We’ve gotten in touch with L.J. to catch up on the changes since the last post. He wrote: “My creative process has always remained the same – I’d say the biggest change recently has been the number of images people have been tagging the account in – it’s been exposing me to a lot of various sports photos that I never previously would have seen. In terms of watching sports, I always have Twitter open, which tends to lend itself well to discovering new content. There are a number of accounts that share images from live events, and I tend to stumble across them on social media. In terms of art, I’m always going to new museums and galleries – I’m actually in Morocco now and then on to Paris, and planning to head to museums there where I’ll be discovering a host of new content.”
Any creative work that we do constantly does affect our lives. L.J. shared how these comparisons and looking for them have influenced his life. “They’ve allowed me to challenge myself, which keeps me sharp in my daily life. It’s also helped me balance – I only have a limited amount of time to spend on them, so in order to keep the account fresh, I prioritize and budget and it’s helped keep my whole life organized. I’ve also made a number of friendships and connections through the account that would not otherwise have been possible.”
Before L.J. started his collection of images, you might have thought that sports are for dummies. But it is closer to 'intellectual' art than you think. “I think when people view art, they already bring their own lens to the table, interpreting it in a variety of different ways. However, I hope my account can inspire people to view sports differently, both athletes and sports photographers. I’ve started to get a lot of messages from people saying the account has helped them appreciate sports and other people who write in saying they’ve learned a lot about art & art history. Feedback like that is why I keep the account going.”
To deliver the freshest content for his audience, L.J. is always looking for new art pieces. “Whether it’s on trips, like I happen to be on now, or living in New York City, where there are new shows and galleries constantly popping up, I’m always on the lookout for fresh artwork and inspiration. People always tag the account when they see sports photos, but I’d love it if more people sent in art (if you’re reading this, DM us with some of your favorite new/niche pieces)!”
We always have a mindset of what is next, therefore L.J. shared his future and current plans with us. “I was getting a lot of messages from people looking to buy merchandise (hats, t-shirts, etc.), so I decided to create a Shopify store. You’ll be able to find it at artbutmakeitsports.com – feel free to buy some if you want to support the account! It’s less about making money and more about learning how to make & grow a business – I’ve really enjoyed that aspect of it. I’ve also started doing a few collaborations, and I’m curating a space at the upcoming Palm Springs Art Fair February 10-12th that’s exploring the intersection between art and sports.”
And lastly, he added: “Thanks for all the support! I truly appreciate everyone who follows and interacts with the account. Don’t hesitate to reach out.”
