How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to? 
I seem to really like poppy, colorful paintings with a dark edge/meaning to them. But not always! I feel that I'm just beginning to find a direction for myself as an artist. I've always loved Esao Andrew's work and attention to detail.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
I strive to create artwork that is usable and/or wearable. After painting custom Vans full time for about 8 years, I started custom painting guitars. Painting canvases just hasn't been a part of my agenda.. yet, at least. 

When do you feel the most creative?
My routine of waking up in the morning, get a fresh pot of joe brewing, a nice big breakfast, then getting to work, makes me feel super motivated. Which I realize isn't very special.. but for me, it's as simple as an awesome breakfast with Dunkin Donuts coffee. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
I have some really talented friends that are going to school for art. I love seeing their work and picking their brain for advice. Seeing what my friends can do and hearing what they have to say about my work is inspiring to me. 

SHOP Bear Gallery at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
Brinko Ties goal is to take traditional ideas and make them new.  Our first product was a woman’s tie because we wanted to take the traditional men’s power accessory but alter it so that it was made just for a woman.  In terms of our men’s neckwear we focus on making our designs approachable by incorporating non traditional fabrics and prints. In both cases we want to appeal to those that desire to be unique and stand out from the crowd while honoring a classic approach to fashion.   We love working with unexpected textiles like cotton, tweed, linen, corduroy and wool to name a few.  We are not trying to reinvent the wheel but we do strive to give a fresh face to the ultimate power accessory with the idea in mind that ties can be worn in a variety of settings and beyond the men’s arena.  We have recently expanded to make bow ties for pets, kids, wine bottles and decanters.    The best part about the wine accessories is that they prevent wine drip!

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
What sets us apart is our focus on women’s ties.  The inspiration comes from Bethany’s grandmother, Maria Victoria Brinko.  She was a fashion designer and collector in New York in the 50’s and 60’s and would wear men’s ties with sparkling brooches on the knot.  We have taken that idea and made a tie just for a woman that goes on like a necklace and comes with a vintage brooch that you are able to pair with your tie if you like.  This provides you with a truly one of a kind accessory that speaks to your personal aesthetic. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
We are definitely inspired by vintage fashion where quality was king

What is your creative process like?
Bethany and I (Elizabeth) live on opposite coasts so the creative process is always an interesting and fun one.  In terms of communication it can be challenging working in two different time zones.  What is always exciting though is seeing the melding of both the east and west coast aesthetic into our designs, which combine for a unique and well rounded approach to our accessories.

Where can we learn more about you?  
You can learn more about us on our website at www.BrinkoTies.com or on our social media pages @brinkoties

PS - We desperately want to get a Brinko Tie on a teacup pig.  Anyone that helps us achieve that goal gets a prize! :D

SHOP Brinko Ties at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
Mid century modern furniture was a big first inspiration. A friend would hunt down and buy Eames furniture and I became mildly obsessed with their design work  From there I moved to architecture and was amazed by how simple clean lines could create in an amazing environment, which is not unlike some of the formal results of my patterns and weavings.  Home décor, my focus now, pulls from all these disciplines (architecture, furniture design, graphic design) in an effort to really convey an experience in a space. 

 What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
I worked as a visual merchandiser for over 10 years and the best creative tip that I have ever received is:

“If you feel like something is not quite right with what you’re working on, like you’ve over-worked it or can’t find the solution to a piece - walk away and come back with fresh eyes”

I know it may seem like an obvious one, but this has been the most helpful.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
As a designer who practices shibori, even though I employ techniques traditional to creating dye patterns, each has a distinctive fingerprint. This identity of this fingerprint comes from a shibori dyer's method, how we tend to our vat, and the different touches we put in our hand-dyed process. Every piece is different from the last.

Since everything I produce is handmade, I like to imagine the finished work is a personal art piece made for a new friend or a colleague's home, and if it’s in their home – that’s a pretty intimate thing. And what’s more personal than sharing something you've made with your hands?

When do you feel the most creative?
When I'm not under a deadline! I think I make my most exciting work when I'm playing, and you need that freedom to play to really push outside of habit and routine. Anything to shake up expectations. Before I know it, the projects I  work on without creative or time constraints end up being some of the most satisfying.

SHOP Juniper and Fir at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

How would you describe your style?
Playful.  Organic.  Accessible.

Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
I actually admire ANYONE who is creating, designing or making art in any way. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
My kids. My fish. My kitchen and backyard. I try to remember to find inspiration in the mundane and everyday because that's what I'm experiencing a majority of the time.  Like when my youngest son, Rex was born and I had three kids under five and what felt like no time to shower and I would just sit on the  floor to watch the fish when I had five minutes to myself. It became as close to entertainment slash meditation that I got. And I became obsessed with and couldn't stop talking about my Frisky Fish. That essentially became my inspiration for my line of essential oils. 

When do you feel the most creative? 
After two glasses of wine…. No, actually it's random and that's why I scribble lists, notes, and ideas everywhere...on my phone, post-it's, my notebook, my hand. And then eventually one of those random words and ideas turns into something. 

What is your creative process like?
Experimental. Organic. Collaborative. 

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
I'm completely paraphrasing something someone said a few years ago:
Just put it out there. Get your work an ideas out into the world. Don't wait for it to be perfect. I think the ACTUAL phrase was "just get shit out there".  The sentiment really stuck with me.  

Where can we learn more about you?  
Www.friskyfishla.com
Or come visit me at my booth at Jackalope Arts.  I look forward to chatting with you!

SHOP Frisky Fish at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Meet Lauren Wilde, of Wilde Animals.  

How would you describe your style?  

I create Wilde Animals, which are realistic animal head sculptures made from all vegan materials that add a thoughtful charm to any wall. I choose to create animals that are endangered or vulnerable species to raise awareness and education for these animals and their habitats. 15% of every animal head purchase is donated to an organization specifically helping that animal. Wilde Animals partners with some amazing organizations doing great things for endangered animals all over the world. I hand make every single Wilde Animal head. I sculpt each animal once and create a durable mold. Then I can run the materials through the mold as many times as I need and paint each new head.  

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 

There's lots of great and creative faux taxidermy out there. What makes Wilde Animals unique is our commitment to realism - I believe that something amazing and powerful happens when we see these animals as they really are, both in terms of us understanding their beauty and importance as well as realizing how unacceptable it is that they might soon be extinct from our earth. My hope is that through this realism all who see a Wilde Animal connect with these endangered and vulnerable species in hopes of raising awareness for these animals and their habitats. 

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?

I get inspired by unique and strange "ugly" species. Everyone loves the cute, furry animals (me included!) but I like to give some attention to endangered species who might not always have the spotlight, like the pangolin, California condor, pygmy hippo- I like giving all species equal love and attention. I try to feature animals from all eco-systems and from all around the world. 

When do you feel the most creative?

I feel most creative when I am in my studio getting my hands dirty and making these animal heads. Every head is a little bit different- a different frame, a different plaque, and slightly different paint scheme- so I'm constantly staying creative. 

What is your creative process like?

My creative process: I research and learn about different endangered animals, and I find animals that I feel would be a great contribution to the Wilde Animals line. After I decide on an animal, I collect as many photos and data of the animal as I can so that I can create a realistic and proportional animal head. I use clay and sculpt the head, and then take a mold of that sculpt. Then I use expandable flexible foams and can run as many heads as I need out of that mold. Then I hand paint each head, apply any fur or whiskers and eyeballs, then mount it on a frame or plaque ready to hang!

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?

Coolest artistic tip I've gotten: Starting a business is extremely difficult, and someone once told me "If you are scared, then you are doing the right thing" and it has really stuck with me through this process. It can be very scary and overwhelming to put your art out there for people to buy, and there are so many times during the process of creating Wilde Animals where I could have stopped or second guessed all my decisions. But instead, I stuck with it and pushed on and also aspired to the highest and greatest goals, and I often think about that saying as it help push me. 

Where can we learn more about you?  

You can learn more about Wilde Animals and see the animal heads on our website-www.wildeanimals.com. Currently through Wilde Animals, we are doing a "Go Wilde Challenge" where once a week I introduce one small lifestyle change you can make to your life that will greatly impact these animals lives and habitats. I introduce one small change to my own life once a week for a whole year, and I document and teach people about the change, and encourage others to take the challenges with me. Each Wednesday we put up the new challenge on our blog (www.wildeanimals.com/blog) and also on our Facebook and Instagram. The most challenging one for me personally so far this year has been to stop using plastic straws. It's unbelievable how many plastic straws America goes through in one day, and most end up in the ocean and on our beaches. I invested in reusable straws that I clean every night to carry around with me instead of using plastic straws. So check out the challenge- the more we know, the bigger impact we can create. 

SHOP Wilde Animals at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Meet Coldwarer Canyon Provision.

Coldwater Canyon Provisions hand crafts jams, jellies, pickles, relishes & chutneys using family, heirloom and unique recipes, with the finest California pesticide-free or Certified Organic produce sourced from family farms. Products are always all Vegan, gluten free, and use Kosher ingredients.

"When we prepare our jams and jellies, we enjoy letting the fruit speak for itself.  We only rarely add spices or herbs to our jams, jellies and marmalades, after all, California produce is awesome!  We find the best California produce we can find at the farmers markets so we let the fruit sing, rather than covering it up with other ingredients.   Perhaps you could describe our style as "California rustic??"  Or maybe or style is "Good Old Grandma's??"  

Coldwater Canyon Provisions is based in North Hollywood run by Rondo Mieczkowski who grew up in the Midwest. His Polish family canned just about everything they could.  The company was born after Rondo’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Jam won Best In Show for all jams and jellies at the California State Fair.

"Most of the recipes I use are originally my Grandma's, who lived up on farms in Poland, Canada and Michigan.  Again, if you have a wonderful batch of fresh raspberries or peaches, no need to gild them up with other flavors....let the fruit taste be clear."

Coldwater Canyon Provisions has won a National Good Food Award medal and been featured in various media including Bon Appetit and "Top Ten L.A. Artisan Food Makers," L.A. Weekly and "20 LA Food Artisans You Need To Know," Zagat.com 

"Now our pickles and chutneys (also Grandma's recipes) are where we excel with spices added to the fruit and or vegetables.  We also feature "old school" kinds of pickles, like Pickled Watermelon Rind and Bread and Butter Pickles, things that families regularly used to can and put up, but you can't find nowadays in grocery stores."

"We take advantage of California and its ability to grow such a variety of produce.  Our fruit is only from California including growers we have found who grow mangos, guavas, jalapenos and the Baba Raspberry, a variety that is native to Southern California, discovered in the mountains in 1979.  We continually are learning and finding out new varieties and passing on the successes to our customers."

SHOP Coldwater Canyon Provisions at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?
My personal style is minimal in color but exaggerated in silhouette. I love mixing layers, textures, and neutrals. My wardrobe often becomes a blank canvas for my jewelry to really stand out. I admire the confidence and strength in vision that designers, Mary Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen have for their work with The Row, and the impeccable design sensibilities of Kym Ellery for her namesake brand, Ellery.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own?
My work is my own simply because it comes from me and my experiences. There's a quality to everything I create that comes from within. When I start to feel lost in the sea of amazing jewelry designers out there, I look to my own center of gravity and find my inspiration again. This act turns good designers into artists. In this way, we're all sharing our own unique messages.  

When do you feel the most creative?
I feel the most creative about 2 seconds after I wake up in the morning, but that creativity is somewhat fleeting. Around my second cup of coffee the juices really start flowing. I also feel creative at the height of boredom. My best ideas come when my mind is clear and free of stress, which is often times at the most random moments. I have a notepad handy at all times to jot down my musings before starting on new wax designs. 

What's the coolest artistic tip you've ever received?
My dear friend and fellow artist, Joy Smith of Communion by Joy shared this notion with me, "there could be a million designers out there, but there is only one you." Such a simple, yet powerful concept that can be so easily forgotten. 

Where can we learn more about you?
My website! www.androgynydesign.com

SHOP Androgyny at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
We think what makes Post Studio unique is that we started by designing simply for ourselves, and we live with, and use all of our products first. We design and make everything by hand, and a lot of energy and love go into everything we create. Color and pattern are key elements in our design sensibility - a blend of mid century modern, op-art, and what we have come to call "California Pop". 

What sort of things inspire you and where do you look for inspiration?
We are inspired by travel. We've been lucky enough to go to some great places like Stockholm, Tokyo and Paris, and each place has sparked inspiration in us. We love catching glimpses into how people in different cities live - what sorts of design trends and color palates are unique to each place, and how people create their own living spaces. Travel also reinvigorates us; when we come home we are always ready to get back to work!

What is your creative process like?
Our creative process is very collaborative and we find that the funnest part is playing with the color palette: we try out a few different arrangements, print each out, and hang them in our apartment and live with them for a few days. Once we're happy with the design, we go into production. We do everything ourselves, and together - we sand and prep the wood, mount the prints, and then mix up resin to finish each piece. It's a meticulous process but it's gratifying to see our designs come to fruition from a concept to a completed work of art.

Where can we learn more about you?  
You can follow us on Instagram @Post_Studio for a glimpse into our creative process, what we're working on, and for pics of things that inspire us. You can go to our website - www.postispost.com - to see our products, a list of stockists, and our Press page where you can check out where we've been featured. Of course, you can come to Jackalope Arts and talk to us in person! We'd love to meet you!

SHOP Post Studio at our upcoming Jackalope Art & Craft Fair at Central Park in Pasadena CA on April 25th & 26th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Fashionista - 2nd place winner in Digital Media Arts in the Ventura County Fairgrounds Professional Arts Division Competition - Juried Art Show 2011. Framed Lustre Print - 18" x 24" Runner up of 4 - 2011 Chicago Fringe Festival Poster Design Contest. Featured in  "Art Takes Times Square" - Coffee Table Book - Premier showcase for international contemporary art

Today we're excited to introduce the designer behind our Jackalope logo, and give you a peek into his style, process, and inspirations.  Meet Jonny Blackburn!  

How would you describe your style?  Are there any artists / designers that you particularly look up to?

My works are a mixture and marriage of the all the mediums that I love. Blending the traditional technique where I’m mixing my own colors combining airbrushing and paint strokes capturing them digitally. Sometimes I will take a print and put that on canvas and layer it with random brushstrokes then reuse that random style in a digital medium. This makes for some extremely interesting mixtures and compositions. The coolest things come out that even I didn’t expect. My deigns combined photography, custom Photoshop brush design blending and implementing traditional painting, pop-art, mixed media and street art mediums that are transformed to create colorful, wild and vivid collage-style expressions.

Artists/Designers that inspire me: Blek le rat / Miss Van / Kubiki / Kris Kuksi / Jeff Soto / Todd Schorr / Mark Ryden / WOHA Archetects / Mr. Bungle / Tom Waits

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 

With my art tending to lend itself to a menagerie of "collage-esque" stylings that can be somewhat abstract, There is a method to my madness that is seemingly my own. One which uses many facets of development to create a final piece such as: the fluids used to mix certain paints and inks (Water from the San fransisco bay/ rain water / glues / beer & liquor to name a few) - I sometimes use these elements into physical paintings alone... or will airbrush/splatter them to photograph them for digital application into my works along with other mixed media stylings. I really don't like to think to much about the process.. thinking is too self-aware.. I like to be somewhere in between the "real self/unconscious" and some formulaic active thought.

Ringmaster

What is the most challenging part about being a mixed media artist?

Other than Open Competitions, I can't say just where challenge has been a huge struggle art-wise. Challenge is what it takes to put a smile on everyday amidst all kinds of adversity. Challenge is life. Challenge should be a normal instinct that pushes you forward to create and be diverse without questioning how "hard" things may be. 

As for competitive entries/ judged galleries.. winning or being noticed is usually what the judges art preferences are in the "mixed Media" category. Most people tend to not fully see or want to read long descriptors in how a piece was made, or the 100's of different elements are created... what medium was used, how it was applied.. and so on. 

Am I commercial artist? What’s mixed media? I really enjoy fitting snugly in this gray area undefined.. or help create a new idea of what "mixed media is... and can be" Some mystery is always notable. 


What do you wish you knew about mixed media before you got started?

Since the name alone.. "Mixed Media' sounds so ambiguous, processing my feelings for the category is like making love with a meat-grinder... or watching a plumber work in a tutu.. i just doesn't work for me. I had hoped if any that I would have known it's much more than a few words. It's more like Heavy Experimental Trans-formative stylized thoughts in some beautifully arranged vision held in time. *Heavy Laughter!

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?

Microcosms. Asymmetry. My wife Brianna and my neurotically excitable pooch Darla "Peanut" Blackburn. Things that push the boundaries in what the art world wants to pigeonhole or categorize. Wild and exotic things, Vivid Color & Expression. Music. Laughter. That perfect dusk atmosphere right before the sun will set. The Avant Garde. I enjoy rule-breaking the conventional art barriers. Never compromise yourself.  Find your own path and explore down the rabbit hole.

What do you believe is a key element in creating a good composition?

Color, or lack of thereof.. Nothing specifically has to be form-fitting. Act as if your work can reflect the sound of your synapses firing... as if under some serious miss-fire. Like fusion-Jazz on an acid trip. Sometimes, it's just as good as the sound of silence holding your breath underwater near a waterfall.

When do you feel the most creative?

No distraction, complete isolation, Whiskey and quite possibly listening to Tomahawk's - Anonymous Album "Mescal Rite" "Song of Victory" or "Totem" :)

What is your creative process like?

With some formula at first (Ideas to start a base/form to build off of)... then a decent into abstract madness, followed by bout's of laughter and disbelief. Paint will fly, photos will be taken, but the revolution will not be televised indefinitely.

Medusa - Original 1st Print on Giclee Stretched Canvas / Gallery style / wire-Hung.  2nd Place Winner / Mixed Media - VC Country Fair Professional Arts Dept.

Where can we learn more about you?  

You can find my Visual Art & Portfolio @
jonblackburn.sqsp.com
OR
darklineink.com (Webdesign/UX design)

“My reality needs imagination like a bulb needs a socket. My imagination needs reality like a blind man needs a cane.
”

— Tom Waits