INSPIRATION
ARTIN' WITH THE MUSE
I'M A FAN By Jennifer Love Gironda
A while back I stole Jessie’s copy of Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon.
I wasn’t sure at that time if I would spend the rest of the month creating a piece of fan art every day, but I knew that I wanted, no, I NEEDED to, create some fan art pieces, and so I did. I created ten pieces specific to this idea. It felt great to delve into the work, creating images of folks that I admire with nods to their styles; with each piece, I spent time thinking about what is was about the person that I admired and wanted to emulate my own work.
Well, she said I could borrow it, but that sounded much more dramatic and ironic. I read it. Then I read it again. One part of the book that really resonated with me was Chapter 8, “Be Nice (The World is a Small Town)”. Being nice is something that is really important to me and I have written about it myself here in Art Hive Magazine…and I will keep on addressing it because I believe it is important, especially among us art folks.
AMANDA LINTON
Co-owner of Ink and Pistons; Founder of Art Rock, Stitch Rock, Downtown Open Market & Retro Indie Market sugarcircus.com inkandpistons.com 26
FALL 2014
LISA PERZ Artist
comagirl.com
Write a fan letter, make a piece of fan art, or send an email to tell someone that you admire what they do, and don’t expect anything back.
LEA VENDETTA
Tattoo Artist, Painter, Model and Singer leaslounge.com
Here are a few of the pieces that I created with just a little bit about the people that I am enamored with. The full mush-fest is on my blog; grab a toothbrush, ‘cause they are sugary sweet!
More at jenniferlovegironda.com
TERESA KORBER
Painter and Founder of Art Nouveau Events
E.B. FROMKES
Painter, Mixed Media Artist and Advocate for those suffering from invisible, chronic illnesses erinfromkes.com
ART AND PHOTOS © JENNIFER LOVE GIIRONDA
When I read this chapter in the book, Kleon addressed writing fan letters, not so much looking for a nod or any type of response, but just for the sake of telling someone that you admire what they do. I was already nine pieces into my monthly series, stippled portraits inspired by the idea of decoration, when it all just clicked for me. I instantly thought of some local lady artists that I admire and how inspired and decorated my life is because of their work; I stopped in my tracks and decided I was going to do some fan art.
If you have time, I challenge you to be a FAN. Write a fan letter, make a piece of fan art, or send an email to tell someone that you admire what they do, and don’t expect anything back. It is liberating to just…gush - or it was for me at least.