Artist Archives | Page 6 of 7 | The Great Discontent (TGD)

Cameron Russell

Artist, Entrepreneur, Model, Publisher, Recommended / By The Great Discontent

After a decade as a model, Cameron Russell wowed audiences with her candid TED Talk, “Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model.” In the talk, Cameron describes the legacy she has inherited as a model—more on that in the interview—but we wanted to talk to Cameron about the legacy she’s building. Growing up, Cameron was obsessed with politics, but as she got older and became more disillusioned with our political system, she opted for a grassroots approach. Now, she is leveraging the platform she has been given to help other’s voices be heard. Read on to learn about Cameron’s early path, her career as a model, the work she is most passionate about, and the inheritance she hopes to leave for generations to come. —Tina

James Victore

Artist, Designer, Educator / By The Great Discontent

When we met James Victore at his Williamsburg studio a few weeks ago, we knew it was going to be a special evening. And it was. Over the course of the night, James recounted his path with unflinching honesty, describing his parent’s early influence on him, the events that led him to New York with dreams of becoming the best poster designer ever, and how he found, lost, and regained his dharma. Now, in the midst of doing the most important work of his career, James is certain that his life’s work is no longer about him; nor is it about money, awards, or fame. What drives James is the simple, yet profound truth that, “Our work is a gift.” As you read the interview, it’s our sincere hope that James’ words will resonate with you. Because no matter what you do, you have a contribution to make, but it’s up to you to be courageous enough to believe it and audacious enough to act on it. —Tina

James White

Artist, Designer / By The Great Discontent

Want to know what initiative looks like? Read this interview with James White. He grew up in a small town where the schools didn’t offer art programs. Even so, he loved drawing from a very young age and explored his interest in art with encouragement from family. At 18, his high school guidance counselor gave him a brochure for a graphic design course and his life trajectory was forever changed. He studied graphic design and then moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to work at an agency—but that’s only the beginning. James’ prolific body of self-initiated work has led high-profile clients to knock on his door and Signalnoise Studio was born. James continues to push the boundaries of his work and challenges all of us to chase after what we love to do—because no one is going to do it for us. —Tina

FAILE

Artist / By The Great Discontent

On a beautiful Friday afternoon, we joined the urban art duo of Patrick Miller and Patrick McNeil at their Greenpoint, Brooklyn, studio for an interview. The pair, along with their team of assistants, were busily preparing for FAILE’s upcoming collaboration with the New York City Ballet. After touring the studio, admiring their work up close, and taking a few photographs, we sat down to talk with FAILE about their journey. Miller and McNeil—as we’ll call them in the interview—opened up about their paths as artists, how their work found its way onto the street, and the evolution of FAILE over the last 13 years. Thank you FAILE for inspring us with your work and your story, and big thanks to our friend, Meryl, for making this happen!

Sara Blake

Artist, Designer, Illustrator / By The Great Discontent

Simply put, we love Sara’s illustration work! Wanting to know more about the person behind the art, we reached out to Sara, who invited us to do an interview at her studio. There, we conversed about her path from growing up in Virginia to living and working in New York City, how she came to find such a distinct style of illustrating, the people who have impacted her the most along the way, and how she balances freelance work with a day job. In short, she works her ass off, which is her advice to all of us—we couldn’t agree more! Talent is an essential foundation, but the willingness to work hard and break a sweat is crucial to success. Thanks for reminding us of that, Sara! —Tina

Oliver Jeffers

Artist, Illustrator, Writer / By The Great Discontent

Prepare to enter the fantastical world of Oliver Jeffers, where, if you can imagine it, you can make it happen! Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Oliver knew from a young age that he wanted to be an artist, but what he didn’t know was how an accidental discovery of picture books would change the course of his life forever. Read on for the full story of Oliver’s journey from Ireland to New York City, where he now lives and works, the unforgettable characters he’s met, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. —Tina

Debbie Millman

Artist, Broadcaster, Designer, Educator, Writer / By The Great Discontent

Debbie has interviewed over 200 people for her podcast, Design Matters, and the opportunity to ask her the questions was exciting, albeit slightly intimidating. With 30 years of professional experience and a multitude of personal projects under her belt, Debbie is a force in the world of design, but there’s more to her story than her current successes. In fact, Debbie was generous in sharing about the years of rejection and despair that she experienced before finding her niche. Her stories and insights will challenge you, encourage you, and confirm that you’re not alone in your struggles. But in Debbie’s words, sometimes “the worst moments of our life can turn out to the best.” So go on, be brave, bold, and above all, keep trying. —Tina

Brian Dettmer

Artist / By The Great Discontent

We were intrigued by Brian’s work and after a closer look, we were astounded by the care and remarkable attention to detail put into each piece. In addition to a little shop talk about his process, Brian shared about what led him to wholeheartedly pursue fine arts, how he made the transition from having a day job into being a full-time artist, what he enjoys about living in Atlanta, and how he hopes to add to the conversation about the future of books. —Tina

Able & Julia Parris

Artist, Designer, Photographer / By The Great Discontent

Our first two-person interview is with the dynamic, multi-talented, and super energetic duo of Able and Julia Parris—or, as they call themselves, Team Parris! We couldn’t agree more; they really do make a great team. We had the privilege of hearing about their individual creative paths, how chance or fate intervened in bringing them together, what started their love affair with New York, and the lessons they’ve learned from challenges along the way. Thanks, Able and Julia, for inspiring us! —Tina

Chris Buzelli

Artist, Illustrator / By The Great Discontent

Chris’ work combines nature, symbolism, and a dash of surreal imagery that we can’t resist. When we talked, Chris was thoughtful and kind; he opened up about his journey as an artist that started with painting side by side with his grandfather. He recounted his path from being a kid fresh out of college to finally finding his footing as a full-time freelance illustrator, how a wicked knee injury became a catalyst for an illustration “Aha!” moment, and his foray into the wild, but wonderful, world of teaching. —Tina

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