connect on a broader level. I have a deep personal interest in certain topics (semiotics of fashion & beauty, body, gender/sexuality, femininity, especially within a sociological context) which fuels, in many ways, what my personal artwork is about. I’m still debating the how appropriate it would be for me to write about other topics on a portfolio site, considering many of my opinions are not popular ones. I may separate the two sometime soon. Watch this space for news, and keep an eye out for some new layout improvements (the header is a start.)
And because this post is worthless without pictures:
Yesterday night, a friend of mine held the first of the “Truck You! Sessions”, where a ton of crazy talented artists (primarily graffiti artists) are painting on license plates and other found materials for inclusion in a gallery show. It was really nice to just hang out in a low-key environment and paint for fun, which is something I direly needed. Making art feels like a chore nowadays, rather than a outlet. It was a good reminder, to connect with other artists who do it for the love and not for a job, to not take things too seriously. I was a little nervous because I’m not much of a graffiti writer myself, but I definitely held my own, and everyone was into what I was doing. Very cool.
Also, holler at me if you’re interested in coming and I’ll give you the info. Painting sessions will be every upcoming Sunday, in Brooklyn.
5 Comments
I’m all for you expanding your writing topics on your blog. I’ve always been torn up over whether or not blogging about my own interests or opinions outside of art was unprofessional on my portfolio site. I eventually decided to separate my personal interests into a different blog (my Tumblr) but still make it available off of my site if anyone was curious about it. Its completely off topic from anything I would normally want clients to dig through but at the same time I feel like it makes my character more visible as an internet presence. I feel that when you’re working in a field that relies so heavily on networking, your character plays a huge role so I might as well just make it completely visible. But hey, it’s only been a few days, I’ll let you know if it flops in the next month or so =P
I definitely agree with you about having a tangible internet persona; I think a lot of what interests people about art-making is how the artist comes to make their art, and what inspires and drives them, which allows the reader/viewer to understand the work in way that goes beyond just aesthetics.
I’ve also been debating the merits of starting to separate out my design business from my personal art and build a brand that’s not under my own name. (Especially since a lot of the painting/drawing that I do for myself, involves some risqué content, but I would also love to do work with children’s book illustration eventually. Ah, leading a double life!)
Ah, experiments in self-promotion and internet marketing! Am following you on Tumblr now, though. It’s interesting to see how everyone uses it for a different purpose; I like to use it to collect visual inspiration from around the web.
Yes! Fill me in about the Truck You sessions!
Lenora give me a heads up on the next of these sessions, I’m in need of some inspiration and general fun time myself.
For sure! It’s currently on a mini-hiatus, but I’ll definitely let you know about the next one!