https://www.instagram.com/p/BSdo64pFCdj/?taken-by=riasharon
100 Days 2017
Are you ready?
The 100 Day Project starts tomorrow! I’ll be participating for the 3rd year in a row.
To be perfectly honest, I’m a little nervous about it.
When I first did it a couple of years ago, I had no idea what to expect.
“No expectations” is a beautiful thing.
There’s only one time like that… you know, like the first time you go to a new exercise class… or get the glaucoma test!
I’m making it sound horrible. It’s sooo not.
It’s like the first time at Disney World with all your friends!!!!
But this being my THIRD time on this ride, I have expectations for myself.
It’s a bit harder to set those aside and not think about the end rather than being in the moment.
I want it to be as fun as last time.
I want to learn something.
I want my collection to reflect my growth… blah, blah, blah.
I share all this because perhaps some of you are feeling some trepidation about committing to 100 days.
And I want you to know you’re not alone.
And yet, I’m gonna do it… because the decisions that have been most forwarding for me are the ones that I say, “What the heck? Why not?!”
So ready or not… 100 days begins tomorrow! Let’s do this thing. Let’s connect on instagram… leave a comment on this image with your #hashtag so I can follow your 100 days too. I’ll post mine in the morning.
2017: New Year, New Word
For the last six years, I’ve picked a theme word for the year, a mantra. Inevitably, the word was both a gift and lesson but regardless, the perfect one for that season of my life.
On New Year’s Eve 2012, I wrote MIRACLE on the sand. In 2013, I found a new home against all odds, on the street a dreamed about months before and was able to secure a mortgage despite my feast or famine self-employed status. In the last four years later, there hasn’t been a single property in the entire zip code that would have worked!
For 2016, my word was PLAY! It was a year that was busy with work — I published seven classes on Skillshare, launched a real collection — my Animal Guidance Collection on RedBubble, was selected as a VIDA Voices artist, and painted lots and lots of pets (!) but somehow, it seemed like play.
If you would have told me, in 2015 when I started this “making art every day” practice and the 100 Day Project that in just two years I would be here, I would have smiled and nodded sure but I wouldn’t have believed it.
It’s 2017 and I’ve picked this year’s word. This time, I invited my students to join me in the process. Here’s what one student said…
How can that not make me smile — a lovely way to start the new year! I do hope your year has started off with a smile as well.
xo,
Ria
p.s. So far, almost 300 people are enrolled in Finding Your Creative Mantra. If you are looking for some guidance for the coming year or just intrigued by the process, check it out with this FREE ENROLLMENT link good through the end of the month — there are 8 free spots left, first come, first serve.
The Empress
Animal tarot still in progress. Here’s a little preview!
Magic in the Making: A Weekend of Nurturing Your Creative Soul
I hold fast to my commitment of making art every day but that requires another commitment… to devoting space and time in my life to nurturing creativity. I can’t do the first without the other. Some days, that may be as simple as giving myself permission to daydream for half an hour or to sleep in for an extra 10 minutes. You know, being an artist often doesn’t look like being an artist! 😀
This fall, I’m giving myself permission to indulge in a full weekend of nurturing! And, I’m inviting you to join me. If you too would like to get away, to unplug, to share and time and space with like-minded souls, come join me and fellow artist, Alisha Hastings-Kimball on Sept. 30-Oct. 2 for Magic in the Making. All the details are here.
There are just a couple of spaces left.
It will be PURE MAGIC! xo
Ria
2016 #RSselfiesketch Gallery
#RSselfiesketch is the result of a 10-day live Skillshare Workshop I hosted in May 2016. Participants were invited to contribute sketches focusing on the practice of self-portraits. Selfies are not just for narcissists! 🙂 Drawing people and faces can be intimidating and selfie sketches provide us with an opportunity to practice on the most available model—ourselves! We have the freedom to experiment with different techniques and different intentions such as how to capture a particular mood or expression without the pressure of having anyone else in the room.
I also find that capturing how we see ourselves and how we show up for ourselves is a powerful exercise in self-awareness, one that requires a certain vulnerability and courage. I am deeply honored to have shared this experience with all the participants. Thank you for sharing your work with the world!
and yes, I did it too. 😀
10 Days of Selfie Sketches
Are you a little, teeny-tiny bit scared of drawing people? Me too!!!
As you know, I make it a habit not to get too comfortable so no surprise, I’m hosting a free workshop on Skillshare!
Nothing like 10 days of Selfies to get you all loosened up about portraits, self-portraits no less.
C’mon! I’ll send you daily prompts starting on Tuesday, May 3 to make it fun. We’ll all post our selfies on Insta. And at the end of the whole thing, I’ll post the whole collection here so we can all give ourselves virtual cheers and hugs!
Deets:
May 3-12
1 prompt a day
30 minutes a day
10 selfies total
p.s. It’s a free workshop but you might need Skillshare Premium. In which case, you can get a new Skillshare Premium membership for 99 cents for 3 months with this link, more than enough to do the workshop and check out all sorts of fun Skillshare classes.
The 100 Day Project 2016
You have a style. Promise.
I’ve written about this before and I’m sure I will again (every time I need the reminder myself)…
Style, for any artist I’ve ever met, is a THING. We obsess about finding our unique voice, what makes us different, because for some reason that is the validation we need to keep making art. I could go down several tangents here but I’m going to attempt to stay focused…
Let’s try this one, if just for the next five minutes: you already have a style. Period. No more discussion. Do you like it? Is it good enough? Do other people like it? Is there a market for it? It might very well be that these issues are still be TBD.
You already have a unique style because you are the only one who is you. I believe it was illustrator, Melissa Sweet who said that style is your unique take on the world. This unique take is formed by both nature and nurture — your family of origin, your experiences, the places you’ve been and the places you haven’t been, the relationships you’ve had, your physical quirks, your taste in music and movies, the people you hang with, and on and on…. all the things that make up “you.” Can you see how the chances of someone else having the exact same worldview is rather slim?
Let’s take my recent experience as an example. I just completed Month 1 of Lilla Roger’s Bootcamp. The assignment was to design a 1920’s-inspired coloring book cover. My submission was a coloring book featuring women from various eras and what their daily lives were like during that period. I made some sketches…
My final art was the result of a week of sketching and musing on the assignment.
• I thought of my grandmother, who was a girl in the 20’s.
• If you look at my sketches and my portfolio you can see that there’s a way that a draw people and faces that’s just… the way I draw them.
• I have a habit of imposing narratives on my work so of course I had to create a larger story for the assignment.
• I wanted to learn something about the time period and research about women’s experiences.
As I prepared to submit my piece, there’s a part of me that couldn’t imagine a different solution. And yet, of course, there were as many solutions as people in the class (over 300!). As I looked in the gallery, I thought to myself, “I would never have thought to do that!” Of course not! Because I’m not them and they’re not me.
My illustration reflects my habits and my take on the world—my style.
Thought for today: hang in there, grasshopper! Just do what you do!
Happy Groundhog’s Day
Another recent obsession (aside from cake) is this thing called style.
Gah! I know, I know, every creative person struggles to claim their voice, their unique point of view, the way they see the world as it is expressed in their art. The irony is that you can’t work your style. The more you work it, the more it isn’t true. So what’s an artist to do? Well, you could just make art…
I quote Bales and Orland in my class, “Style is the natural consequence of habit.” The plus side of this truism is that you don’t have to work so hard. Your style will just happen. #pinkyswear
The down side of it is that it will probably take way longer than you want and there’s no shortcut! If you make art a lot (like every day), you start to see patterns. This groundhog is how I draw, habitually. I discovered this after looking back at my 100 days of pup art and finding my college portfolio after 20 years! It turns out, I have a style. 😀
So patience, grasshopper. It might feel like you’re stuck in Groundhog’s Day but just keep doing what you’re doing!
*Here’s the finished version of “It was rigged.”
February Workshop: Embrace Your Art
Have you watched Phil Hansen’s TED Talk yet? If not, you might not get it when your artist/creative-type friends say, “Just embrace the shake!” ;P
As a designer for many years, I must say that I thrived under constraint. But it didn’t occur to me of how this could apply to my personal art. Inspired by his talk, the theme of my upcoming free workshop on Skillshare is called “Embrace Your Art.”
From February 1-29, you pick a limitation for yourself and I’ll guide you through daily prompts! Fun!
Why should you do it? Because this challenge will create structure and accountability for you AND nudge you to take your art to the next level. Find out about the workshop PRIZES and claim your spot here.
Artist’s Sketch: Soraya Nulliah
I started painting and drawing in my teens without any formal instruction, support or encouragement. As I headed into my twenties I abruptly stopped and went through a long period of soul searching, discovering myself and mending my soul. All the while, my dreams of art lay hidden in my heart just waiting to bloom. A 4-month life changing pilgrimage through India when I turned 30 brought me face to face with mySELF and my dreams of art began to take hold of me so strongly, I could do nothing but succumb. I started to paint again and filled up canvases with my heart’s deepest longings. While my earlier works were heavily influenced by Indian aesthetics, my art today is more universal in nature. My works are very woman-centered and speak of the many aspects of the female soul; empowerment, wisdom, courage and grace. Yet I also address the broken parts of ourselves–our fears and vulnerabilities. I believe it is when we acknowledge and share all parts of ourselves and our journey, therein lies the power to heal ourselves and others. I put my heart and soul into my art–every piece becomes a part of me. Nothing makes me happier than when I have touched another person’s heart through my paintings. I strongly believe in the power of storytelling. It is through our stories that we learn, share, grow, celebrate, love and live. Each of my paintings tells a story of the deepest parts of our souls. Of what it is to be fragile, vulnerable, joyful, hopeful…of what it is to be human.
1. What’s your medium of choice and what do you love about it?
I work in mixed media and what I absolutely adore about it is… anything goes! I am always trying out new techniques and products; new ways of doing things. For instance, I just started mixing oil pastels with some of my water based products and they work so well together and create such interesting effects.
2. What are you working on right now? What’s on your camera/desk/easel or in your studio?
For the past year or so I have been in recovery (from an extremely abusive childhood) so I find that working in my art journal has been cathartic for me. I absolutely adore art journaling… it seems to completely free me up and provides an avenue for me to play and have fun. I tend to work on 2-3 different art journals at one time sop that way I can always keep working while waiting for pages to dry.
3. What practices/activities are most valuable to your creative process?
I try to work every single day even if I can just squeeze in a half hour. I find that keeping work on my table allows me to keep my creative juices flowing.
4. What’s one thing you want to share with others about your art and/or process?
It’s a lot of hard work. Sometimes people have a very idealized view of what being an artist entails but, like anything else, it entails a lot of hard work and time. The thing is, though, I absolutely love it! My heart is in it and I feel so fortunate that I get to do this work that is always interesting and challenging and soul-full. It fills me up.
5. What advice would you give to your young artist self?
Trust myself. Trust my voice and my vision. When I was younger, I was so insecure about my art and what I wanted to express. I thought I had to have a Fine Arts degree to be taken seriously. But what I now realize is that I had to believe in myself and my work; I had to take myself seriously.
Inspired by Soraya?
Want to know when the next sketch is posted?
Yoda was wrong.
Sorry little green guy. I love you. But the fate of the world does not rest on whether or not I make good art. For me, trying is… everything!
Case in point… I’ve been dreaming about this little kingfisher for a long time. I was dreaming about how I would paint each color separately and collage them all together. Last weekend, I finally had a chance to do it for real. So here it is.
It doesn’t look like I thought it would but I’m posting it anyway because it makes a point, one that I think most of us know but don’t really feel until we feel it ourselves and then it feels crappy (ha!): not every project is going to work out, even if you plan and practice and think through the whole thing.
You can do the very best you are capable of at any time and it might just not be how you want it to be for some reason. It’s okay to try. It was worth it anyway. Because now you know and that piece of insight is invaluable to your growth as an artist.
Thank you to everyone who liked it and said it was beautiful and it’s not that I don’t think it is. The whole thing — the process, the product — just doesn’t light me up as much as thinking about it did. That’s my litmus test for whether I should do it again — not so much if other people liked it but if I want to spend my time creating another and another and another using that same technique.
The experience reinforced what I do know about myself, that I am a learn-by-doing person. If I didn’t sit down and actually make this piece, it would have stayed in my “theoretical” column, calling to me until I did it. Now I can put that one aside and move on to the next thing that I’ve been curious and dreaming about.
So if you’re like me, you can take the pressure off. If there’s something that you’re curious about but are afraid because it might not work out the way you want, just do try it already.
2016: Playtime!
Happy New Year, friends!
Yesterday, I did a retrospective of my words from years past:
2010: Surrender
2011: Comfort
2012: Magic
2013: Miracle
2014: Treasure
2015: Craft
Whoah! Looking back, I’m struck by the power of intention, how a word of the year is a spell we cast for ourselves. Those years became those words, sometimes in ways that I didn’t always expect (or enjoy very much! ha!)
In 365 days, I processed and experienced each of those words so completely, turned them over a hundred times, built whole narratives around them, integrated them mentally, emotionally, spiritually, even physically! Always, always they’ve been the correct word for my personal evolution.
I’ve learned to let the word emerge for me, to bubble up. Starting around Thanksgiving each year, I start to pay attention to “recurring themes” that point me in the direction of my word. One year, I let the magic bowl decide among a couple final contenders. Another year, I picked from the bowl (and without peeking) mailed the final one to myself for Christmas! ;P
I’m breathing deeply into PLAY in 2016. On the surface, it sounds like fun, right? But I know myself better than that! lol
Alright, I’m ready (channeling Jack Frost this winter). Cue the fairy dust.
What spell do you want to cast for yourself this new year?
Are you looking for inspiration?
On January 1, I’ll be publishing my second class on Skillshare, Sketchbook Magic II. The journey to this point has been it’s own form of magic… as over 3,000 students have discovered and committed to their art and creativity in the first class.
In this second class, we continue onward together. Or, you can jump right in with Sketchbook Magic II if you are specifically interested in learning a few techniques on how to find ideas for your art.
This class is perfect for you if you are cultivating your art as a means of self-expression, or if you are honing your craft in a creative profession or if you simply want to connect with your right brain! I’ll be sharing five more simple sketchbook practices that consistently fill my creative well. Just like in the last class, I encourage you to watch one of the videos every day (less than 10 min/day) and complete each day’s simple activity.
Are you ready? Email me at ria(@)riasharon.com if you want to get on the list for a free pass! I’d love for you to join. It’ll be a lovely way to start the new year… with ART!
An Artist’s Sketch: Shannon Newlin
Shannon Newlin is an illustrator and painter. Her professional experience includes over 10 years in product development as well as Disney Consumer Products styleguide design. During her time as creative director for a licensee she developed multiple product lines from concept through to production. She and her team also won Disney’s Infant Division “Product of the Year” Award.
After several years in NYC and Los Angeles, she now resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband and children. She founded Shannon Newlin LLC where she she sells and licenses her artwork for wall art, fabric and handcrafted home decor.
1. What’s your medium of choice and what do you love about it?
My favorite medium is watercolor. I am a big fan of Winsor & Newton’s tube watercolor paints. I also love to mix things up by introducing bits of gouache, liquid acrylic and cut paper.
2. What are you working on right now? What’s on your camera/desk/easel or in your studio?
At the moment I am getting ready for the Indie Craft Experience “Atlanta Ice” on Nov. 21-22. If you are in town I hope you can stop by and say “Hi”! I am really excited about it since it is a juried show to participate, and I am so honored to be there.
I have several things going on on my desk and easel in preparation….I am creating one of a kind hand-painted wood wall art pieces as well as original art on canvas and paper. In addition, I am created hand-painted notebooks and printed holiday cards to offer a range of gift items.
3. What practices/activities are most valuable to your creative process?
I would say being consistent at painting everyday, even if it is just on a scrap of paper. Sometimes the paperwork or marketing part of the business can take away from the creative time, so I try to allow myself a few minutes just to throw paint around so I can feel creative.
4. What’s one thing you want to share with others about your art and/or process?
My art and process really stems from wanting to express myself in a way that sparks inspiration and conversation. I like to take creative risks and learn by them. It can be scary but often times it takes you to the next level and is a great learning tool. I believe the creative process has to happen organically and not because one is following a trend that everyone else is doing. Your voice has to come from within, and it takes time.
5. What advice would you give to your young artist self?
Believe in yourself and keep going. Art-making really is a process, one day at a time, a journey of learning and growing…there is no real finish line. That is one reason why I love being creative…it is fluid….just jump in and enjoy the ride.
Inspired by Shannon?
Want to know when the next sketch is posted?
An Artist’s Sketch: Els Vlieger
I’m an illustrator, painter and surface pattern designer from the Netherlands, living in Leuven, Belgium with my husband, three kids and my dog. My designs have been licensed for fabric and for serving trays. I design birth cards and wedding invitations and I have both written, designed and illustrated a children’s picture book for a Dutch publisher.
I’m a late bloomer as a professional artist. I got an MA in art history at Leiden University (the Netherlands) and started my professional career researching 17th century Dutch Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was an inspiring place and exciting time for me, studying these gorgeous paintings and living in this wonderful city.
But ever since I was young I wanted to create and my love for pencils and paint lured me back to school again. I got a degree as graphic designer and I now combine my learnings as art historian and my creative passion in my designs.
I’m inspired by the Golden Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer, by my travels, by everything nature has to offer, by lovely old picture books, beautiful patterns and old stamps. On rainy days I like to browse old National Geographic magazines.
I admire the work of Saul Bass, Paul Rand and Charley Harper. I love the bold and fresh Marimekko designs as well as the classic William Morris patterns. I’m available for representation and licensing opportunities. You can find me on elsvlieger.be
1. What’s your medium of choice and what do you love about it?
I use lots of different media, both traditional and digital. For my fabric patterns I start with ink drawings, and then use Illustrator and Photoshop to finish them. Adding textures will bring my art alive.
I love traditional media, acrylic, gouache, ink and color pencils, and always finish my paintings with details and scribblings in pencil. About 80 % of my work is done behind my computer, but it feels so good when I have finished a real painting. It is more rewarding and relaxing in the process and it is more spontaneous compared to working with computer programs. There is no undo, no command-Z. It’s sometimes a bit scary – I mean when your preliminary sketches are quite alright and you have to paint over it, it feels that you are about to ruin it right away. And it’s time consuming too, but when you eventually hold a piece of paper with your painting it is ultimately rewarding.
The variaty is essential for my work and stepping away from the computer frequently to paint and get dirty hands is what I like best.
2. What are you working on right now? What’s on your camera/desk/easel or in your studio?
I have just finished new fabric patterns for the small Belgian label Kersenpitje. It will be released early spring and has birds, wild flowers and hares in it. It will be a bit different from the first collections since it has no color, only black line drawings on a white background. I like this collection in particular since I drew the various wild flowers during my summer holiday in the Scottish Highlands, so in a way it takes me back to this great place.
I am putting new pattern designs on Spoonflower as well. And I am working on a new painting of a girl and animals in a landscape. It must become sweet, yet a bit alienating. I love that combination. Previously I finished a gouache painting staging my grandmother and great aunt — my granny with mushrooms and bark in her hair and my aunt with branches growing from her head. I want to make a series of portrait-like paintings with a strange twist.
3. What practices/activities are most valuable to your creative process?
Walking my dog is always very good for getting new ideas. He has been with us for four years and it is the best way of getting out of the house and away from my desk now that my kids have grown up.
My morning walk especially helps me with getting new ideas or solutions to problems I have encountered. Besides, my dog is the best company during the day! I tend to talk to him and it is always nice to play frisbee with him, especially after sitting behind my computer for too long.
I love going to the library and get tons of -usually- heavy books. Libraries have always been my happy place; back in my art historian days, I tend to bury myself in library caves. It is always exciting when you run into something unexpected and interesting. Going out and making an effort is good in the process of collecting new material for projects.
Pinterest works well for me for getting reference material and color inspiration. I think it is one of the best ways of collecting things on the internet; I quickly find what I need in my boards. But I also love the old fashioned way by browsing my files of magazine and newspaper clippings I have collected over the years.
I use my many sketchbooks to try out new ideas. I have sketchbooks with very thin paper, ideal for delicate pencil drawings with lots of scribbly lines. And I use my sketchbooks with thick paper for the more robust drawings with black ink with brush and bamboo pencil. These are usually the best ways to loosen up. And for drawing my icons for my fabric patterns I use ordinary copy paper. This is easy to scan and will not withhold you from experimenting, since it is cheap and there is a lot in stock.
4. What’s one thing you want to share with others about your art and/or process?
I always start with pencil and paper, never use a tablet in the initial process. I have tried that but it is not the same for me. When I draw new icons for my patterns I like to directly use the black ink or brush pen without drawing in pencil first. This way it is more spontaneous and usually better. For composition, colors and other inspiration I study Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 16th and 17th century. There’s so much to learn from these masters from the Golden Age. And besides, I’m surrounded by these books, so they are at hand.
5. What advice would you give to your young artist self?
Never stop learning new skills; you will be amazed what you can master. Try to be an expert in lots of different fields. Experiment with new media, materials, combinations. Be curious, be organized. Meet with other artists. Don’t be afraid to show your work and send it to prospects and especially don’t be too much of a perfectionist, since this is often a drawback for achieving things.
Inspired by Els?
Want to know when the next sketch is posted?
Magic starts here
Clockwise from top left: @marjoleinvbm, @honeycomb, @squiggleandswirl, @pixieposie
This is where magic begins… with one step, and then another, and then another. Check out these lovely artists who are walking the walk. I give you permission to do it too.
The thing that makes your heart skip a beat, the thing that lights you up doesn’t have to make sense. It doesn’t have to be purposeful. You can do something just for the sake of doing it — just because it looks like fun and feels good. I promise you, if you go with that feeling, it will feed your soul.
This is what soul food looks like to me. Ask @marjoleinvbm, @honeycomb, @squiggleandswirl, and @pixieposie how it feels to play in Sketchbook Magic! ;P
An Artist’s Sketch: Jane Moore Houghton
Jane Moore Houghton is a mixed media painter living and working in Central Massachusetts, US. Jane received a BS in Studio Art from Skidmore College in 1987. Since 2006 she has been granted seven solo exhibitions as well as several group shows. Jane’s latest series of works, her “Beasts” series was shown in a solo exhibition at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester, MA this past winter.
This series features large, enthralling portraits of endangered and at-risk animal and plant species. Jane’s unique technique of using embroidery on layers of tissue paper is a feature of this series and has caught the attention of a variety of media outlets: Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine (11/12-2014), several podcasts and online blogs. Most recently, Jane was asked to speak at the Nantucket Whaling Museum about this impactful series. You can connect with Jane on her website, janemhoughton.com
Arapawa Goat
1. What’s your medium of choice and what do you love about it?
For my mixed media work I use acrylic, gouache, ink, oil stick and colored pencil. I have recently (in the last few years) developed a technique of incorporating hand embroidery on tissue paper into my paintings of endangered and at risk animals. I developed this technique as a way to honor my grandmother who taught me to embroider when I was a young girl. I love using it in my work as a way to stay connected to her memory. Plus it feels like sketching with thread which has been challenging and fun!
Close-up of Arapaho Goat’s embroidered area
2. What are you working on right now? What’s on your camera/desk/easel or in your studio?
I tend to have a few irons in the fire at the same time! Currently I am working on an emerging series of works called “Beasts II: Heritage Breeds and Heirloom seeds” …which grew out of my “Beasts” series, featuring endangered and at-risk plant and animal species. I will hang a solo show at the end of this month with some pieces from both series. I am also developing a commercial art portfolio and am launching my first advent calendar kit this season. This kit grew from a spontaneous act last December of posting a “doodle” a day from my sketch books during the advent season. They were so popular that I decided to offer them as an advent calendar kit this year . It includes 24 doodles on 3” x 3” cards that can be displayed on a tiny wooden easel or hung on a cord with tiny clothes pins (all included).
3. What practices/activities are most valuable to your creative process?
I try to keep structure and simplicity in place so that my creativity can sprout from a place of peace. I keep a weekly calendar that I keep organized by using different colored sticky notes for each type of task. For example, orange notes are for anything that falls under the exercise category… blue is business related tasks… pink is time making art… yellow is mediation and consultation or research time… green is anything related to my roles as mom, wife, pet owner, friend, etc… I can move the notes around and block out time for each thing in a given week. Also, I try to start my day with a little meditation time and journal writing to get my “monkey brain” to get grounded before starting my day.
4. What’s one thing you want to share with others about your art and/or process?
I guess I would want to share a bit about my embroidery on layers of tissue paper technique since I don’t know of other artists doing this in the same way… It’s a technique I developed where I make a tissue paper fabric of sorts by layering three layers of tissue paper glued together with gel medium. I smooth out the layers and hang them to dry. When it is dry it becomes like a delicate fabric that I can embroider on and then adhere the embroidered piece to the surface of my mixed media works. For example, a large portrait of a humpback whale I did in my Beasts series last year featured embroidered barnacles on the surface of his body. In my emerging “Beasts II” series I am beginning to use the embroidery in a less planned-out way and am trying to push the boundaries of using it in a playful and intuitive way.
5. What advice would you give to your young artist self?
The advice I would give my young artist self: get your work out there – not with the goal to get published (I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator) or to be an instant success but to get feed back and grow from the experience so that you can reach your goals. Don’t let the fear of success and how that might change your life hold you back. Find a mentor and set up a lunch date with them every month. Find a tribe of other artists trying to do what you are wanting to do and support one another. Don’t ever stop making art.
Inspired by Jane?
Want to know when the next sketch is posted?
An Artist’s Sketch: Casey Saccomanno
Casey Saccomanno is a Women’s Wear fashion and print designer currently living in Brooklyn, NY. She earned her BFA in fashion design at Philadelphia University in 2008. She most recently worked on designing the Nurture line sold at Dillard’s and is now focusing on print design opportunities. Casey’s designs are frequently inspired by traveling, music, nature, and living in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She is an animal advocate and lives a vegan lifestyle, one day she dreams of owning a business and donating a portion of the proceeds to local animal sanctuaries.
1. What’s your medium of choice and what do you love about it?
Right now, watercolor is my medium of choice, I even like to combine it with mixed media such as metallics, salt, bleach, and india ink. I love painting and watercolor achieves a organic fluid appearance. I like that it is really unexpected how the watercolor will look once it dries- gives a really beautiful unique look.
2. What are you working on right now? What’s on your camera/desk/easel or in your studio?
I am working on a couple of print collections including a exciting project with an amazing company called Threaded Earth based in Australia. I am planning to post some fabric designs on Spoon Flower within the next few weeks. Right now my camera is full of photos of nature and photos of my neighborhood in Brooklyn- there are some murals and street art that lends great color inspiration for me.
3. What practices/activities are most valuable to your creative process?
I love to get out of my apartment and explore the local museums and botanical gardens for inspiration. I love to listen to a great playlist while working, music can really positively affect my creative mood.
I believe in this quote: “Distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity. When we get home, home is the same. But something in our mind has been changed, and that changes everything.” -Jonah Lehrer
4. What’s one thing you want to share with others about your art and/or process?
I relish in a handmade approach to design, nothing should be created by only looking at a computer screen. My sketch book and hand drawings bring life to my work.
5. What advice would you give to your young artist self?
I would challenge myself to live by the following mantra: to travel, sketch, create, experiment, and test boundaries. Sometimes when testing boundaries, it is important to remember that perfection is not achieved immediately and true skill needs to be nurtured and practiced.
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