Who doesn’t love a good festival, sprinkled with a dash of inspiration, education and of course some Creative Chaos. For this episode of ‘Why We Create’ we’re discussing all things creative chaos and Connected Ink. 

To give season one a proper send off, we figured who better than to speak with but Wacom’s own CEO, Nobu. And what better subject to discuss than Connected Ink, a project near and dear to his heart. 

Connected Ink is a 24 hour hybrid (virtual and select in-person events) happening on November 16th -17th. 

Head over to register and sign up for the newsletter here: CONNECTEDINK.WACOM.COM 

The theme this year is (you guessed it) Creative Chaos and our colleagues around the globe at Wacom are pulling together some amazing activations, discussions and workshops.  We hope you enjoy this inside look at what Connected Ink is and what makes it so amazing.

We also want to thank each and every one of you for helping make season one so amazing. We appreciate you taking the time to listen to the show and look forward to sharing more amazing BTS conversations in season two and beyond. 

For more info on Satoru Kobayashi check out these sites:

                       Heralbony Artist Profile 

                       Satoru Kobayashi story on Connected Ink

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 Ep 11 brings us back to the early weeks of August and the exciting events Portland based footwear celebration, SneakerWeek PDX.
 
 For this special live recorded episode of 'Why We Create' we sat down with 3D designer and emerging photographer, Brett Brown. We discussed everything from his long nights as a 3D modeler in the game industry to his journey into the footwear industry. 

Brett’s creative journey isn’t just limited to the 3D realm, he’s also taken the last couple of years to explore the world of studio and portrait photography. 

For more info on Brett, you can find him on social media, or check out his website: 

Website: https://brettbrownphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.brettbrown/
 
 

 For more info on what’s happening at the Wacom Experience Centers, head over to our lnk.bio for links to everything we’ve got going on: https://lnk.bio/WacomExc 

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In Ep. 10 of ‘Why We Create’, Surrealist illustrator, Author, and professional night owl, Rafik El Hariri, sat down with us to discuss the power of tapping into your own creativity. 

Based in Tripoli, Lebanon, Rafik has been a professional artist since 2016 when he was gifted his very first Wacom tablet by his sister. In that time, he’s contributed both illustrations and written pieces to, publications like Vice Arabia, Vouge, the National and many more. 

His style is a combination of peaceful color pallets mixed with whimsical textures and a dash (or two, or three) of surrealism. Add to that occultist symbolism and you’ve got the perfect recipe for images that allow Rafik to explore topics ranging from mental health and other “taboo” social issues. His illustrations create dreamlike space for viewers to reflect upon and relate to their own personal struggles, successes and all the feelings we experience as humans on this earth. 

Since our conversation, Rafik’s latest book, “I Found a Heart” , has been published (currently available in Lebanon), and was interviewed by The National News on August 17th, you can read the article here. 

To find out more about Rafik you can follow him on social media:

IG rafikillustration

TWITTER rafikelhariri_

https://rafikillustration.com/ 

We also had a special guest interlude for this episode featuring Art Therapist, Nicholas Keen. 

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 We got 99 problems but this episode of "Why We Create” definitely isn't one of them. 
 
 For EP. 9 we sat down with UK based Illustrator, Animator and Hip-Hop appreciator, Ali Graham. Ali is best known for his adorable and wholesome illustrations of some of the greatest hip-hop legends of all time. 
 
 From his early years creating webcomics to one of his most popular series "99 problems", Ali's love and appreciation of hip-hop has carried his careers to new heights. Ali’s illustrations are a hilarious and tongue and cheek interpretation of what many would consider NSFW rap lyrics. By filtering these descriptive lyrics through the lens of innocence and all-around wholesomeness, Ali’s characters rank, on the overall scale of cuteness, somewhere right around the level of Muppet Babies. 

Now that those 99 problems have been tackled, you can find Ali crafting Lil Ye Land, a wholesome universe that takes our lil baby Kanye on a series of adventures. (you can play it here ‘CLICK’) . Its as if the hip-hop world collided with Super Mario, and of course tossed in some special cameos. 

For more info on Ali, make sure to follow him on all the socials:

@lil_ye

You can also find his work, prints and of course the link to download and play Lil Ye Land here: Ali Graham Link Tree

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Welcome to a super special episode of Why We Create. 

For our 8th episode we sat down with Herbert Beauclere, Co-founder of Sneaker Week PDX. Since 2017, Sneaker Week has built a foundation of diversity and trust while showing the world how footwear changes lives while enriching consumer experiences and takeaways for a great cause through storytelling & connectivity.

Going into the 5th year celebrating Sneaker Week, Herbert and team are excited to continue their creative sneaker journey with all of their new and existing partners, brands, and communities. It’s only getting better.

To stay up to date with all things sneaker week, make sure to check out their website and follow on the socials. They also stream on #twitch, so like, follow and subsribe . 

https://sneakerweekpdx.com/

https://www.twitch.tv/sneakerweekpdx

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In episode 7 of Why We Create, we sat down with the brilliant and hilarious inventors, engineers, fabricators, and creators of the PinBox 3000.

The Pinbox 3000 is an educational device/game/and all around fun time, brought to you by the Cardboard Teck Instantute (https://www.pinbox3000.com/) - a tool of the ages, combining science and fun in a small cardboard device you can construct and create yourself.

From the marble Pete always carries with him (in the handy marble pocket, of course), to the efficacy of pinball as a method of teaching STEAM – Ben and Pete share with us their journey from a crazy idea to a full blown kickstarter and successful business and co-op of makers, engineers and cardboard enthusiasts. 

The Cardboard Teck Instantute and their Pinbox 3000 is the perfect tool to bridge the divide between all types of learning and of course spreading the joy of Pinball with kids and enthusiasts of all ages. We hope you enjoy the episode, and of course, go out and play some pinball. 

Here’s where you can find, follow and support Ben and Pete:

Website: https://www.pinbox3000.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinbox3000/ 

TinkerCad, easy 3D design - https://www.tinkercad.com/

Also, if you’re in the Portland area make sure to check out our local Pinball Arcades: 

https://wedgeheadpdx.com/

https://groundkontrol.com/

https://www.quarterworldarcade.com/

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Episode 6 took us all the way across the pond for a fabulous conversation with illustrator, sketchbook enthusiast and traveling artist, Nina Cosford. 

From pandemic hairstyles to tights that never seem to fit properly, Nina shared with us her approach to illustration and the importance of discussing our shared experiences. Often it’s those small moments or the most mundane of actions in our everyday routines that make us feel more connected and a society, and most importantly, humans. Throughout her career as an illustrator, Nina has had the opportunity to travel the world and capture and document those small moments. She enjoys documenting the special and sometimes hilarious people that make any town or city feel like the most fabulous spot in the world. 

Nina is also a hardcore sketchbooker (is that a word, maybe we just made it up) and has recently launched her own line of sketchbooks, designed for anyone and everyone – artists, notetakers, or those that just love a good list. We hope you enjoy the episode. 

You can follow Nina’s adventures here:

https://www.instagram.com/ninacosford/ 

https://www.instagram.com/ninacosfordsketchbook/ 

You can also purchase her sketchbooks here: 

https://www.ninacosford.com/shop/product-category/sketchbook/

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Grab your sketchbook and your favorite water colors, we’re heading outside. For episode 5 of ‘Why We Create’ we had the privilege of speaking with scientific illustrator, rock collector and birb (birb=bird) enthusiast, Liz Clayton Fuller. 

Liz shared with us what it takes to become a scientific illustrator, her love for birds and a bushel of fun bird facts. We chatted about everything from the specific numbers of feathers on a bird’s wing, to structural coloring and why illustrations are better than photographs, we left no feather unruffled. 

We hope you enjoy this episode and take a moment to enjoy the outdoors and birds in your part of the world. So head outside, find your ‘sit spot’ and enjoy the nature around you.

Find and follow Liz on her social channels: 

• Website: https://www.lizclaytonfuller.com/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/lizclaytonfullerart/ 
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ipaintbirbs 

And check out some great info on birds and birb related things: 

Information on Black Birders Week: https://www.audubon.org/black-birders-week 

For local info on birds and how to get involved, the Audubon Society is a great source: https://www.audubon.org/ 

Sibley guide to birds: https://www.sibleyguides.com/ 

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For episode 4 of Why We Create, we grabbed our headsets and logged back into the Oasis for an amazing and hilarious conversation about Virtual, Augmented and Mixed reality with Creative Director and talented XR artist, Estella Tse. 

We discussed the limitations and ever-growing possibilities of creating in virtual realities and digital spaces, as well as the power of nature and how we can do better at merging technology and our natural world. 

We may have also derailed into a short discussion on how we would communicate with Aliens if they were to ever land on Earth… but you’ll just have to listen to find out more on that. 

Estella also shared a robust list of other brilliant and talented creators in the greater XR realm (see full list below). 

Estella Tse

• Website https://www.estellatse.com/ 
• IG https://www.instagram.com/estellatse/ 
• Twitter https://twitter.com/estellatse 

 VR Rosie aka Rosie Summers

• Website: https://www.rosiesummers.com/ 
• IG https://www.instagram.com/vr_rosie_/?hl=en

 Steven Christian

• Website https://stuckonaneyeland
• IG   https://www.instagram.com/stuckonaneyelnd/ 
• Twitter https://twitter.com/stuckonaneyelnd

 XR Artist Collective 

• http://mezbreezedesign.com/vr-gallery/xr-artists-collective/

Goro Fujita

• Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/gorofujita 
• IG https://www.instagram.com/goro.fujita/?hl=en
• Twitter  https://twitter.com/gorosart 

 Danny Bitman 

• Website https://dannybittman.com/ 
• Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCExNObiCjy-fhsYMwf8p1LQ?view_as=subscriber 
• Twitter https://twitter.com/DannyBittman 

Anna Dreambrush aka Anna Zhilyaeva

• Website  https://www.annadreambrush.com/wiki/index.php?title=Anna_Zhilyaeva 
• IG  https://www.instagram.com/annadreambrush/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/AnnaDreamBrush 

 Breonna’s Garden at Tribeca Film Festival

• https://tribecafilm.com/films/breonna-s-garden-2021 

 Stuart 'Sutu' Campbell 

• Website https://www.sutueatsflies.com/ 
• IG https://www.instagram.com/sutu.eats.flies/ 

 The Bad Lament aka Michelle Brown

• Website https://www.instagram.com/thebadlament/ 
• IG https://www.instagram.com/thebadlament/ 
• Twitter  https://twitter.com/Thebadlament 

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Third times a charm. For episode 3 we had the pleasure of speaking to Architectural Visualizer Mike Golden, aka Droquis. Mike is a brilliant 3D artist who not only creates beautiful architectural renderings, but masterfully renders gorgeous Sci-fi landscapes that combine a variety of different digital techniques and programs. 

In this episode we discuss everything from the benefits of working in black and white vs color, to Cezanne to the magic of Blender (open-source software is the coolest). 

Mike dropped several different books and videos, which are listed below in case you want to check them out yourself. We hope you enjoy this episode. 

Where to find and watch Mike:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/droquis/ 

                    https://www.instagram.com/threemarks/

Twitch:       https://www.twitch.tv/droquis 

Books and other cool art references from Mike: 

John Hedgecoe’s Complete Guide to Photography 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/480428.John_Hedgecoe_s_Complete_Guide_To_Photography 

Scott McCloud Understanding Comics

http://scottmccloud.com/2-print/1-uc/ 

Blame! (anime)

https://tsutomu-nihei.fandom.com/wiki/Blame! 

The Blade Itself 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/944073.The_Blade_Itself 

Paul Cezanne

https://www.paul-cezanne.org/ 

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