WEEK 16
This week, I'm excited to introduce my friend Annica Lydenberg as our guest teacher!
(If you've been loving hearing me talk about how to paint murals all week, you'll love hearing about this assignment.)
Annica, of Dirty Bandits, is an art director, lettering artist, illustrator and mural painter working with agencies and brands to create more authentic products, campaigns, and spaces.
Work done by Dirty Bandits is fueled by Annica’s deep appreciation for type, her interest in storytelling and dedication to brands and individuals working for social good. Recently, Annica has been channelling her skills towards mental health awareness with You Are Not Alone Murals.
You Are Not Alone Murals is a nonprofit project conceived of by Annica Lydenberg, and her longtime friend Samantha Schutz, author of I Don’t Want to Be Crazy, a critically acclaimed memoir about living with anxiety disorder. The project started in 2019 with three murals in Brooklyn by Dirty Bandits, Adam Fu, and Jason Naylor.
This year they hope to have additional online participation from creators around the world, and that's where you come in!
From Annica:
Mental Health Awareness Month begins May 1st and in recognition we are coordinating artists around the world to illustrate and share the message “You Are Not Alone”.
While each artist will bring their unique visual and emotional interpretation to the project, the works will be unified through the repetition of the phrase and color palette.
This campaign is intended to remind viewers that no matter what challenges each of us is dealing with, our emotions are universal. No one is immune to anxiety, grief, anger, shame, and sadness. This last year, in particular, has been a difficult time for all and feelings of isolation and helplessness have hit everyone.
Your assignment: Illustrate and share the message “You Are Not Alone.”
Create art in any form, digital or otherwise, and share online. Be sure to follow these three guidelines:
Pieces must use only the phrase “You Are Not Alone”
Color palette must be black, white, grey, and yellow*
Share using the hashtag #youarenotaloneart and tag @youarenotalonemurals
If you speak a different language, we encourage you to translate the message in your work.
*If you want to use other colors, go for it! But try to make a version in black, white, grey and yellow and throw it in a carousel post on Instagram if you want to participate in the official campaign :)
Don’t forget to use the hashtags #HOMwork2021 and #youarenotaloneart & tag @youarenotalonemurals and @homsweethom when you post your work.
We’ll both be sharing our favorites in our Stories all week!
x Annica & Lauren
P.S. To listen to or read an excerpt and find links to purchase I Don’t Want to Be Crazy, Samantha’s memoir, visit samantha-schutz.com/shop. To see more of Annica’s mural work, follow her on Instagram.
