Must have: The Best Part Blog by Jason Dean "Art is my zen"

Jason Dean: http://thebestpart.myshopify.com/

It's like a big box full of artsy treasures: "The Best Part" is a daily commentary by artist, designer and blogger Jason Dean from Orlando, Florida.  With tradeyourtalent he speaks about looking at thousand of art images every day, taking chances and why he loves his job.

When did you start your design blog?

Technically I started it in 2008, but what I didn't realize at the time was that I've essentially been doing this my whole life. Even before the blog, I compulsively collected anything I found inspiring. I copied images from magazines and books, and downloaded imagery I came across from the web. Today the blog still follows this format, a collection of things I find inspiring.

Why "The Best Part"?"

The name basically refers to the idea that I'm collecting and publishing "The Best Parts" of what's out there on the internet. I look through thousands of images daily to find the things I find to be the most impressive. That's the concept anyway. The truth is that I hijacked the name from an album by one of my favorite hip-hop artists, New York's J-Live.

Do you have favorite designers?

Of course! I really admire people like James Victore and Stefan Sagmeister for having balls and taking chances. They could easily play it safe and make a living, but instead they consistently push the envelope. I'm also a huge fan of Josef Muller-Brockmann, his sense of composition and scale is just impeccable.

Where do you find "the best parts"?

Google Reader (and the RSS feed) is a godsend for me. Before that, I would individually visit between 50-100 blogs every day. At this point, I'm lucky enough to get quite a few amazing submissions. But I still spend an hour at the very least every single day going through my reader to find possible posts. It's my favorite part of what I do, simply looking at tons of work and finding inspiration. Looking at art is my zen, I guess.

What do you do besides blogging?

When I'm not working on the blog, I'm normally creating prints that I sell in my online shop (at thebestpart.myshopify.com). That's about it. It's probably a good thing that I have no children and my wife travels a lot for work, because they would probably feel a bit neglected. When I'm focused on my work I can be difficult to be around. It's like nothing else exists in the world. But I guess that's why I love what I do, I wish everyone could have that feeling about their job. The world would be amazing!

Jason Dean: http://thebestpart.myshopify.com/

Jason Dean: http://thebestpart.myshopify.com/

Interior designer Kate Pruitt "Insight and Courage"

Kate Pruitt is an artist and contributing editor to Design*Sponge, a daily website with 65,000 daily readers, dedicated to home and product design.  With tradeyourtalent she speaks about her passion for art history and how her perfect interior design would look like. Kate grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in California.

      Kate's DIY project: Notebook lunchbag 

   designspongeonline.com

How does the perfect home design look like for you?


I can't say I have a perfect home design, because my tastes are always changing and there are so many homes designs I love that are incredibly varied from one another. At this very moment, I would say my idea of a perfect home would be something semi-industrial, maybe a loft of some kind, with wood floors, a few brick walls, and a very open floor plan. I've enjoyed the time I've spent in my cozy 1920's apartment, but I am beginning to feel limited by the small rooms and the excessive decorative molding. As someone who loves to change things around and build different things, the perfect home design for me would be somewhat gallery-like. You could always be playing around with furniture, wall decor, and lighting, and large sculptural pieces would feel at home in the space. Throw in good natural light and a working fireplace somewhere, and that's heaven for me.

What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity to me is a combination of insight and courage. Coming up with an inventive idea is useless if you never do anything with it. It takes a certain fearlessness to experiment with new materials or follow through on a seemingly crazy idea. I think this drive is what fuels creative productivity, and I am constantly in awe of the courageous designers working in the field today.

Where do you get your inspiration?

 I am originally a painter by trade, so I like to look at art history, visit museums and galleries, and keep up with all the emerging artists who share their work online. I also find inspiration in all kinds of objects and materials, and I think it's really fun to go to a large hardware store, thrift shop, or art supply store and just examine everything. 

What kind of advice you would give to young artists, who are only starting out?

I would say two things. First, get yourself out there! The internet is the most amazing forum for getting yourself heard and your work seen, and it works very symbiotically. If your work is high quality and unique, it will naturally get the most buzz; good ideas are usually rewarded with good press. Second, presentation is EVERYTHING. We receive thousands of emails a day at Design*Sponge and we have to be tough editors. If we receive bad photos, or worse yet —no photos— we're probably going to pass on that submission. Be sure to get good images of your work—consider the lighting, the styling, everything—and be professional in your submission emails. Good images are your golden ticket to success in the world of design blogs.

 

Kate's uncommon valentine designspongeonline.com/

 

Kate's book strap side table  designspongeonline.com/

For more of Kate's work visit:katepruitt.blogspot.com

Street Art and Works on Paper: Interview with Sara Barnes

About the artist: Sara Barnes maintains the blog Brown Paper Bag about works on paper and much more that fosters creativity.

What inspired you to do your blog Brown Paper Bag?

I had been reading art blogs like Booooooom!, My Love For You is a Stampede of Horses, and Design for Mankind for a while and was inspired by the connection that these bloggers were making with artists and readers.  I enjoy writing, creating websites, and looking at art, so blogging seemed like the perfect outlet for me to express myself.  In school, I majored in illustration and always loved paintings and drawings, which is why my emphasis on works on paper. 
 

Why do you enjoy Street Art? Could you name your favorite Street Artists and why?

I grew up in suburban sprawl and was not exposed to street art until I moved to Baltimore, Maryland to attend college.  I love how street art is a response to the environment, often working with abandoned buildings or areas to create a dialogue between the city's inhabitants and the landscape.   I like Gaia, who does a lot of work around Baltimore - the style of the work is beautiful and to the average viewer, makes street art seem less about graffiti and destruction and something more beautiful.  I also really love the work of Zosen, a street artist whose bright colors and large scale murals really catch my eye.
 

If you could give young artists some advice, what would it be?

As cliche as it is, i think it is important to work hard and be self-aware.  Figure out what makes you happy in your work and do that.  Eventually you will find a way to make your passion work for you.  Also, don't be afraid to play and make mistakes!

www.brwnpaperbag.com