 Local print startup features Artists First STLPassion Incarnate sells art prints and apparel designed by a team of St. Louis artists with the goal of giving back to the community. The project is organized and run by Lucky Almazar, a photographer and videographer. The first prints will be available in May with 20% of all purchases going back to Artists First. Passion Incarnate will continue to donate to Artists First through June, July, and August giving back 10% of all purchases to Artists First.  Through the sale of each item, a donation is made to an organization supporting either arts education or the accessibility of art to undeserved populations, such as individuals struggling with homeless or living with a disability. “Art is a source of inspiration, motivation, self-discovery, not only for the artist but for the observer as well. It is with this thought in mind that the company began; the deep appreciation for art and wanting to help those in need.” - Lucky Passion Incarnate has chosen to feature Artists First STL as their first organization to sponsor.
0 Comments
 David FishmanAfter exploring a variety of mediums at Artists First, David found his niche with water color paints. His paintings range in size from 6" x 6" up to 30" x 40". He has an impressive amount of art! This post highlights just a few of the sizes that he's most recently worked in. 14" x 16" watercolor on watercolor paper14" x 18" water color sketches on paper
   Steven McGee“I like being at Artists First. I get to do lots of fun art and spend my day drawing. That’s exciting to do and makes me feel good.” FacesFiguresWork In Progress We reached out to St. Louis artists to find out how the arts community is holding on to creativity during the COVID- 19 crisis. Local artists responded to the following questions, How are you staying creative during COVID-19 ? St. Louis Artists          Thank you for sharing your creativity and inspiration with us!
|
 Style |  |
Logan is an avid arts learner. “When I’m not doing art I’m usually studying art, by watching other artists do their art on youtube, different pencils, marker styles, learning about materials.” He doesn’t follow any certain style and is instead always looking to try new techniques. He absorbs new styles and techniques quickly.
 |  |
Logan describes his drawings as a mix of art styles. Other people often describe his work as anime, cartoon, or comic style. He’s focuses most of work on drawing, but is open to trying new things especially when he’s in a class or doing a special project.
Special Projects
In school, Logan’s taken several types of art classes. In class, he’s explored many mediums outside his comfort zone of drawing. By the looks of it ( see dragon above), it appears to be quite a success. The dragon sculpture he made is by far one of the largest and most intricate creations out of his whole class. When I asked him how he came up for the idea of his sculpture, he explained that he just worked session by session with no plan other than making a dragon. Over time, the sculpture evolved purely from his imagination.
Logan’s most recent project is a new piece for a national art contest that brings people of disabilities together.
The Process
“Whatever pops into my mind I do.” Logan doesn’t draw in a series unless it happens naturally. Because he’s always learning new things, he tends not to go through art phases. If anything, he cycles between using new types of materials and drawing techniques. Logan finds his inspiration from looking at other pieces of art and seeing if he can do learn to something similar.
“ I have to be in the right mood to create.” Still, Logan draws almost everyday. His whole creation process is fluid. He completely trusts that as he adds to a work in progress, that his next idea will naturally evolve from the first one. “I will add stuff to it and go back and forth between creating something and then getting inspiration off of what I’d done. ” Sometimes his drawings take several months, but that’s only if long breaks are needed, as he waits for stuff to “pop up.”
“ I have to be in the right mood to create.” Still, Logan draws almost everyday. His whole creation process is fluid. He completely trusts that as he adds to a work in progress, that his next idea will naturally evolve from the first one. “I will add stuff to it and go back and forth between creating something and then getting inspiration off of what I’d done. ” Sometimes his drawings take several months, but that’s only if long breaks are needed, as he waits for stuff to “pop up.”
Future Plans
In the future Logan plans to continue to learn more about art, especially new mediums like painting. Although drawing is mostly something he does for fun, he’s very committed to continue his development as an artist. He believes he will always be an artist. He’s wondered a lot about a career in art, but isn’t really sure how to make it happen. As a child he always wanted to grow up to be an artist and wherever he went, carried a notebook with him in case inspiration came at any time. Still to this day he always has a notebook and when he gets an idea does a small sketch to remember for another time.
“I’m just me, I do what I want to do and no one can change that.”
Dyron Williams stands in the Artist’s First studio holding a framed drawing
The Beginning
Dyron got into art when he made the simple choice to pick up a pencil and persist. In 2013 he started drawing without guidance or classes and by the end of the year was regularly cranking out characters, cartoons and comics with a consistent style and theme. When Dyron started out, he didn’t think he was very good but instead of moving onto another hobby he “just kept doing it anyway.”
Dyron got into art when he made the simple choice to pick up a pencil and persist. In 2013 he started drawing without guidance or classes and by the end of the year was regularly cranking out characters, cartoons and comics with a consistent style and theme. When Dyron started out, he didn’t think he was very good but instead of moving onto another hobby he “just kept doing it anyway.”
A framed colored cartoon drawing of “Anastasia” standing in three different poses.
Without close friends or family who are artists, Dyron worked to create what is completely his own personal vision of art. So far, he’s received nothing but appreciation for what he does from his proud friends and family. Shortly after he started out with drawing he was referred to the Artists First Studio. Aside from drawing, he enjoys his part time job at a hotel and free time filled with TV shows and video games, where he finds the inspiration for many of his characters.
To understand what Dyron is all about, you have to understand the significance of the game console. The console is not just an object, but representative of an entity and personality in of itself. He enjoys learning new information about a world he never had the opportunity to experience himself. Each console has its own meaning partially connected to the historical research on the first video games
To understand what Dyron is all about, you have to understand the significance of the game console. The console is not just an object, but representative of an entity and personality in of itself. He enjoys learning new information about a world he never had the opportunity to experience himself. Each console has its own meaning partially connected to the historical research on the first video games
 |  |
line drawings of different video game console, “Gameboy” , “Sega Genesis” , and “ Atari 2600 (1977)"
The comic strips Dyron creates are a combination of gaming components and the characters he creates. Sometimes the characters are shown in a traditional role with the game console, but often times they are interacting or representing the game console in unusual ways. The console is used as anything from a piece of furniture to a brand of clothing Dyron calls, “ Hero costumes.”
The comic strips Dyron creates are a combination of gaming components and the characters he creates. Sometimes the characters are shown in a traditional role with the game console, but often times they are interacting or representing the game console in unusual ways. The console is used as anything from a piece of furniture to a brand of clothing Dyron calls, “ Hero costumes.”
 (Left) (Right) A colored cartoon drawing of “ Cady Heron” sleeping on top of the game console. (Right) A colored cartoon drawing of “ Cady Heron” sleeping on top of the game console. |  |
Originally Dyron used characters from movies and games to create his cartoons, but now that his drawing has evolved, he tends to create most of them himself. Over the years he’s created over 30 characters which re-appear in multiple character books and series. Sometimes the characters talk to each other or interact by playing games.
Most of Dyron’s characters are shown with what’s similar to an imaginary version of a game console encyclopedia entry. The books contain a synthesized background history about each character and its role with gaming. Aside from drawing, he uses these same ideas to create sculptures and 3D gaming parts.
He’s currently working on his biggest project yet, “Super Gaming Heroes” with the goal of completing it by his next birthday, in April. He wishes to continue to make characters and to someday have his work published as a series of comics.
Most of Dyron’s characters are shown with what’s similar to an imaginary version of a game console encyclopedia entry. The books contain a synthesized background history about each character and its role with gaming. Aside from drawing, he uses these same ideas to create sculptures and 3D gaming parts.
He’s currently working on his biggest project yet, “Super Gaming Heroes” with the goal of completing it by his next birthday, in April. He wishes to continue to make characters and to someday have his work published as a series of comics.
Dyron holding his 3D art of a game
Inspiration
Dyron plans to, “Keep his art forever, until the next future.” He loves that his finished ideas are forever stored in his imagination cloud. He described this helpful daydreaming process where “the paper takes me up to the art cloud and there are sunflowers and wildflowers in the clouds, and then it will show me what I’ve made.”
His plans to practice drawing are simple but effective, “ I do art when it's time, when it's time, I will feel like it and then I will do it.” Dyron draws both at home and an Artist First. Aside from inspiration through gaming and TV shows he’s also interested in creating what he calls a “futuristic nature” with things like “mechanical trees growing antennas”. And perhaps the most important motivation we discussed here is Dyron’s search for the perfect art date who will be
taken aback and inspired by his creations as much as he is. We can all agree a personal drawing is absolutely the perfect gift for someone you’re trying to impress.
Dyron plans to, “Keep his art forever, until the next future.” He loves that his finished ideas are forever stored in his imagination cloud. He described this helpful daydreaming process where “the paper takes me up to the art cloud and there are sunflowers and wildflowers in the clouds, and then it will show me what I’ve made.”
His plans to practice drawing are simple but effective, “ I do art when it's time, when it's time, I will feel like it and then I will do it.” Dyron draws both at home and an Artist First. Aside from inspiration through gaming and TV shows he’s also interested in creating what he calls a “futuristic nature” with things like “mechanical trees growing antennas”. And perhaps the most important motivation we discussed here is Dyron’s search for the perfect art date who will be
taken aback and inspired by his creations as much as he is. We can all agree a personal drawing is absolutely the perfect gift for someone you’re trying to impress.
RSS Feed