I Thought Of You When I Read This Quote From "Arctic Dreams" By Barry H. Lopez -

That's merciless

A tough choice

Indt

Happy first day of fall, everyone! 

[Edward Hopper (1882–1967), Red Barn in Autumn Landscape, 1927. Watercolor and graphite pencil on paper. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Josephine N. Hopper Bequest. © Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper, licensed by the Whitney Museum of American Art]

[OFFICIAL] K.A.R.D “Don’t Recall” MV

Sneak peek of Hélio Oiticica: To Organize Delirium, opening this Friday! The exhibition is the Brazilian artist’s first full retrospective in the U.S. in two decades, with a particular focus on the years he spent in New York. Oiticica’s work began with formal, geometric investigations in painting and drawing and eventually took the form of large-scale installations and environments, as well as experimental writing, filmmaking, and photography. As his career advanced in Brazil, New York, and beyond, his work became increasingly immersive, transforming the viewer’s role from spectator to active participant. Check out our Instagram Story to see more!

Creator Spotlight: @jdebbiel

Deb JJ Lee is a non-binary Korean artist based in Brooklyn, NY. They have appeared in the New Yorker, New York Times, NPR, Google, Radiolab, and more. Their award-winning graphic memoir, IN LIMBO, about mental illness and difficult relationships with trauma, released in March 2023 from First Second.

Below is our interview with Deb!

Have you ever had an art block? If so, how did you overcome it?

That implies I am over my art block, but I’m still in it! I think about Kiki’s Delivery Service a lot and how she had to stop doing a thing, and that you can’t really force it, and you have to let it come back to you. It’s a pretty humbling moment, realizing there is more to life than just drawing. I’ve been trying to consume other content like reading or watching movies—anything that is not drawing-related—and to trust that it will come back to me. I think not being afraid to do the small pieces before committing to the big pieces is helpful. Because big pieces are what I am known for, I dig myself into a deeper hole, thinking that each piece has to be bigger than the last one. So yeah! Relaxing and doing the small things before overcommitting to a big piece is the best way to go about it for me.

Which 3 famous artists (dead or alive) would you invite to your dinner party?

I feel like these are all artists that I have second-degree connections with! Jillian Tamaki, Victo Ngai, and Tillie Walden would be my picks!

What are your file name conventions?

…What file name conventions? I mean, I don’t have specific file name conventions, but I actually have a public Google Drive archive! But I usually put “djjl_whatever-the-title-is_final,” and I would always know it’s the final and legit version.

What is a recent creative project that you are proud of?

I did an illustration for the whiskey brand Johnnie Walker. It’s so wild because I only had four days to finish it, and it usually takes me a week and a half if I rush. And honestly, it’s probably one of my best pieces from this year, which is funny. It was for the Mid-Autumn festival, so I made it as Korean as possible.

How has technology changed the way you approach your work?

I only use my iPad to draw everything now, and if I want to pretend that I have a steady workstation, I’ll use my Cintiq. I still am not as comfortable on the Cintiq as I am on Procreate, but it’s still pretty solid and nice. That’s the good part about technology. The bad part about technology is how AI art has been messing things up for me. I’m currently in a lawsuit about AI art as a class rep. Some of my stuff got turned into AI art late last year, so I have to give a deposition at some point. 

What is a convention experience that has stuck with you?

Honestly, they’re all good! I feel like Lightbox Expo has been really nice because it’s truly been a convention for artists. I feel like that’s where most of my audience is, and they’re all around because their purpose is to be better at art. That’s where a lot of original artists do well because they’re getting art they’re inspired by, not so much fanart. I like the Lightbox Expo because it encompasses the pure love of art very well. 

Top tips on setting up an Artist Alley booth?

Use a Y axis, not just your X axis! Take advantage of it! Branding is also something to think about. It is definitely something I’m getting better at. Having an assistant is also very important. I’ve also heard that 8.5x11 to 12x18 inches is usually a good size for prints, but I also provide postcard-sized prints because sometimes people don’t want to commit to a larger size. 

Who on Tumblr inspires you and why?

You know this is so funny. I’ve been following @alicexz for over a decade on Tumblr and other platforms. I’ve followed her work since high school, and we’ve only recently become peers. I found her, and we met for the first time in real life, and she recognized me. And then I found all my drawings from when I was in my Alice phase, back in high school, and I was like, “Yo, this is when I was trying to be you so badly!” and she was cracking up and was like “Wow, this is so good!” It was such a sweet moment. I wanted to take a picture of her holding my drawing up. It’s really nice because now we’re peers.

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing, Deb! Be sure to check out their Tumblr blog over at @jdebbiel.

Absorb This

♥Stop Thought♥ inspiration/art

Run to the roar.

In this fantastic Design Matters interview, Tina Essmaker, one half of The Great Discontent, quotes her mentor’s spectacular advice – whenever the metaphorical lion roars formidably, to run toward that fear rather than away from it, because that’s where the truly rewarding risk-taking is to be found.

It’s another articulation of Steven Pressfield’s idea that “the more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that that enterprise is important to us and to the growth of our soul.” 

Also see Nietzsche on why a fulfilling life requires embracing rather than running from difficulty. 

For a further taste of the exceptional Design Matters, see Debbie Millman’s conversations with Chris Ware, Dani Shapiro, Seth Godin, Terry Teachout, Sophie Blackall, and Massimo Vignelli, then subscribe on iTunes – it’s free and well worth it.

(via explore-blog)

Been there, done that, ya ha

Ya ha