Throughout the holidays, it’s natural for shoppers to look for designs that resonate with the festive season. But creating holiday-themed art doesn’t mean you need to abandon your signature style or start from scratch. To give you a little holiday design inspiration, we’re going to demonstrate how you can adapt one of your best-selling designs to give it a seasonal twist. This approach lets you maintain the elements that your fans already love about your work while capturing the magicRead more
Posts tagged: #creative inspiration
Art Trends: Maximalism and the “More is More” Design Movement
Maximalism dares artists to embrace “too much” as the perfect amount, transforming every design into a bold, layered experience. Far from simple or restrained, maximalist art fills every inch of the canvas with vibrant colors, ornate patterns, and intricate details. This unapologetic approach is all about making a powerful visual statement, drawing viewers into a rich world of detail and imagination. In this post, we’ll explore what makes maximalist design so impactful, why it’s capturing attention today, and how youRead more
Retail Radar: Design Trends Our Retail Partners Are Looking For
Welcome to your quarterly update for the Retail Trends Design Challenge. As part of our ongoing effort to connect independent artists with major retailers, this challenge invites you to create designs inspired by the current trends our retail partners are exploring. With opportunities to see your art featured in popular stores like Hot Topic, Urban Outfitters, Spencers, and many more, this challenge is a great way to grow your brand and reach new audiences. Participating in this challenge not onlyRead more
Capturing the Mood: How to Evoke Emotions with Your Color Choices
Color is a powerful tool in the hands of any designer. It can sway thinking, change actions, and cause reactions. For Artist Shop owners, using colors to evoke emotions can transform designs from good to unforgettable. While the scientific exploration of color psychology is still relatively new, and more research is needed to fully understand the mental and physical effects of colors, studies have shown that people generally associate certain colors with specific emotions.1 Understanding these universal associations and theirRead more
Art Trends: The Timeless Appeal of Retro-Style Pixel Art
In the vast sea of digital art, one style resurfaces with a nostalgic charm that captures the heart of both creators and consumers alike: retro-style pixel art. This distinctive form, reminiscent of the early days of video gaming, has made a striking comeback in modern design, including Threadless’s vibrant marketplace. Understanding and incorporating this trend in your own Artist Shop is more than a nod to the past, it’s a way to connect with an audience that cherishes both nostalgiaRead more
2024 Design Forecast: 10 Emerging Trends to Look Out For
As a Artist Shop owner in the ever-evolving landscape of e-commerce, staying ahead of the curve is key to captivating your audience. Understanding and incorporating emerging design trends into your art not only keeps your work fresh but also connects you with the pulse of what shoppers are seeking. In this post, we’re diving into the design trends that we predict will make waves through 2024. Based on our market research, we’ll explore what makes these trends unique and whyRead more
Asking Artists: What’s Your Creative Process Like? – Part 2
In the first installment, we explored the intriguing ways artists transition from the initial spark of an idea to a finished piece in their Artist Shop. The journey from concept to creation is as varied as the artists themselves, and we’re excited to delve further into this artistic exploration. In this continuation, we’re featuring a new group of talented individuals, each with their own unique creative process. Discover how they overcome the daunting blank screen, transform their imaginative concepts intoRead more
Unlocking Opportunities: Officially Licensed Design Challenges at Threadless
Design Challenges not only encourage artists to push their creative boundaries, but also give them chances to win additional earnings and expose their art to Threadless fans around the world. While these challenges typically have general themes, like “hugs” or “goblincore,” our officially licensed Design Challenges are centered around intellectual properties with large fan bases—like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Jurassic Park. Presented in collaboration with our retail and licensing partners, these special challenges unlock opportunities that go well beyondRead more
Get Inspired by Pride-Themed Art from Our Community
June is Pride Month, a time for commemorating the ongoing pursuit of justice for the LGBTQIA+ community. While it’s fun and feels good to show your support throughout this annual celebration, it’s also important to recognize that Pride doesn’t end on July 1st. To help keep the spotlight on issues that still impact LGBTQIA+ people every day, the never-ending Pride Forever Challenge at Threadless calls for artists to make Pride-themed art all year long. Update: the Pride Forever Challenge isRead more
Asking Artists: What’s Your Creative Process Like? – Part 1
Previously for our Asking Artists column, members of our community showed us their workspaces and explained the type of environment that helps them get in a creative mindset. But once they’re comfortable at their workstation, how do they go from staring at a blank screen to adding a completed work of art to their Artist Shop? We recently caught up with artists to learn more about their creative process. Read about their routines and how they work through creative blocks,Read more
Asking Artists: What Does Your Creative Workspace Look Like? – Part 2
Where in your home or studio do you feel your most creative when making art? What items do you always keep close by to make your process easier? What’s something you absolutely can’t work without? Continuing the conversation from Part 1, members of the Threadless Artist Shops Community showed us their creative workspace and talked about their preferences. You’ll notice some recurring themes here—natural light, coffee, pets for moral support. But you’ll also read about unique features like a hidingRead more
Art Trends: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Art
Whenever new technology promises to revolutionize the art world, you can sense the anxiety that washes over the art community. Now is one of those times. With the arrival of text-to-image programs such as DALL-E-2 and Midjourney, we’re all currently witnessing the rise of artificial intelligence in art. Many living, breathing artists feel as if their livelihoods are at stake, and understandably so. This is the end of art as we know it. Well…sort of. If it’s any consolation, thereRead more