Becoming a Minted Artist

“Benevolent Ceramics” Collection

This year seems to be the year of entering contests.

And getting used to school drop-offs and pickups.

And finding time and ways to keep this art thing/practice/business going.

I submitted the above 5 works as part of the Pairs and Sets contest held by Minted - a US based art and design marketplace that sources art from independent artists like me. They have a global design community of talented artists and designers that take part in challenges or contests. When you submit your designs to the contest, they are then voted on by the design community and some are also chosen by the editor to be part of the new collection. It's free to take part in and a great experience to see other artists work, especially fellow artists and designers that you admire.

I have been wanting to draw teapots, cups, mugs and other pottery/ ceramic / earthenware things for a while now, but didn't really know why. At the time that this contest was open, I was also taking Victoria Johnson's 5 week 'Create Collections' course that was focused on birds, blooms and butterflies. You can see some of my course work on my instagram account. And I have to credit that course with giving me the confidence to work with color and subjects that I love. It helped me when I created the works above. It is a great course, and very good for the analytical artist and designers out there that love good explanations that really sink in. Victoria Johnson's work is stunning and I am a huge fan, if you see her painting and creating on her instagram account @victoriajohnsondesign , you will see a true artist at work. I feel I learn so much just by watching her videos!

Of the 5 works from above, can you guess which two were selected by the Editors at Minted that qualified me to become a Minted artist? Maybe the title of this post gives you a hint.....? It was a & d ! How did you go? What would you have chosen?

I have since reworked the 'Giving Bowl' and added a 'Generosity Jug'. I think I will also work on a vase, a smaller teapot and cups and try working with patterned surfaces like in the teapot sketches above. Using hand drawn elements, procreate and photoshop. They will become a collection of vignettes with vivid imagery focused on the benevolent, good-willed nature of simple things. And exclusive to my newly opened Minted shop:

https://www.minted.com/store/o/dyabeygoda

A nice thing I am learning about Minted, besides their beautiful modern aesthetic, is how they are committed to more sustainable practices for the long haul, which is always a concern when it comes to paper products. They work with paper suppliers like Mohawk that source FSC ( 'Forest Stewardship Council' ) certified premium papers and whose production is being shifted to carbon neutral through wind powered Renewable Energy Credits. They are also using some interesting materials like recycled coffee bags, recycled water bottles, corn and potato-based materials for more sustainable packaging. I think they are still at the beginning stages of all this, but it is definitely a good thing!