Official blog of The Great Discontent.
@greatdiscontent
-
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, James 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 of the story. James’ prolific body of self-initiated work has led high-profile clients to knock on his door and, as a result, Singnalnoise 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.
-
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. Plus, we’ve included some amazing bonus content at the end—don’t miss it! Thank you FAILE for inspring us with your work and your story, and big thanks to our friend, Meryl, for making this happen!
-
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!
-
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.
-
We’re easily fans of Jacqui’s illustration and hand lettering work. Her style is unmistakable, boasting wonderful textures and a stunning use of color, and she’s really good at what she does—after all, she’s been illustrating for over ten years! As a child, Jacqui travelled with her family and spent her formative years in the Middle East. It was fun to hear stories about her early adventures, the culture shift she experienced when her family moved from Bahrain to Canada, and why she chose illustration. Now, as a teacher and working illustrator, Jacqui has the opportunity to give back by sharing knowledge and experience with her students—just as she has with us. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Jacqui!
-
![We were intrigued by Brian’s work at first glance and after a closer look, we were astounded by the care and remarkable attention to detail put into each piece. In fact, I [Tina] was so curious that I couldn’t help but throw the rules out the window during the interview and ask a few questions about process. In addition to a little shop talk, 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.
Read the interview](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ycc8bR9w1rsaukxo1_1280.jpg "http://blog.thegreatdiscontent.com/post/28409905799/brian-dettmer")
We were intrigued by Brian’s work at first glance and after a closer look, we were astounded by the care and remarkable attention to detail put into each piece. In fact, I [Tina] was so curious that I couldn’t help but throw the rules out the window during the interview and ask a few questions about process. In addition to a little shop talk, 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.
-
Chris knows what it takes to live and work as an illustrator in New York City—in his words, “It’s going to take a while, but if you really love it, you’ll figure out a way to do it.” And he has. His work combines nature, symbolism, and a dash of surreal imagery that we just 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. Honestly, and with great insight, Chris recounted his path from being a kid fresh out of college to finally finding his footing as a full-time freelance illustrator. And with wit and humor, he told stories about his “wax on, wax off” lesson, how a wicked knee injury became a catalyst for an illustration “aha” moment, and his foray into the wild, but wonderful, world of teaching. Thanks, Chris, and cheers to not having a Plan B.
