Love Astrology? You’ll Obsess Over These Lush New Artworks From Real Fun, Wow

The Real Fun, Wow! artist has created four exclusive prints for Bed Threads that represent the elements of earth, fire, air, and water.

There's no easier way to enrich a space than by adorning its walls with showstopping art. Whether it's a lacklustre living room or a boring bedroom, hanging artwork can add depth, meaning, and character to a home.

From abstract expressions of the human form to still-life scenarios, we love discovering the work of exciting artists on our social feeds. One such talent we admire is Califonian-based artist Daren Thomas Magee from Real Fun, Wow! Inspired by the ethereal dream space, Daren creates work that speaks to the space between imagination and reality.

In an exciting collaboration with Bed Threads, Daren has four exclusive artworks for selected Bed Threads Dream Club members. Representing the elements of earth, fire, air, and water, these fresh prints will instantly bring a bit of magic to whichever space you style them into. Each print in this limited edition collaboration features a goddess chosen for her empowering qualities and serves as a reminder to connect with your inner being.

Anyone in our Dream Club loyalty program who has reached 'Deep Sleeper' status will be eligible to select one of these spectacular prints from our exclusive collection with Real Fun, Wow! from the 19th of September.

We spoke with Daren about this exclusive collaboration, his creative process, and how he handles creative blocks.

Air
Water
Earth
Fire

Hi Daren! We're so excited to have your work at Bed Threads. Can you share a bit about this collection of artworks?

I love working in the ethereal/dream space. That space that you enter right between being awake and drifting off to sleep. That place that feels boundless, unburdened by logic or reason. That place where your guard is down and you can be free to explore. The collection of illustrations touches on that space.

What was the inspiration behind them?

The inspiration comes from the timeless art created before me; an homage to the elements and our connection to them. The inexplicable place that we can’t explain using words.

Can you tell us how your art relates to your personality and who you are?

I love consuming and creating art that has a timeless quality. I try to craft a feeling that isn’t bound by a decade or a style. I also try to convey a level of humility through my work that captures the essence of how I have no idea what I am doing. I am no authority. I have nothing that isn’t inherently available to all of us.

How would you describe your art style?

I would usually prefer to not describe my art style. Haha. Butttt, if I must, I love anything vintage, anything that doesn’t feel like it's from ‘right now’. So I would say my art style leans more towards that desire.

Are there any recurring themes or concepts in your artwork? What draws you to explore these themes?

Nature and humanity and the connection between the two is often a place I like to explore. I try to find the connection and am quick to point out the conflict. Being a human fascinates me to no end; how we are part of it all, but we so often live in complete disharmony.

Tell us about your career journey to date. Did you always know you wanted to pursue this line of work?

This line of work happened quite organically and without any real plan. I spent most of my adult life doing menial jobs that I hated. One day I got fed up with it and made a commitment to myself that I would draw something every day, no matter what. That commitment lasted for a number of years and in short time the world around me began to notice and people started to pay me to draw for them. The next thing I knew I was a professional illustrator. From there, a natural progression of developing products and things happened and all of a sudden I was a brand! There was never a plan, and there still isn’t! Every day is a beautiful surprise!

What motivates you to create?

I love to express myself, it feels like exercising my soul. I love to keep my soul fit through my expressions. If I go too long with creating/saying something, I begin to feel pent up. I need the constant exercise to stay well.

Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start?

I usually rely pretty heavily on my mind’s eye to see what it is that I will eventually create. I need to be able to picture it, in some form or another, before I can begin. If I have a rough theme in mind I try to imagine it in its completed form and then try to translate it into form. It doesn’t always come out like I imagined, in the end, but that’s the fun part of it! You never know how it will turn out!

Who or what are your biggest artistic influences?

I know this might sound crazy, but I try to not consume too much visual art because I am always afraid that I’ll end up taking too much inspiration from an artist and then lose my uniqueness. I try to find influence from the unattributed art in the world; vintage greeting cards, old produce boxes, obscure flags – things that were created but not intended to be art. I love that stuff.

How do you balance the business side of being an artist with your creative work?

I don’t! Haha. It’s really tough. Like I said, none of this was planned so I am constantly playing catch-up on the business side of things. Making lots of mistakes along the way. Eventually, I will get to a place where my business is running smoothly and I can focus 100% of the time on the creative side, but I am not quite there yet.

How do you handle creative blocks or moments of self-doubt?

Remembering that I have had creative blocks over and over throughout my career is the best way to handle it. When I feel blocked I remember: ‘I’ve been here before and I’ve gotten through it before.’ The hardest part is giving myself enough grace to be okay with allowing the block to resolve naturally, without having to ‘fix’ it.

Can you share any upcoming projects or ideas you're excited about?

I'm looking to move into more in-person events, getting to convene with people on a new level. Being an independent artist, I spend a lot of time alone, which isn’t the healthiest thing. So I hope to, in the future, be able to share my space with others and see what comes of that!

For more from Daren follow him @realfunwow

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