First off, I appreciate you and your interest in the stories of why I create! I'm excited to begin this series "Behind the Art," where I write short posts about my creative process, sources of inspiration, and the overall journey of emotions I go on while making my favorite pieces of art.
Here is the story behind the "MAKE LOVE NOT WAR" tee (released 5/7/21).
Developing the concept
I guess this story really begins with my first shirt of 2021 - "The World Is Yours" tee that I released in March of 2021. This shirt was heavily accepted and loved by my supporters, selling out in just 15 minutes after the launch. I was blown away. So many people were moved by the messages I was putting out into the world. I was even more humbled that other people wanted to help spread the positivity I try to capture with my work. It was a surreal moment for me that really served as validation of my creative ability working with apparel. It was the first time I truly felt like my original ideas spoke to the universe, showing that I can make the world a more positive place. My immediate thoughts after the drop was, "what's next?" How would my next piece speak to people with a greater level of power and positivity?
The Vision
One day, I was driving home when I began to think about the popular slogan "Make Love Not War" from the 60's. Being in-tune with the slogan's cultural significance in the 1960's, I wondered how I could take this and relate it to the contemporary world. Immediately, one of the first thoughts that came to mind is the terrible struggle America has with gun violence. By combining this slogan and social issue, I knew I had a powerful design that draws light on an issue we sadly experience every single day in our country.
The characters hugging on the back of the shirt was a last minute idea that brought the piece full circle. I knew that the violent portrayal on the front needed to be balanced with something more positive and peaceful... a hug was perfect. I also hate wasted space, so utilizing the back of the shirt was a must.
At this time, I had also been listening to a lot of The Beatles. Their music consistently gives me imagery that guides how I approach the concept of peaceful bliss and non-violence in my work. I highly recommend everyone to deeply explore their music. There is untapped creative discovery that my I've benefited greatly from by listening to their music.
Throughout my journey as an artist, one thing I've come to love is incorporating character portrayal (a representation of myself) into work. In this way, my art displays personal emotions and beliefs much better than I can communicate with words. I knew I wanted to continue using my character as a powerful piece of the message. At the same time, I wanted there to be close ties to personal, social, and global issues that people frequently experience. If it's a battle for me, I know that others are struggling with it too. I want people to feel as if they can be in the shoes of my character and relate to what is going on in the artwork.
Deeper Personal Takeaways
1.You'll notice I used the same character on both sides of the gun for the front design. A deeper meaning I discovered while creating this is a struggle for self-love and self-worth. Sometimes I find myself putting in hours of work, but lack to see immediate results that reflect my effort. This can often bring moments of self-doubt and higher levels of anxiety into my life. On the back of the shirt, you'll notice the characters hugging. This is my reminder to show compassion to yourself, understand that not everything goes as planned, and that slow progression is still a step forward. Why create war within ourselves through negative self-talk, when we can put that energy into loving and our unique qualities and abilities (trust me, I know this can be very hard)? Perspective is key in loving yourself and life.
2. In this piece, I also wanted to capture the reality that our social lives are often consumed with negative talk and interactions with, or about others. I think it's very hard for many to truly view the world from a different perspective. This leads to judgement, which leads to arguments, which leads to physical fighting, and eventually war on a larger scale. Once we take the time to put our guards down and not act out of fear towards those that are different, we learn. Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, accountability, and authenticity.
3. The last big takeaway from this piece of work is to stop avoiding important conversations with those that you love. The longer we hold grudges, or wait to resolve issues with one another, the more time they have to escalate into bigger problems. Our relationships mirror the level of effort we put into our communication. The more effort we put into addressing problems, the more authentic our ties with others becomes.
Ending Words
If you made it this far, thank you for taking the time to go on a trip inside my brain! While this is just personal interpretation, I hope you were able to relate in some way (or maybe you didn't and hate this piece). After all, art is subjective. I hope reading this pushes you to look at all art differently. Take the time to find a deeper connection to every piece you come across.
P.S. - I apologize for any typos & bad grammar... lol. Its been a while since I wrote this much.. Peace and Love,
CHRISK