Episodes
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You have to work for your art. Odd jobs help a lot of people out along the way. If this has also been your experience of becoming an artist, that is okay.
Include your followers in the products you make because they are the ones who will buy the finished product. Create the art that makes you happy and at the same time remember who will buy your art. Utilize polls to get the best information if you need input!
Try not to simply follow the trends. Instead you can try to adapt or learn from a trend to your own style and audience.
First impressions are important. You can control the experience your customers have, if you run your own shop. Caring about the little details shows your customers you care about them. When you send something from an independent creator, your customer should feel like they are receiving a gift.
There is more than one way to stand up for what you believe in. Your skillset might lend itself well to making posters to help spread the message, while other people’s talents might be in organising or communicating. Standing up for what you believe in doesn’t just mean talking. Consider how you can use your art to show what you are passionate about and to help to make the world a better place.
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As an artist, consider the implications of the art you create. Make your art meaningful and intentional. As designers, artists, human beings - have a point of view. Share your point of view on what is happening around you through your work.Products solve problems. Adam sees murals in this way. Murals are a way to start a conversation and get closer to solving a problem.A lot of things aren’t comfortable to talk about but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about them. You might not feel comfortable painting or sharing a political mural but if the work is important to you, you will find a way to do it despite your discomfort.On NFT - Anything that can give artists more agency is a good thing. For years people didn’t encourage their children to become artists because artists don’t have control of their work, they are at the mercy of the market and the buyer. NFT has the potential to give artists more control over how their work is sold and the price paid by the buyer. On the flip side, the possible environmental impact cannot be ignored.
Instagram: @adamfu
Website: https://www.adamkfujita.com
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Very Gay Paint began as an indoor mural project. When you put something up on a wall inside a home it is very different to a print or a piece on canvas. Consider the environment where your mural is going to live. Try to avoid a situation where your mural is fighting with the furniture in the room, or other art on the walls. Make the mural an extension of the interior design, the furniture and the architecture of the home.There is a significant number of people creating murals. Reach out to the community for help and to collaborate with like minded people.Unsure of how to present yourself on social media? Nick and Jenson use their comedy to stand out, but if you are shy, remember - be yourself and follow your joy. Make content that makes you laugh and that makes you feel good.Cultivate your relationships so that you have time with friends outside of your work. Value yourself as a complete person, not just as an artist.
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Always be open to trying new things – you don’t know what new adventure might begin as a result. While living in Brooklyn after a long stint travelling, Brolga took some illustration classes and was pleasantly surprised by how much he liked it.Illustrators and artists are versatile and have to have a lot of strings to their bow. Being able to work from basically anywhere is a very unique position to be in, how can you use this to your advantage?Find your own path. The more people on the path you're on, the less chance you have of standing out.Never forget where you started. and the journey you took to get to where you are today. Before taking commissions for murals, Brolga was out walking the streets always trying to find a wall to paint a character on. To earn a living from his artwork today is the result of passion, perseverance and determination.If you don't have consistent work, you can always make your own projects. This allows you to shape your portfolio without waiting for permission, while also building demand for your skills.
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Using your unique life experience to inspire you as an artist gives you a perspective no one else will have. For instance, Wyatt’s background in field ecology with a focus on birds clearly influences his art. Through his ‘day job’ and working with children in nature, he better understands people’s connection with the world around us and how it continues to evolve.Don't be afraid to reach out to people who are a little further ahead of you in their career. Most are receptive to sharing their story, which you can learn from.Listen to your gut about keeping your interests separate to your work. It can be tempting to combine everything you love in your art which might also feel overwhelming when you are starting out. Remember that as the artist, you decide what to share with the world through your art.Keep a sketchbook with you, always. And keep drawing, even when you don't feel like it Is leading to a particular project. Some of your best work might come from an idea that was unexpected.
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Figure out what is the core principle that inspires your work. This core principle is something that is close to your heart. When you know this, it becomes your focus, and it's not as tempting to compar your art to others.Follow people that inspire you by how clearly they communicate their passion through their art. What do those people do every day that motivates and inspires them to create? You are the sum of your habits.If you can learn from another artist, compliment them rather than copying from them. How does your style compliment theirs. Choose an inspiration that is no longer practising.Use your artist’s voice to inspire and promote political change. You art can be the tool that communicates the message to many people at once.Creative constraints can encourage you to create new and exciting work. Record your ideas, as something that doesn’t quite fit for your current project might be the basis for the next project
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It is easy to think looking at the social media accounts of your favourite artists that they didn’t go through a period of growth and learning a the beginning of their careers, but that’s where you’re wrong. Every artist will tell you that the first 5-6 years of their career were filled with doubt, uncertainty and hard work. If you want to make a career out of it you have to persevere.We’re at a place in history now where we can see people develop their skills in real time on social media. Consider the artists you have been following over the past number of years and how much they have improved by continually creating and sharing their work.You have to dive into the abyss of making shitty work until you can make better work. The only way to improve is to practice.If you are feeling uninspired, think about what is weighing on you and let that be your inspiration. Maybe you don’t have any new ideas or motivation, allow that to be the starting point in your creative process.
This episode is the final episode of a series of interviews with artists of Co-Loop, an artist-forward agency built on the foundation of collaboration, community & diverse creative content." We hope you liked the last few conversations. If you haven't had a chance to listen to the previous episodes yet, here are direct links to each episode in the series.
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It always seems that art and marketing are on opposite ends of a spectrum but it is possible to blend them. Make your work about things that you’ve experienced, that are relatable to other people and that make you laugh.If you have a great idea that you can’t wait to get started with, ask yourself how you can create a series from this one idea? How can an idea that would result in one post, become twenty posts. Create larger series that help you to batch content and keep sharing with your audience.Check in with yourself before accepting a client's offer. Lauren has a set of 10 questions that she asks herself before starting a project to make sure it fits in with her goals and values. You will attract the kind of work that you share, make sure you are putting out work you feel good about.Do you need to delegate more? Consider how hiring someone on a freelance basis could help you. The stepping stones to hiring can be small. Brainstorm your pain points to figure out how hiring someone can work best for you.Everyone has a skill they can teach. Teach what you wish you had known 2-3 years ago. There will always be someone who is more of a beginner than you are and who wants to know what you wish you had known when you started out.Just because you are a lettering artist doesn’t mean you have to incorporate lettering into everything that you do. Consider if lettering brings you closer to achieving your goals.
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Does perfectionism drive you crazy? One slightly off brush stroke, and it seems like a disaster when you’re up close, but as you take a step back you can see the whole picture coming together.
Life can be thought of using the same metaphor. It is so easy to get lost in the busy-ness of every day. It's only when you take a step back and see how far you have come, you can focus on the most meaningful parts, and not sweat the small stuff.Figure out your practice, not just how you make your art. What do you need to do before and after you create, to get yourself in the best headspace possible.Art is less about the how and the what and more about the why. Ask yourself why you are creating this piece, where did the inspiration or motivation for this work come from.Creativity is communication. It is a craft you can use to get people to listen to you for a minute. If you could write, sing or communicate the message you are passionate about in any other way - you would. But art is the tool you have, so that is what you use. -
Today on the podcast we are joined by Meg Lewis (@yourbuddymeg) who is a designer and illustrator, podcaster, comedian, and educator. She has worked with over 100 brands and continues to create art that brings joy.
Meg talks abut spontaneity vs. structure, and how to create a productivity and lifestyle that works best for you. She also discusses how to give clients something unexpected and push their world view.
This episode is part of a series of interviews with "Co-Loop, an artist-forward agency built on the foundation of collaboration, community & diverse creative content." We will be sharing episodes from different makers who are a part of Co-Loop throughout the next month. That gives you a sneak preview into who our next guests will be!
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Put yourself and your "weirdness" into your work. What makes you different will set you apart.Exploring in your process is a great way of finding the techniques that best suits your practice.It will take time to get used to a new medium, keep practicing and eventually you will hit a breakthrough that will be worth it.Be authentic and real in your artwork. This is key in making some of your best work, as people will truly recognize that you put your best and full self in the work.
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Studying in the States can be very expensive. Consider other options, living abroad (like Emily did!) might be a fun adventure which also works out to be more affordable.Figure out what is important to you, what your personal values are and how your art can help to promote this message. This will help to connect you to like-minded artists and people who might like to support your work.Ask other artists to share their pricing with you. The worst they can say is ‘no’ or ‘I can’t share that information with you’.You will make mistakes, you will undercharge but you will learn as you go. Have the confidence in your business to say no to projects that are not the right fit. Believe that more work will come down the line.Inspiration can come from anywhere. Don’t shy away from taking on projects that you are interested in but are outside your lane or the parameters of the work you’ve done before.
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1. Don’t follow trends by creating what you think is popular right now. Make things that are uniquely yours. Remember that it is your experience that you are putting on the paper. The end product will look different for every artist and each viewer of your artwork will take something different from it.
2. Once you paint a mural outside, people will tell you what they like and what they don’t like about it. The street is a place, just like a room. The people who see your mural travel through this place every day and people want to see something they can understand and relate to.
3. Have you noticed something in your community that you want to change or improve? Artists have the power to represent whatever ideas they might come up with through their art. Use your skills and talent to create art that will inspire change.
4. Focus on your personal projects. These are the ones where you get to develop your own ideas and have the most fun, and they often lead to client work in a similar style.
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Richard Haas was a printmaker and painter for many years before designing his first mural. Don’t be afraid to try something new, even if you have found success in your field. You never know where a new project that is outside your comfort zone might lead you.Walk through the city with your eyes open. Notice the buildings, streets and people around you. You have the opportunity to discover something new every time, if you just look.Consider the building you are painting, it is your canvas. What is the history behind this building? It has its own story that it would tell if it could. How can you incorporate this history into your design?Find the best wall you can and give it your best shot. Challenges are second nature to the mural process and you’re going to run into obstacles along the way that you could never imagine.The project itself is important, as is the design. Listen to your client but don't lose your creative expression trying to produce what they envision. You are the artist after all.
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Look at the work that has been done by other muralists in your city or area. What is different and similar in your work? What would make a client want to work with you? Think about what you like to make and what art is missing, the overlap is where you will find your niche.You don’t have to take the traditional path if you’re interested in a specific niche. In this episode Eric speaks about the traditional route for working in skate board merch design and how he has forged his own path to bring together his art and his hobby.Cultivate community in your area, whether it be IRL or online. Lift up others by commenting, liking and sharing their work.
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Does your art have a mission? Use your art to shed light on unknown or little known historical figures. Painting the history of a person or place in a prominent spot can begin a conversation about something important that might otherwise be forgotten.Murals are a powerful medium that can inspire people and promote change. Think about what you can do with the skills and talent that you have. Your murals can inspire people long after the project has been completed.Is there enough work to go around for everyone? Don’t allow a scarcity mindset to over take your motivation to paint. Every room has at least four walls.Allow your interests to inspire your murals. Bicycles, sport, water, ocean conservation - the more random the better. Where commercial murals might have a brief to fill, educational and informative murals communicate just one message.
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As an artist, there are some lessons that are harder and take a longer time to learn. Sharing your artwork without fear or anxiety about how it will be received takes practice and patience. But it will be worth it in the end.There are lots of great ways to sell you art, and it is all about figuring out what is best for you and your practice. For instance, a print-on-demand frees up physical space in your home or studio and also allows people to choose an affordable print of your work that fits best in their home.Start your day with a plan but allow yourself the flexibility to flip the schedule if you feel inspired to create. For some artists the morning is their most creative time, for others inspiration strikes later in the day. Figure out what works best for you.Commit to clear and concise communication with your clients. This can really help to minimize problems and helps them to understand your point of view around pricing if there are changes or more iterations than initially agreed. Know your worth.Cultivate a style with meaning that feels genuine to your beliefs. If you are creating art you feel good about and put in the time, opportunities will come your way.
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1. Create a work space you are happy to spend time in. The ethos in our team is that if you’re going to spend 12 hours a day somewhere, it might as well look nice and be a space you enjoy spending time in. This is a sentiment that can apply to any office or work space or even your home.
2. Be willing to share your ideas and collaborate. The success of the team at WeWork comes from people being willing to share their ideas and collaborate. Often they get to see their artwork come to life in another city, created by another artist in their own style because they were open to sharing their ideas in the first place.
3. Celebrate the small wins. Don’t allow progression in your career to overshadow the opportunities to celebrate the small wins along the way. Five years ago you would have been overjoyed to achieve what you achieve today.
4. When people look at murals they want to be blown away, thinking ‘Wow! How did the artist do that?
5. If you want to create large scale work - create it on your own first. Don't wait for someone to ask you to do it. If that is the kind of work you are trying to attract, you need to show you can do it.
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Follow Joe on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joe_geis/.
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Have a look at Jeremiah's work online - http://www.jeremiahbritton.com/.
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Value change. Learn from change as often as you can. Even if something is difficult, it may be beneficial to make the leap and try anyway.Allow your style to find you. You have to draw a lot of things you don’t like to find out what you do like. Your earliest jobs will teach you so much about what you do and don’t like, when you have that figured out it will be much easier to choose and create the kind of work you really love.Muralists have so much power to completely transform a space. There is a unique confidence that comes from painting such a large piece of art. Look out for walls that are mutually beneficial for you and the person inviting you to paint.Ask for feedback. In school and college feedback was constant, when you step out as an independent artist feedback will only come your way if you look for it. Find mentors and people to ask for feedback from. Each piece of art is a collaboration between you and the owner of the wall or the viewer of the art, seek out their thoughts.Freelance can be isolating, having mentors and fellow artists that you can discuss your craft with can help ease the isolation.
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Many artists find themselves in a new lane of art activism at the moment. Remember your privilege. Continue to elevate others as you grow. Art is healing. Enjoy the therapy that can be found in the creation process.The societal narrative that you will get more for your work in a big city is an illusion. No matter where you are, a closed mouth doesn’t get fed. Put yourself out there as much as you can. You will hear yes and no from potential clients you pitch along the way but the more practice you have the easier it becomes.Consistency is not the only recipe for success. Persistence is just as important. Find the thing that you enjoy doing and do it frequently. Create your own version of art that you can share with others. It will feel uncomfortable at first, embrace it.Challenge your mindset. Do you operate from a scarcity mindset or an outlook of abundance? Would a change in perspective allow you to create the art you really want to create. Be open to growth.
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