The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own. I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before. In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find. Please DO NOT send me your work. I do not take submissions.
Today’s featured artist: CJ Foeckler
I’ve been creating my Christmas card series since 2007.
It originally started as a joke to take a goofy portrait of myself in my single days to give to friends. It’s now turned into a serious project every holiday season that friends and family eagerly await the release of. We like to ‘out-do’ ourselves in terms of goofiness, quirkiness, or cleverness every year. It’s a goal of ours to create something that looks so real in terms of concept and execution, that if it were found on the street, someone would think that it was a real ad, band photo, or album art.
In the early years it was just me, then my cat Opie came along, followed by my wife, and now our two girls. It used to be easy to shoot something goofy, but now it’s become a fun challenge to create a realistic concept that works with all of our family members. Sometimes the concept is a loose idea that is worked out the day that we shoot and release it, and other times it’s figured out months in advance. This year’s concept is already worked out, we just need to purchase some clothing and props and shoot nearer the holiday season.
Last year’s card was the most complete to me in terms of realism and concept. We created a band, a song, album art, and merch. I recorded a simple song with my daughters, shot and designed the album art, and even had a merch site to sell t-shirts, mugs, and prints for family and friends.
To see more of this project, click here
APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world. She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades. After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999. Follow her at @SuzanneSease. Instagram
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