Shape shop is not a thing I planned on happening in advance, it's a thing that happened organically (and geometrically). And now I will explain... chronologically!
It started one year ago with the creation of a Shape Library. The Shape Library began as a challenge: How many shapes can I make? To make the shapes, I sat on the floor and cut out black pieces of paper.
If you've been familiar with my work and Worthwhile goods, you KNOW that I love a good shape. In fact, friends have been known to say "Kristen loves a good shape!" Many of my designs from over the years are made up of simple shapes. It is indeed what I love. ♡
However, this was a shape-making endeavor on a different level. A real deep dive into shapes. I made around 50 shapes and then asked myself: How are there really any more shapes left to make? Doesn't each shape seem to be comprised of the same 3 or 4 basic shapes? It turned out that there are no limits on shapes. So, I made 100 more, and I could keep going! I believe there are an infinite amount of shape possibilities, so I want to inspire others to use their own experiences to create abstract shapes too. (I can't do this alone!)
Photo above of some cut out shapes as I created The Library.
In my makings of shapes, I discovered that (some of) the methods of doing so can be explained and transmitted. To make a shape is to tell a story, or at least a piece of one. A shape is also a whole world in itself, and how one comes info form depends on what your experience is and how you translate it. This inspired me to write a Substack post titled How To Harvest A Shape, 10 Ways.
I was thinking about how writing longform posts like these is a good step away from social media. But do you know what is an even more fun step? Turning your online content into physical, tangible, tactile, giftable objects instead! This birthed the creation of my first Risograph zine: A Library of Shapes (and how to grow your own) - the translation of the Subtack post into delicious zine format.
The finished zine, find it here in the collection.
I had so much fun putting this zine together and figuring out the methods for booklet designing, printing and assembling using my Riso and the tools I have. I wanted the cover to be white on black, so my husband screen printed the covers for me. They are available now!
To create the post and the zine, I wanted to vectorize (digitally render) all of the shapes I cut out. So, I took photos of all of my paper cut outs and traced them in Adobe Illustrator. Now the possibilities were endless. What is one to do with a Shape Library at one's fingertips?
This is around the time when I started to become absolutely unhinged. How many more shape creations could I make!? Answer: I made 50 original shape paintings, designed SHAPE MERCH including our new Shape Notes (die cut cards!), greeting card designs, a notepad, and a print of a bunch of shapes from the library. I almost went into the territory of hats and shirts and keychains etc. etc. but had to cut myself off (for now?).
Around the time I was creating the Shape Library, I was asked by the Ann Arbor Art Center to design and facilitate an interactive art experience for one of their biggest fundraisers. I was given an entire gallery to work with, and would lead attendees to create their very own abstract art piece, to be tessellated on the wall with everyone else's. This was a huge creative challenge for me. I don't have a lot of experience projecting my voice or leading large groups, but I was up for the task, and I think this really helped me grow my skillset as both an artist and facilitator!
As groups would come in, I would lead them through a mystical magical discovery for putting their unique abstract piece together. There were shape discoveries, there were secret shapes, and there was a personal flow chart. By the end of the night, there were over 200 individual pieces on the gallery wall, each one totally unique. I got to paint the other wall (behind me in the image below) with large colorful shapes, which was a fun project in itself. I am so grateful for A2AC for supporting me in this opportunity for design, play, and community.
Gleeful facilitation!
Me in front of the art wall at the end of the night. I used my singing bowl to cue the experience, which was *very* fun for me. I wore hot pink lipstick and shape-y attire.
An image of my process testing out the shapes and colors for the event. We cricut out shapes from colored transparent vellum, and I selected colored paper for other steps in the composition assembly.
I decided to launch SHAPE SHOP in person this past December, at Tiny Expo in Ann Arbor - the one holiday artist market I was participating in. I loved the idea of bringing something totally fresh and new to the event and centering my in-person relationships with the new release of paintings and goods. And now the collection is available online! I sold a little over 1/3 of the paintings at the show and have put the rest online with the collection of new shape-inspired goods. I have also added a few pre-existing designs to the collection page that matched oh-too-well.
