Hello and welcome! As an educator for the last 10 years, I feel strongly about personal growth and lifelong learning—values that feel especially important during times like these. While art may not always solve the issues we’re facing, it offers a meaningful way to reconnect with yourself, reflect, and grow. I make a conscious effort to explore new ways to grow as an artist through study, experimentation, and conversation. This month, let’s chat about how I’ve been learning through creative exploration, and then check out an interview with our Artist of the Month!
Every summer, I analyze my work and make a list of the things I want to work on. This year I am continuing from last year’s list and trying different approaches to tackle those goals. Just like learning any other topic or skill—like exercising for example—it’s good to diversify your routine! Otherwise you end up like Homer Simpson who only works out a single arm the entire episode. One of my favorite quotes is from fitness instructor Keaira LaShae “with challenge comes change” and I feel that it’s applicable to all areas in your life- for better or for worse, we learn when things get a little tough!
In June, I went to Birdcage Comics and Cafe to attend their monthly cosplay figure drawing class. I have a difficult time with drawing facial features when drawing from the imagination, so I made it my focus this time around (see below!). I also attended two beginners watercolor classes taught by our Artist of The Month, @selenescapes. I want to learn how to use this challenging medium to incorporate it as a base for my colored pencil and ballpoint pen works in order to work smarter not harder! They were excellent classes, getting to experiment with different types of watercolor paints and receiving one-on-one feedback was super helpful! Having a guided lesson with watercolors encouraged me to pursue it further. I spoke to my fellow art pals for tips and brand recommendations and some even let me try out their watercolor kits so I can compare and contrast them myself. It’s been exciting to learn a new medium that I can begin to incorporate into future pieces!
I have also been continuing to study from my favorite artists and doing the exercises in art books as mentioned last month (check out my studies below!). I also bought tickets for Lightbox Expo this year, which is a huge art convention in Los Angeles featuring artists currently or formerly working in the industry. I plan on attending their workshops and learning from the artists there to see what kind of work they are producing that helped them break into the industry. Lastly, I attended Scribble Squad’s art meetup, which is a super rad local art community! It was a great time getting to decompress and spend time with local art pals. I highly recommend checking out their community and maybe attending the Discord art hangouts or their in-person get togethers! Here’s hoping for a future potluck (I love potlucks :3).
Overall, artistic growth really comes from staying curious and trying new things—whether it's through classes, books, meetups, or just showing up with intention. My Intro to Colored Pencils class is returning in July at Birdcage Comics and Cafe in San Bernardino. If you’d like to learn or improve on a new skill, come check it out! Whether you're just starting out or looking for your sword to get longer, come say hi! :D
Upcoming Events:
Riverside Artwalk 7/3, Intro to Colored Pencils class at Birdcage Comics and Cafe in San Bernardino 7/10, Pop up at rad comic shop A Shop Called Quest in Redlands* (anticipated, more info will be posted on IG*) All events are in So Cal
Now lets take a moment to study from our…
Artist of the Month!
Artist Niniane Selene @selene_scapes and selenescapes.com
What do you like to draw/create?
I like to create whimsical paintings that intertwine people with the environment and imagination. I work with watercolor, ballpoint pen, colored pencil, and gouache to make colorful fantasy artwork.
What is your favorite drawing/work that you’ve done so far and why?
My favorite work that I’ve done so far is a unicorn in an enchanted forest [below]. I made this piece after visiting my hometown in Northern California during the spring bloom of trillium flowers in the redwood forest. I spent my childhood searching for fairies and playing games of runaway princesses in these forests and I wanted to capture that same feeling of magic I experienced in the painting.
Who or what are your biggest influences?
My list of influences throughout the years could go on and on, but when I think back to what sparked my interest in art early on, the work of Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone stands out to me. They were twin sister artists from the mid 1900’s who collaborated on stunning artwork depicting fairy tales and nursery rhymes. As a child I studied books of their artwork obsessively and attempted to imitate their techniques.
Do you listen to music as you work? Who are you listening to?
I listen to music and audiobooks while I work. Some music artists I have been enjoying are Tottomori, Them & I, and Adrianne Lenker. I’m currently reading Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, which is a very intense and thought provoking book. My all time favorite books that I reread every year are His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, The Graces by Laure Eve, and The Scholomance by Naomi Novik. Fiction plays a big role in my life and art practice. Imagining stories beyond reality is not only a means of entertainment, but an exercise in conceptualizing how we might transform the world we live in. I apply this to my art by focusing on painting uplifting themes that inspire interest in nature and the people around us, as I believe this will improve our collective lives.
What does art mean to you?
To me, art is my most honest form of communication. Through making art, I express how I see the world and what I care about. It is also a meditative practice that regulates my nervous system and fulfills my sense of purpose in life. I believe that the act of creating and consuming art is as innate to humans as breathing. We have a natural need to tell stories through paintings and writing and music. Art means everything to me.
….And that all folks! Thanks so much for coming by and taking time to learn a lil somethin! Despite everything going on, I hope you find strength in trying to better yourself as a person through the power of education. The arts really help us see the world in a more analytical and compassionate way. Books like Persepolis (a graphic memoir) and Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America (a nonfiction book I highly recommend!) explore themes of identity, immigration, and belonging—important topics that are especially relevant right now. If you're interested in more books that use art to explore social and educational issues, I shared a few in this past newsletter. Even if you're not usually drawn to big-brain books, strengthening your mind in creative areas can sharpen your critical thinking. Remember, knowledge is power!
If you would like to support our artist of the month, feel free to check out their IG and website! If you’d like to support this newsletter you can also check out my website or buy me a tiny tea!