Designing my Artist Persona
Every Internet Artist's Obsession
Where I share I’ve done, what I’ve learned and something I want to share with you.
What I’ve Done: Designing My Griot, Monihymn
At the foundation of my work, lies a creature that serves as both an artist's persona and the studio’s namesake. Monihymn maintains one foot in fantasy and the other in reality. On that fantastical level, they embody creation and craftsmanship. A Monihymn is a patron of discarded ideas and stewards over the things they create. One of their brush strokes would beget an entire timeline.
In reality, artist personas are so cool. Mononyms like “Solange” and “Prince” are excellent examples. Even with them, their lives, discographies, and pop culture build into this modern-day folklore. Monihymn’s design balances with music, hyper-organic shapes, and craftsmanship.
Strings felt like a strong visual element to bridge the gap between sound and physical creation. My vision gravitated towards how root-like nervous systems are. It felt like a direct visual metaphor for life and vivaciousness. Further emphasis on Monihymn's sonic nature could fall on the instruments used and the strings that make up their body. The floating hands became hand-wings to emphasize an otherworldly nature while carrying an overt symbol for craftsmanship. Pulling all of these elements together, Monihymn is supposed to balance something otherworldly and familiar— something human and manufactured.
Strings felt like a strong visual element to bridge sound and organic forms. Strings are the primary components for many instruments from lyres and koras to harpsichords to guitars. Strings also speak to plant roots and how our nervous systems branch throughout our bodies. The botanical works of Valerie Hammond felt like a good way of explaining what I was looking for. Her work along with the horror VFX you'd see in movies like Annihilation (2018) would be strong references for where I want to push Monihymn.
Craftsmanship was the second metaphor to build into Monihymn. Hands felt like an obvious visual choice that speaks to human creation.
Creation. Self-Destruction. Craftsmanship.
Pulling these elements together allows Monihymn to have both a human and an otherworldly edge. I think I’m getting closer to something final and honest to my vision.
I Learned: You Are What You Eat & People Will Watch You Chew
I came across this YouTube Short giving tips on finding your art style. It highlights this trial-and-error process to mimic the things you love. In learning anything, you start with references. You nurture a skill with trial and error, with tenacity. You find a process, fall in love and attempt to mimic what you enjoy. Taste sculpts style. The media we consume, how we understand it, and how it's shared marks our creative identities.
“You can generally do whatever the f*ck you want. I mean this sincerely and kindly. You get the work you do.”
One of my favorite essays about being a creative generalist came from a Designer and Writer, Carly Ayres. In "' she mentions her approach to client work and says, "People want to put you in a box. Let them. It’s less about you and what you’re capable of." For personally fulfilling work she states, "Beyond that, you can generally do whatever the f*ck you want. I mean this sincerely and kindly. You get the work you do."
Granted, our gifts and talents are not always tied to a career to hold meaning. I still feel like this is the time to take a chance on myself by developing portfolio and allowing my passions to flow into everything I do. This is all to say, [Muse Module] is designed to articulate the link between what I'm working on and the media I enjoy.
I Leave You With: Newly Published Poetry & Ways to Keep in Touch
As I work though my project backlog, I want to celebrate my poetry being published FIYAH Literary Magazine’s 26th Issue! If you would like to read some amazing speculative fiction then you can pick up an issue for $3.99.
Otherwise, you can catch the studio on our website, Instagram and Twitter.
Have a good one!