๐The happiness issue
An edition to spark joyful and creative thoughts into your week
๐ Dear creative. How are you doing today?
It's Monday! If joy is not the fuel of this day, well, then mindfully infuse that joy!
A happy issue? Really?
Yes, itโs hot from the idea bank this morning. I thought it would be nice to share some good vibes with your inbox today. May you enjoy some happy intentions in your day, whatever the day holds for you. I know some of you may be receiving this late or early, well, whenever you receive it, stack that happy feeling into this moment.
Creativity is many things, and to me, it's a state of being. Our feelings matter, our relaxed mind matters, and certainly, our capacity to co-create matters. We are not carrying out this big mission: to bring color, form, ideas, stories, and more, alone. So whatever task lies ahead of you, and however you feel about it, may a feel-good vibe carry you as you create. You know how magical that state can be.
๐Mindful decisions:
โ๏ธ Joy in your ears
Sometimes, all it takes is changing what you're thinking in the moment, and you do have the power to do that. It's not easy, but it's still in your hands. So hit play on that song and shift your energy!โ๏ธ See the good in all situations
It happens, you receive a โno,โ get unexpected news, or face a situation that doesn't look good, and you start losing hope over how things will unfold... Why not hit pause right there, just for a moment, and reframe that situation?Turn that โnoโ into an โitโs all goodโ moment. Your โyesโ is on the way!
Find one good thing you can celebrate as a win.
โ๏ธ Celebrate your latest piece and give yourself a tap on the back
We know that some pieces take so much time to come out into reality, so when you succeed in finishing that milestone, managing to finish that illustration, chapter, or series turns out to be a big deal. For those who believe in progress as a currency, it's all about ''it feels good, it is ready.'' So go ahead, give yourself a well-earned pat on the back and get excited for your next round of creative ventures!
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
Mahatma Gandhi
โ Grab some tea or coffee, and letโs go!
Oh! Artist: A selection of a happy trio
Creative awe
Spark that joy
โฆ Did you miss the last post? We had a new list of opportunities to seize.
๐จ 3 happy artists to spark joy
โฆ Olimpia Zagnolli: simple lines that entice play
I spoke about Olimpiaโs work a few years ago, and when I thought of a happy piece, she came to mind for her ability to invite playfulness through simple yet bold lines. Her use of color is also inspiring, bringing contrast and surprising with strong, unexpected color combinations.
Her collective work carries an identity of joy and play. It has become her illustrator DNA, showing us how, through geometry and organic forms, stories can be told to make people pause, smile, and feel tickled. Her characters have that quality; they express so much with just a few lines. Additionally, she doesnโt limit herself to 2D, she plays with volume as well.
Barilla series is a packaging for Barilla Spaghetti, Spaghettini, Spaghettoni, and Capellini.
โฆ JP Mika: capture happiness and joy
I visited the exhibition Beautรฉ Congo a few years ago, and I recall how colorful and detailed it was. It truly teleported youโnot just to a culture of joy, but to something deeper. African patterns and Congolese daily activities take on a new angle through the work of a collective of artists whose mission is to celebrate Congo and its people: their fashion, food, bonds, and togetherness. Recently, I saw it again in my doctorโs waiting room. I had never paid much attention to it before, until it suddenly hit me: โOh, itโs Beautรฉ Congo.โ I have to admit, it was hidden behind two gigantic plants. It was such a great exhibition, and the work by JP Mika truly embodies the spirit of joy that we claim, pursue, and celebrate.
JP Mikaโs work is rich, and in many ways, it is an invitation to create art that transcends feeling. He calls himself a universal art painter, and when you scroll through his work, you witness how he plays with perception and composition while remaining genuine and sincere in joyfully portraying people in action. A universal feeling of life captured on canvas with such power is rare. Enjoy!
Kiese Na Kiese, 2014 (Le Bonheur et la Joie) was chosen as the main poster for the exhibition โโCongo Kitokoโโ at the Cartier Foundation in Paris in 2015.
โฆ Ettore Sottsass: Order and structure can play
There are design pieces that can bring you joy, often not far from within your own home. Just take a look around your house and at the objects you have purchased or gatheredโthey each have a story, a personality that can easily bring a smile to your face.
I donโt own a piece by Ettore Sottsass, yet I thought of him in my list of happy artists because his work and his playful geometric combinations truly spark and intrigue. They invite you to see with a childlike eye again. Those colors, those shapes, and how they form figuresโฆ He is among those furniture and product designers who bring character to everyday objects. It must be such a delight to take your 2D art and transpose it into volume at such a scaleโdecor!
Tahiti is an ironic zoomorphic lamp that mimics a toy: the head contains a light bulb, ideal for brightening a table. Designed by Ettore Sottsass, 1981.
๐คฉ Creative awe
๐บ Can we talk about Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz? (I binge-watched their feel-good action movie this weekend, and it was so funny. What a great duo, they nailed that chemistry. The overall plot was spot on, and I loved the British flair and the fighting scenes! The young spy boy is a future icon: I quote the line: โI am here to save you.โ)
๐ท Italia Grace is created one post at a time (Follow my build-in-public graphic novel. I started a few weeks ago to share this concept and unfold the characters and scenes. Itโs in the momentโI donโt put pressure or deadlines on the project. All I know is that it brings me joy to discover what to draw and capture next.)
โ๏ธ Your coffee table can be a treat (I discovered Kamber Carroll a few months ago and instantly loved his coffee tables in volume. These interior decoration pieces bring surprise and cheerful moments to any room. PS: he was a graphic designer before diving into creating things that bring joy.)
๐คฉ Spark some joy into your workflow
These Tiny Desk concerts are little bubbles of joy, featuring artists from a rich variety of styles and levels of stardom. I started with Babyface (well, my mom asked for him), then we moved on to some Chaka Khan (age with creative fire), even infused a bit of rock with Stereophonic, and added jazz power from the Baylor Project. All these tiny revelations led me to a real coup de cลur for Bad Bunny. At some point, I was already thinking-wishing about how to attend one in Paris, the US, Japan...
And then, a magical moment came, I saw this gift of love: Fujii Kaze. I discovered him through this concert, and from now on, I know heโll stay in my playlist, reviving joy at appointed times. His message about overflowing is profound, yet so accessible!
Love is not something you should ask for. Love is something you already have, the more you give, you share, you release, the more it overflows.
Fujii Kaze
Creativity is in every little curious experimentation.
Congrats, you made it to the end! Thank you for reading.
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Take good care!
Keva.
Oooh, thanks for sharing your happy artists. I love being introduced to new artists. And Tiny Desks are the best- I watch that when I need a boost.