Meet Ari Simeone

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ari Simeone. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ari, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I keep my creativity alive by never taking it for granted. I’m constantly pushing my own boundaries of what I can do with art. Once, I was told to put down my paintbrush and not pursue art. I listened. Anytime I ‘caught’ myself creating, I felt shame, as if I were doing something wrong.

I’ve put that behind me and picked up a paintbrush 15 years later. Now, I never want to put it down and am eager to see where it can take me. In the last five years, I’ve gone from painting in silence behind closed doors to painting on people, painting live at competitions, painting among crowds at festivals, co-hosting my own brand of painting competitions, teaching workshops, and opening my own studio. I can’t wait to see what new creative adventures come my way.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am Ari, the owner of Ari Franklin Paints, LLC. I have a shop and studio in Jackson, MI, at ART 634 Gallery. As an autistic individual with sensory processing differences, my paintings are predominantly visual representations of auditory and other sensory inputs. In short, I paint what surrounds me—the sights, sounds, smells, and energy. I paint and welcome you into my world.

My absolute passion is painting live, in front of people, and pushing the boundaries of what I think I know about art. I’m currently trying to blur the line between art vendor and art performer. Last summer, I live-painted at several amazing events, including the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival in East Lansing and the Olive Burger Festival in Lansing. I hope to participate in more festivals and on-stage art performances this year.

Additionally, I’m running monthly “Art with Ari” drop-in events at ART 634, as well as some multi-day workshops that will be coming up later this year.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I’m still fairly early in my own journey, but honestly, I’ve come to learn a few important things through this adventure:

Never forget to do what you love: It’s easy to get bogged down in the mechanics of business, marketing, and trying to push forward. But you can’t forget why you started in the first place. For me, it’s important to remember the feeling of the brush in my hands and just letting go. Not painting because it is expected of me, but because I’m happiest when I am.

Don’t be afraid to push boundaries and embrace failure: I never want to be stagnant in my art. It’s tempting to stay with what is warm and comfortable, but I don’t think I’d be on this great adventure if I didn’t lead with curiosity. I don’t want to look back and wonder ‘what if’; I want to find out now.

It’s okay to ask for help: It’s okay to not know how to do everything. I know very well what I don’t know and what I struggle with (asking for help is one of those things, but I’m working on it). I’m not great at marketing and doing ‘all the things that aren’t the art thing,’ but through the patience of my friends and amazing art community, I’m learning. Both the skills I lack, as well as the ability to ask for help. You are not alone in your adventure.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always looking for folks to collaborate with! Musicians, I want to paint to your music and share my visual world with your auditory one. You can connect with me through Ari Franklin Paints on Facebook or @arifranklin.paints on Instagram.

I’m not exactly sure what these collaborations will look like. They could be in person, online, on stage, or in the studio. I have no idea, but I’m excited to figure that out together.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @arifranklin.paints
• Facebook: Ari Franklin Paints

Image Credits

Art634