I am excited to mentor the next generation of young artists at the elementary level. 

As a child, I had robust exposure to art through school and private art classes. We had art class several times a week in middle school and more often with independent study in high school. I also took Saturday morning art classes privately at a local art barn. My high school art teachers, Mrs. Doughty, and Mr. Galbraith, were ‘funtastic’ educators, inspiring me to pursue a life centered on art making.

Thinking back to their influence on my path, I hope to do the same for my students.  

Entering the classroom has not been without its challenges. It’s no secret that arts education remains low on the list of priorities for school boards. According to EdSource only 11% of schools in California have a comprehensive arts program.

The biggest challenge for me is that there is no designated art classroom. I have an art cart and travel from room to room to work with each class. The pro is that it’s quite efficient and less disruptive to the teachers’ classroom setups. It also allows the classroom teacher to join in or view the lesson I am conducting for future reference. The con is that I am limited in what I can bring with me, which ties in with a limited schedule for the class. I found that I needed to plan the supplies, the lesson, and the time slot thoroughly before heading off to each class. 

So, in spite of underfunding, I am pleased to support the arts with workshop classes. Sponsored by the Children’s Creative Project, a 501C Non-Profit created to fill the void of arts in our communities. The arts are crucial for the mental and emotional health of our children. 

The University of Florida has pulled together numerous sources in the following blog post citing the importance and benefits of arts education. 
– Improved writing achievement
– Reduced disciplinary infractions
– More student engagement
– Improved college aspirations
– No drop in standardized test scores

I’d love to see an expansion of the arts in schools, bringing art back to full-time practice for all students. 

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I need to thank out fantastic host and moderator. David Kepron – architect, designer, artist, and NXTLVL Experience Design podcaster was the mastermind behind this panel. David’s podcast showcases the best in Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts. I was honored to be a part of it.

His guests are provocateurs for whom disruption and transformation are a way of engaging in work and play every day. They include leaders who are driven by passion to create the ‘new possible’ and promote paradigms of experience into the mainstream.  

Joining David and I were Paul Zak and Gabriele Chiave. Paul is a brilliant neuroscientist, researcher and author of ‘Immersive: The Science of the Extraordinary and the Source of  Happiness.’ Gabriele is a design tour de force: think environments, interiors, and products. Without a doubt he can design anything! He is currently VP Global, Design Creative Director & Innovation for the Esteé Lauder companies. I was representing my company, TiLT A Tracy Lee  Stum Museum. If you are not familiar with it, we celebrated our second anniversary earlier this year. Located at American Dream in East Rutherford TiLT is a 3D art experience dedicated to artist created interactive optical illusions. When you visit TiLT you become a part of the artwork!   

Our panel discussed the idea of immersion. We unpacked how our brains react and process information about connected experiences. Why they are valuable and where they fit in with our ever evolving society. No wonder street painting has endured as a fringe practice for decades!  According to neuroscience data the nature of a direct connection between artist and viewer checks all the boxes for a richer human experience. 3D streetpainting centers on a shared experience, creating a sense of joy and discovery and positive coherence through the brain/ heart connection. Beautiful!  

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With world-class optical illusions, interactive activities, and private party rooms, TiLT – A Tracy Lee Stum Museum is the perfect venue to host a memorable and mind-blowing birthday party. Kids, teens and adults can explore their creativity through our 45-minute hands-on art workshop, specially curated for you and your guests. We’ve got fun chalk drawing workshops for children ages 6 – 11 and more challenging 3D drawings and murals for youth aged 12 – 18. Adults can also enjoy the art experiences we’ll have available. What a GREAT way to spend a few hours celebrating and partying!

The space was originally painted in pastel tones but I felt it needed some big inspiration. I decided on oversized paint tubes, crayons, colored pencils and scribbles. These are items you’d see in an artist’s studio and that’s the vibe I wanted to create for our guests. Plus I love it when children are allowed to freely scribble on walls. In India my artist pals let their children draw on walls until they don’t want to anymore. Their homes wind up becoming an historical document of the development of their children’s art abilities. It’s really quite wonderful!

While the party space looks fresh and inspiring with all that oozing paint traversing the walls! We do expect to have lots of color on the lower walls from the work our guests will be doing there during their parties. We really hope our guests have an amazing party experience.

American Dream is offering a wide variety of wonderful add ons and options for these parties and events. Reserve your unforgettable birthday celebration and be sure to bring your phone, as you’ll want to share this snap-worthy experience.  All birthday events must be booked at least 14 days in advance. https://www.americandream.com/birthdays-tilt

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The new Nickelodeon Universe is the largest indoor theme park in the western hemisphere. Rides and attractions feature beloved characters, from the Rugrats to Spongebob Squarepants to Dora the Explorer. We worked with Nickelodeon to bring these treasured worlds to life at American Dream, as well as creating unique Tracy Lee Stum 3D designs that blend seamlessly with the branded aspects of the space.  

After finalizing the designs, we hand painted all of the interior artwork for the park using a variety of tried and tested techniques to create floor designs, 2D murals and 3D murals. Finally, specialty finishes ensure that the artwork will stand up to the high volume of foot traffic expected at American Dream.

3D Art Draws People in – Literally!

3D art and anamorphic art are a perfect fit for amusement parks. It’s all about creating a fun and engaging space that draws people into the experience. We did this at the Nickelodeon Universe by painting murals throughout the space to make visitors feel like they were entering a cartoon world, as well as creating 3D art that enhanced the immersive experience. 3D art is also an amazing way to capture memories of a special day for guests – I think our installation at the Skyline Screamer Drop Tower is going to be a particular guest favorite! 

I’m immensely proud that my team and I surpassed our partners’ expectations every step of the way. Each flower, cloud and character was a labour of love. Above all, we hope that people find as much joy exploring the park as we did painting it.

Check out the video below to see an overview of the whole park!

The post 3D Art Brings Nickelodeon Universe to Life at American Dream appeared first on Tracy Lee Stum.

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Teaching the Art of Chalk – Meet Terena Wong, My First Intern!

Hailing from Hong Kong, intern Terena Wong has always been passionate about creating art. A student of the Hong Kong School of Art, she was searching for a way to enhance her art production skills and discovered 3D street painting through Instagram and Facebook.

Synchronicity

Eager to gain develop her talent and learn from an experienced working artist, she reached out to me early this spring seeking an internship – and her timing was perfect! I’d just begun searching for an intern, and Terena was clearly a gifted artist. I offered her a place to stay and learn, and she got the paperwork together to come join me in California for the month of June.

A Busy Schedule – Perfect For Experience!

It turned out to be the perfect month for her internship – Terena joined me for just about every type of project I take on as a 3D artist! From our livestream with Katy Perry earlier this month (check out the details on that here – so much fun!) to creating a permanent installation in-studio to a mural for this year’s Italian Street Painting Marin festival, we’ve covered just about every type of 3D art I create.

The Benefits

In Terena’s words: “I’ve really learned a lot! I understand more already about working as an artist – and I see that being a working artist is a viable long-term goal. There is a market for artists, and I can create a place for myself in that market – it’s a matter of creating my own identity.”

I have no doubt that Terena will succeed in her goals – she’s talented and determined!

If you’d like to consider a short internship with me to learn all about 3d street painting, please drop me a message! 

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Celebrity Sleep Over!

What an amazing experience! Team 3D and I spent the night at Katy Perry’s house a couple of weeks ago, marathon painting a huge 3D Street Painting on Katy Perry’s Witness World Wide livestream! I was so excited when Katy and her PR team reached out to me, looking for an artist to create a 3d mural for her five day YouTube livestream (#kpwww) – promoting the launch of her amazing new album ‘Witness’.

Team 3D on the Job

I knew I was going to need some help to get the painting done in seven hours – enter the incredible Julio Cèsar Jimenez and the lovely Terena Wong (Team 3D). We worked through the night to create a piece of 3D artwork that celebrated Katy’s new album, so we could surprise her when she woke up on Sunday!

Katy’s Creative Team Knew What They Wanted

I designed the piece leading up to the event, incorporating the eye imagery that graces the ‘Witness’ album cover and the visage of the singer herself, adding in a little 3D trickery with colorful abstract shapes and letters that created the illusion of height and depth in the painting.

A Crazy Speed Painting Scenario

After seven hours of hard work, laughter and excitement, we finished! Katy came to see, and she loved it! We played with the painting together – one of my favorite things about creating 3D art is seeing people interacting with and enjoying the completed piece. We left to get a little shut-eye – but the superstar kept coming back to play with the painting throughout the day.

Icing on the Cake!

Terena, Julio and I joined the 500 fans and contributors for Katy’s private concert on Sunday evening – such an honor to be included! Katy was on point in her performance as always – such amazing energy and emotion! It was a pleasure to see another kind of ‘artist’ killing it at her craft.

Event or activation coming up? Drop me a line (LINK) to make sure you stand out from the crowd with a memorable and interactive experience!

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#1 – 3D Art is Eye-Catching

Visitors wander trade show floors studiously avoiding eye contact with overly enthusiastic company reps – but 3D art will catch their eye without a word, drawing them to your booth – and giving you the opportunity to chat them up.

#2 – 3D Art Engages with Trade Show Audiences

Each 3D piece we create has the perfect place for people to become a part of the art – precariously balancing on the CN Tower, looking into an underground world or stepping across a fiery lava pit… right at YOUR booth. Each installation we do has an irresistible element of whimsy and wonder.

#3 – 3D Art is the Ultimate Social Souvenir

Trade shows are full of fun freebies – each exhibitor hoping a souvenir will help attendees remember them after the event is over. 3D Art is the ultimate souvenir – people can’t help but snap a picture in our work! That photo will reach far beyond the person who took it – their colleagues and friends will see your brand featured on social media, increasing your brand’s reach long after the trade show is over.

Need to stand out at your next industry trade show? Tracy Lee Stum is a world renowned 3D Street Artist with decades of experience creating wondrous worlds and ethereal etchings. She’s worked across the globe with brands like Honda, Dos Equis, La-Z-Boy and more, creating art that has been seen and shared by millions of people in the real and digital worlds.

The post 3 Reasons You Need 3D Art for your next Trade Show appeared first on Tracy Lee Stum.

Modern consumers are exposed to thousands of brands a day, and smart advertisers are taking to the streets with guerilla marketing tactics to stand out from the crowd. The principles behind guerilla marketing are simple: surprise your audience, make an impression, and create a buzz.

Made You Look!

How many ads do you remember seeing yesterday? 5? 10? 20? If you live in a city, experts estimate that you see about 5,000 advertisements in the course of a day. Most aren’t memorable – filed by our overloaded brains as visual ‘white noise.’ This is where guerilla marketing tactics shine – they’re unforgettable.

Using 3D street art for advertising is the ultimate way to make an impression. What if the sidewalk you trudge every day suddenly became a tropical oasis? You’d stop and look – and maybe snap a selfie. 3D street art transforms unremarkable concrete into worlds that spark wonder and delight.

Draw Your Audience In

You can tell your audience about your brand until you’re blue in the face but getting them to engage with you is much harder, even when it comes to guerilla marketing. 3D art makes engagement easy. Each piece we design includes the perfect spot for your customer to step into your brand in a (sur)real way – creating the perfect opportunity to get them in the picture.

A Shared Experience

That selfie your customer just took in your ad? How cool is that! It looks like they’re about to skateboard down the Golden Gate Bridge. Cue the social media posts – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat… et voila, your brand gets shared by your audience at no cost to you. Talk about buzz…

Looking for guerilla marketing that gets the job done? Tracy Lee Stum is a world renowned 3D Street Artist with decades of experience creating wondrous worlds and ethereal etchings out of chalk and pavement. She’s worked across the globe with brands like Honda, Dos Equis, La-Z-Boy and more, creating art that has been seen and shared by millions of people in the real and digital worlds.

Drop us a line at https://tracyleestum.com/contact/ to learn how we can make your next marketing campaign unforgettable.

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If someone had told me 20 years ago that I’d be a professional 3D street artist, I would have thought they were crazy. The art form was brand new and not well known in the 90s, but in the past two decades it has grown in popularity as a way to transform a dull, flat space into an ephemeral and three-dimensional world. Not to mention, 3D street art is a powerful engagement tool for brands and marketers to help them stand out from the crowd.

I was so proud to be included in Mag-Ox’s Master Series, a campaign for their magnesium supplement that interviews with masters of their craft. My earliest memory is of drawing on the wall with crayons, so I’ve been working on mastering the skill of making flat surfaces more interesting for a long time! Participating in Mag-Ox’s project made me consider a question I hadn’t asked yet…

What makes a 3D street artist a master?

For me, loving the work, even when it’s physically and mentally taxing, is a key element. We’ve created 3D art pieces in blistering heat and torrential downpours, and the passion for making something out of nothing – for creating – gets me completely focused on the art when the conditions to create aren’t ideal.

Having confidence is another essential element of mastering 3D art. There is a science to the form – you have to understand the geometry and technique that comes with creating the illusion of three dimensions. We design each piece before we hit the pavement, but after years of experience, I’ve learned to trust my instincts. Making decisions in the moment is important to succeeding – if my instincts say that an element of the design isn’t working I can make a change on the fly – and years of experience have taught me that my intuition is always right.

Want to become a master of 3D street art?

Start your journey with my book, The Art of Chalk or join us this fall for the Chalk Walk – a 3D street art workshop in Greece!

Do you want your brand to stand out from the crowd? Tracy Lee Stum and Team 3D have drawn stunning, engaging 3D art at events, in squares and on streets across the world for Honda, Corona, the NFL and more. Drop us a line to learn more about how we can help you engage your audience.

The post Between the Lines: Mastering 3D Street Art appeared first on Tracy Lee Stum.

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When Bower USA invited us to create 3D a street painting for their brand at 2017’s CES convention, even we wondered if analog art could stand out in a tech crowd – analog art being our 3D street painting in this case. My team and I were new to this trade event, but we knew we could create something unique and eye-catching for Bower – an electronics accessory group out of the New York area. Bower looked to our 3D street painting to help them stand out at the massive tech conference – which was a smart move!

WHAT IS CES?

CES is the biggest consumer electronics convention in the world and a remarkable experience for anyone interested in tech. The conference showcases the newest designs, products and concepts for our digital world. From the fantastic innovations being made in self-driving vehicles to virtual and augmented reality gadgets galore, this show has it all. It was inspiring to see the amazing concepts being created to make our lives more efficient. But we weren’t there just to marvel at the show. Our job was to make Bower USA stand out – which can a bit challenging when competing with all the cool tech!

INTERACTIVE FUN WITH 3D STREET PAINTING

Rather than going the tech route, Bower opted for a traditional hand painted approach to our art. We set up a fun Las Vegas dig scene, complete with props and Vegas icons. Visitors were invited to interact with the artwork using props and their imagination. With each click of a camera, the crowd created an illusion of an archeological dig with Vegas revealed below. Elvis, Britney, Elton, Celine, Liberace, Frank, Dean and Sammy were all drawn into the artwork to complete the magic! 

3D STREET PAINTING CREATES SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT

Thousands of visitors walked away with photos of themselves highlighting the Bower brand, perfect for social media engagement. It was unanimous – everyone had fun on the painting! Many came back with friends for group shots, and show press, bloggers and photographers loved the installation. The art was a success! Bower gained increased traffic and coverage of their booth with this playful stop for attendees. 

The answer to our question was a resounding yes – analog art absolutely stands out in a digital crowd! If you’d like to get more information on how my team and I can help your brand ‘stand out in a crowd’ please contact us at info@tracyleestum.com.

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