Shantell Martin

Creatives, artists, writers, even travelers have a few things in common–including the fact that they’re all somehow trying to find their way to yay. Shantell has been finding her own way through a drawn line, which has led her to the intersection of art, technology and fashion. In her talk, you’ll hear about her process, collaborations and future adventures. Shantell will help audiences explore and develop a greater understanding of the creative process and how that can be impactful and insightful to anyone and any industry. You will walk away with ways to develop your own unique style and/or inspiration for your journey to what lies ahead. This session may include some spontaneous drawing methods/exercises by Shantell and the audience.

We are all on these unique journeys as creatives, as artists, as musicians, as thinkers; and more and more, as business people in the art world. The more Shantell Martin learns about art and the art world, the more she’s exposed to a system that has created a facade around what it really is… We lose something here by not divorcing ourselves from this idea. But where does this all lead us? We are in a place where we are seeing new models being created and some of the power being shifted to the artists, but how can we help this along and create a future where artists have more say, freedom and power? In this talk, Shantell explores the continuation of where her journey has led her today as an artist and a businessperson, as she shares some of the questions and issues that have come her way. She will raise questions about the current art system at play, spark potential for change, and incite one of many larger conversations around new business models and systems for artists and creatives.

Growing up, Shantell Martin was told she wasn’t good enough at art. She left that negativity to study her craft in Japan where people master their craft in creative works over generations. Led to ask herself, "What can I master in my own lifetime?”, Shantell developed the skills and the confidence to draw her line art and share it incessantly in public spaces and open forums in order to hone her craft. Now as a renowned line artist who draws live in front of audiences, Shantell has no time to be anyone else but herself. In this talk, Shantell shares the candid story of her journey through these universal themes of finding and trusting yourself, unlearning and relearning, identity, regaining confidence and freedom. No matter who you are or your connection to creative endeavors, understanding the connections Shantell draws between your head and your hand can deepen your connection with the world and lead you to discover the confidence you need for self-acceptance.

An exploration of honing your skills by limiting the distractions and simplifying your focus to elevate your work and become an expert. In this talk, Shantell Martin will walk audiences through why is important to avoid being a jack of all trades, master of none. By committing to a particular skillset and mastering it, audiences will understand how they can level up and stand out from others in any professional setting.

Join visual artist and philosopher Shantell Martin for a fireside chat discussing her expansive career and creative endeavors. From poetry readings to musical performances to live drawings, Shantell uses her interactive style and spontaneity to draw audiences into the conversation at the intersection of music and movement, wordplay and storytelling, social commentary, and the willful ignorance of traditional modalities of the medium. Shantell will draw the audience into a moment of discovery and curiosity.