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.
