Mi-Anne Chan’s Post

4 Questions on the Creative Process with Artist Jeri Lewis Edwards Autumn is a time of transition as summer’s abundance gives way to the sparseness of fall. It offers the opportunity both to reflect, and to look forward, presenting a compelling reminder of impermanence, that we — and our surroundings — are constantly developing. Perfectly fitting, #sparkchamber is thrilled to welcome artist Jeri Lewis Edwards. From love of nature, to openness to new influences — or seeing “old” influences from a new perspective — Jeri’s story emphasizes how vital it is to embrace the present moment. In her own words: “I’m a naturalist, wildlife advocate — especially when it comes to advocating preservation of habitat — a published poet, and a mixed-media artist. I know it sounds cliche, but like so many of my fellow artists, I’ve always wanted to be an artist. But without any nurturing I put that dream aside. “And after getting a degree in marketing, I developed my own recruiting consulting. For 33 years I partnered with founders and CEOs to help them build their entrepreneurially-spirited executive team. I have to say that I was quite good at “match making,” and now that intuitive voice inside me is still quite alive as I spend time in my art studio. “I grew up spending time in the woods, and as I got older I found I couldn’t be away from being outside all the time. So I began to backpack all throughout the wilderness areas of the U.S., as well as biking along back roads. Today my favorite activities continue to be hiking, biking, and kayaking. “Years ago, I put a pair of binoculars in my hand and that completely changed my world! I realized that all throughout my life seeing wildlife was the highlight of a day for me. And viewing birds through my binoculars or a scope is a daily highlight! Being able to identify birds around me by their sounds is an added enrichment. Whether it’s seeing and hearing birds, identifying new plants, mushrooms, or insects, all of these contribute to heightening my sense of listening and of the wonder of nature. And these experiences influence my art or my approach to my process, whether through my visual art or through my poetry.” Her portrait work is truly remarkable! Enjoy her thoughts on the creative process here: https://lnkd.in/gQ_EamQW

I've been writing more regularly on my blog this year, exploring creative experiments as a way to get back into the fun of art-making. Here's the latest post, all about LINE. I made an illustration celebrating friendship for this one :) https://lnkd.in/gUauHBAj #illustration #blogpost

Check out my blog post #newblogpost

"Building Irresistible Movements: Best Collaboration Practices for Organizations and Visual Artists" by Kemi Alabi, Micah Bazant, Kate DeCiccio, Amir Khadar, Diana Lugo-Martinez, Monica Trinidad, and Kah Yangni in partnership with Forward Together, this comprehensive guide is for anyone looking to harness the power of art and culture in the fight for justice. Learn more about... 🎯 Setting and achieving project goals 🎨 Ethically collaborating with artists 💰 Implementing fair fee structures 🤝 Facilitating inclusive processes 🌍 Strategically distributing art This guide has best practices for building strong, respectful collaborations between organizations and (visual) artists. Remember, the arts are vital tools for organizing, living with joy, and imagining freedom. 👉 Download the PDF using the link below. #Artivism #Collaboration #CulturalStrategy #VisualArtists #ForwardTogether #Advocacy #MovementBuilding

When it comes to working on images, do you ever switch between colour and grayscale? I find it helpful to see how clear the image will be when using lots of color or detail. This is a speculative piece on "future-proofing" our societies. #illustration #editorialillustration #publishing #sustainability #news #politics #digitalart #creativeagency

Launching a new product is somewhat terrifying! But we did it!! We believe so strongly in Voiced Memories and how it can help preserve the photos, capture the stories behind the photos, and inject humor, historical content, and emotion. We have created a page to share how Voiced Memories specifically helps older adults. Did you know that we start having memory issues as early as 50! Start capturing the details today! Create your first gallery for FREE! Learn more by visiting our introductory page. https://lnkd.in/gHUT4bBK

Meet the Maker - an artistic blog post! “Meet the Maker” is a theme which is common around the Internet; it is a chance for artists, crafters and artisans to tell their story and the inspiration for their handcrafted work. So I am sharing the tale of my creative journey and describing in more detail the world of mixed media. Here goes! https://lnkd.in/e4UHSRHA

When I was 27, I discovered I had a hidden talent for drawing. I'd never sketched or doodled as a kid, and I'd never taken an art class. They didn't even offer the most basic art class in my ultra-religious high school (a story for another time... 😜), so I really had no way of knowing I had any artistic leanings. Sure, I'd always been a writer (that's in my blood), but I didn't think of myself as "artistic" in the aesthetic sense of the word, and no one in my family really had those talents either, as far as I knew. So, when a friend invited me to join her at a local art class when I was 27, I expected to be the laughingstock of the class. Lo and behold, I unearthed a talent I had no clue was buried inside me. When I help my clients bring their inner magic to life, I'm not helping them all see they're actually mega talented musicians or artists (though that would be cool, huh?). What I am doing, though, is helping them understand and connect with the unique parts of them that are truly magical and transformative for *their* clients. Bringing that to life in a super impactful website allows them to connect that inner magic to their clients' inner magic — so they can help more people. It's a beautiful cycle I delight in kicking off 😊 (Pictured: One of my favorite drawings, of one of my favorite musicians of all time) #brandstrategy #innermagic #brandmagic #webdesign #drawing

Interesting read

📢 Call for Participants: Fixer°3 @ halftone collective, Toronto 📢 halftone collective invites QTBIPOC lens-based artists to participate as presenters for the third edition of Fixer, a gathering of image-makers, creatives, writers, and thinkers in an experiential critique session. Structured as an intimate, open dialogue between peers, Fixer brings together a group of lens-based artists presenting their works in the company of fellow artists and arts professionals. Critique and dialogue are integral components of Fixer; these sessions are built for feedback exchange to aid artists in the development of their projects and practice, to engage in collaborative assessments, and to sustain collective resource and knowledge-sharing while building community. Following the critique, the session culminates into a home-cooked feast prepared by halftone collective (Beau Gomez and Leila Fatemi). Fixer will be followed by a small-scale publication and a podcast episode, to archive the session and feature shared contributions on critique and the communal possibilities of image-making. Artists currently developing a project/body of work involving photography, film, video, and moving image who are interested in critique and feedback from a community of fellow creatives are encouraged to apply. Honorarium: $700 Deadline: July 7, 2024 https://ow.ly/Nk4450Shq1w 📸 Image 1: Courtesy of halftone collective [Image Description: Image 1) A filtered photograph of three people sitting and looking at artwork. The filter makes the image shades of peach and black.]