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.
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.
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. 
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.
1. What’s your medium of choice and what do you love about it?
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.
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.
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.
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.
