Megscharm

zen and the art of playlist $12

Horseshoe crab’s uses a combination of cardboard, acyclic paint ans sharpie maskers to make these deliciously cute mix media eco illustrations. Most of heritems are under $20, and if you just want something small there are pieces that are just $3! (Perfect for a starving college student like myself.)

I had a great privilege to ask the owner or horseshoe crab a couple of questions:

Which piece is your favorite?

*glances around at all the paintings, pokes at her accordion*
Well, I don’t think it’s possible to have a favorite! Each piece is a friend who decided to make themselves known in paint. some of them let me know that they’d love to go traveling and poke at someone new while others decide to hang around with me.
It’s so hard to say who I love best, much like having three best friends simultaneously, or loving gnocchi and hijiki salad with equal passion. I have to admit that I really love my tributes to brooklyn. there’s something about realizing all the possibilities when you have so many people in one place – imagine the fun and good vibes if people wanted to play more. whenever I visit a city I arrive with so much love, and I pass it along in so many random creative ways. Every bit of love matters, and spreads like ripples on a pond. <3

Why the use of cardboard?

Well, a few years ago I was inspired by someone who could make just about anything out of cardboard. this was an artistic epiphany for me – realizing that one doesn’t need to have lots of money to purchase art supplies in order to make art that can be enjoyed beyond the secret pages of a notebook. And besides, cardboard is so fun to collect – it’s been everywhere! You can get Chinese vegetable boxes, bike wheel boxes, florist cartons.. you name it! you get to see where it’s been, who handled it before you – and then give it a new life! Cardboard dumpsters are fun to play in and no one will ever tell you that you can’t take your fill. Cardboard also has an amazing texture and personality – there’s a reason why cardboard boxes were my best friends when i was little! Secret submarine dinosaur cave space ship ahoy!

What is your favorite material to use?

I really love Sharpie Paint markers. I hadn’t expected the love affair to be so passionate and to last this long, but it’s true – they are truly amazing. When I’m feeling more patient and dreamy, I love my long handled acrylic paint brushes. I sit in a circle of cans of discount mis-tint paint and put on a good album. Music is by far the most sacred material included in any art I do & I often write the album or song I was listening to when a piece was painted. Mm.. Mice Parade.

What is your inspiration in making art?

My inner child said so. The conversation pretty much went like this:
Inner Child: Hey Amy, when was the last time you hung out with the T-Rex with the bowler hat? You guys have the same favorite flavor of ice cream and he knows where all the good tree forts are.
Me: Yeah, whatever. I like feeling like this.
Inner Child: *gets a wild look in her eye, picks up a stick* What? Boring and grown up? Come on! There’s adventure to be had! *gets distracted* Whoa! Did you see that bug?!
Me: *looks up from self-inflicted blankness* Wow.. that is a cool bug!
Inner Child: *grins wildly and rolls around on the grass*
Me: *gets up and rolls around on the grass*
*eventually goes inside after playing with a katydid, finds some paper, and welcomes home all her old friends*

Any advice for the artists and crafters out there?

Be yourself! Do whatever makes you feel excited, inspired and daring! Art is breath and dream and adventure all rolled into one. Don’t let other people’s opinions get between you and a good time when it comes to art! Who knows what amazing things will happen if you relax and let yourself play with all the colors at the same time, or do a painting using your knees? At the very least your pants will look awesome after and you’ll have a good story to tell.