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What I Like Right Now: Collages from Christa David

Recently, artist Christa David made the leap and decided to leave her job to pursue a career as a full-time artist. She shares about her new artist-life experiences and latest inspirations on her blog where she captures her excursions into gallery exhibitions and how she navigates her new found freedom.

When you finish catching up on her blog posts, pop over to her online shop and gallery and get a glimpse of her beautiful collages, prints, and paintings. I love her exploration of color, emotion, and layering of textures. 

I'm eyeing several of her collages for my own collection. These would make perfect holiday gifts, too.

Women Who Project: Nikki Farquharson

Women Who Project is a new interview series highlighting women of color we admire and who inspire us in art and design. Interviews are conducted by guest author, educator, and artist Tanekeya Word.

Born and based in London, UK, Nikki Farquharson is equal parts feminist and video gamer, digital and analog artist. Having specialized in graphic design, and earning a degree in 2008, she chose to focus on hand drawn patterned illustrations and typography. Her attention to detail is extraordinary and shows the magic of what can be achieved with rudimentary tools and skilled hands. Nikki has a list of notable clients Adidas, MAC Cosmetics, Malibu Rum, Benefit Cosmetics and Fujifilm.

Tell us the backstory, of how you arrived at creating a bespoke greeting card line?
For years I've been illustrating patterns to be applied to products for other people and clients. At the start of 2016, I decided to focus wholly on creating artwork for products for my own online store. Not just art prints which I already have experience in, but useable items such as stationery, colouring books and head wraps. All of these products (and more) are currently in the making, but I recently decided to prioritise greeting cards in order to bring these to my shop first.

How has this project brought you closer to becoming you?
There is so much liberation in being in absolute full control of what you create. I believe I have a distinct style, especially within a space where so much popular artwork within the industry is produced digitally, but it can still become diluted if it is heavily art-directed by the client. I've done lots of self-initiated projects in the past, but this is the first time I'm really taking it seriously and on a much larger scale. I really want to create a brand and business from the art that I have created from scratch with no dictation from others. There is such a freedom in that. Read more...

I've Curated November's GeenieBox!

So happy to share that I am the November Geenie for GeenieBox! GeenieBox is a new startup of monthly curated boxes by iconic black women. Each box features books, lifestyle products and exclusive experiences with the purpose of inspiring ambitious women to live richer, more rewarding lives. My November box theme is "Being You" - in keeping with the self-discovery and creativity work I have championed through my recent books, I Love My Hair and Becoming Me. Sign up 10pm EST on #CyberMonday (11/28) to receive my box and for a limited time only use promo code: ANDREA to receive 20% off! More info here.

 

Photo by Danielle Finney, illustrated interpretation by Kim Salt.

Eternally Amber Combs

Eternally Amber has a beautiful collection of mult-colored and pearlescent hand made combs that make styling hair look pretty. These make for perfect stocking stuffer gifts. I want all of them all!

Becoming Me: Houston

Becoming Me has taken me across the country from a library in Stamford Connecticut to a art making space in LA. And tomorrow I make my final book tour road trip stop at Texas Southern University in Houston. It's open to the public so if you're in the Houston area come by for a talk and signing. 

I refuse to feel powerless...

How are you all feeling?

I feel confused. Unaligned. And distracted.  

During this time it is easy to feel powerless, defeated, and anxious. And most of all fearful. But don't be distracted by the fear. 

I refuse to be fearful, I refuse to feel powerless. 

After we feel our feelings. After the shock and grief. After the dust settles a bit, I hope that we can take a moment to remember the light within us all to keep going, and to focus on what can be done. We can always be uplifting, we can organize and initiate. We can activate, we can create, we can speak, write, design, teach, demonstrate, listen, talk, help, hug, cry, pray, serve... 

There is always something we can do. Every single little action counts. 

So again, after the shock, after the grief please remember we are never powerless. We have the power to decide how to move forward: in fear or in love.

 

Becoming Me LA with Kaira Akita

I can't remember exactly how Kaira Akita (of the new podcast The Inspired Interim) and I met but when we did it was an instant creative connection. Our career paths are so different, she's an actress/producer and I'm an illustrator/author, yet we have found so many parallels in our experiences as we continue on this creative journey. LA, this Thursday we are so exited to share with you our story, some advice, the challenges, and triumphs at a special Becoming Me launch event. Join us for a an evening celebration in the beautiful loft-space at A Toast 2 Artistry in downtown LA. Click here for more details and tickets and hope to see you there.

*Event sponsored by A Toast 2 Artistry and The Inspired Interim.

Becoming Me Book Tour: Oakland

Oakland!!! Join printmaker, surface designer, and teacher Jen Hewett and I this Saturday for a discussion about entrepreneurship, creativity, and self-care. 

Copies of Becoming Me will be available for purchase, and I'll be hanging out to chat and sign.

Next stop after Oakland is LA. For more information about that event click here.

I hope to see you there!