Spotlight
Discover something new!
Our Almost Real Things Artist Spotlight is composed of emerging artists, musicians, filmmakers, local organizations and entrepreneurs we’ve chosen to feature online and in our print issues.
Released March 13th, 2020
Sean Thornton
Issue 17 contributor Sean Thornton is a fan of tradition. He does not stray away from his linear process when painting.
What is your artistic...
Scott Rolfe
Assemblage artist & Issue 17 contributor Scott Rolfe transforms everyday objects into eccentric animal sculptures and machines.
What is your artistic process like?
When looking at...
Sapira Design
Issue 17 contributor Samantha Jacobson, aka Sapira Design, had fun making her mixed media portraits of women.
What is your artistic process like?
With all of...
Russell Brxwn
Issue 17 contributor & our former resident artist Russell Brxwn always plays music to get him into the art-making groove.
What is your artistic process...
Released September 1st, 2019
How Finances Can Impact Mental Health
Collaboration piece from five members of the MannMukti community.
When we began to brainstorm about content for our money themed Issue 15, we knew how...
How To: CMBXP
The Creatives Meet Business Experience (CMBXP) begins next week, so if you haven’t bought your tickets already, there is no time to waste.
What is...
Artists in Residence: Fabian Rey
In April we partnered with Pump Project to offer a 6-month residency to two artists in our community: Fabian Rey and Russell Brxwn.
They came...
Artists in Residence: Russell Brxwn
In April we partnered with Pump Project to offer a 6-month residency to two artists in our community: Fabian Rey and Russell Brxwn.
They came...
Released May 16th, 2019
Meena Matai
Issue 14 contributor Meena Matai creates vibrant, playful art through a meditative process.
How does Issue 14's theme "vivid" relate to your work?
The main message...
Kalee Espitia
Issue 14 contributor Kalee Espitia is a self-taught Mexican-American painter. Born and raised in Phoenix Arizona, her first love was the burnt hues of...
Brittany Johnson
Issue 14 contributor Brittany Johnson is best known for her use of vibrant colors and colorful portraits of female figures.
What is your artistic process...
LIT LANGUAGE
Hey Fam! Ready for a game?
Lit Language will test your knowledge of generational slang from the past few decades. Draw a line to each...
Released February 12th, 2019
Roxolana Krywonos
Issue 13 contributor Roxolana Krywonos dabbles in a broad range of artistic endeavors, all linked by the common thread of striving to be authentically...
Adrian Patenaude
Issue 13 contributor Adrian Patenaude shares her experience between two different worlds, growing up both in Thailand and Texas.
Putting home into words
By Adrian Patenaude
As...
Artist Anonymous: Will Crochet
If you’re roaming around Austin’s east side, I suggest studying the telephone poles. With most of them covered in street art, they are like...
Beyond a Sketch: Vogue Vignette Explores the...
Issue 13 has arrived and in the spirit of the theme, Identity, we’re taking a closer look at the contributors behind each article.
A couple of...
Released September 1st, 2018
Elizabeth Carrington
Double Issue 11 & 12 contributor Elizabeth Carrington combines graphic imagery, text and color to create colorful, pop-art paintings.
How does your art relate to...
Mike Boland
Double Issue 11 & 12 contributor Mike Boland constructs soft curves out of unusually stiff materials.
How does your art relate to Issue 11 &...
Thriving Together: How Imagine Art Connects All...
Twenty one years ago, Debbie Kizer started Imagine Art with the goal of using art to offer education and access to a population that...
Released May 1st, 2018
Brianna Vance
Issue 10 contributor Brianna Vance experiments with new materials to keep her art process fresh.
The theme for Issue 10 is Material. Can you share...
Stacy “Pineapple” Wheeler & the Art of...
The first thing I noticed about Stacy Wheeler was the pineapple on her head.
I spotted her tropical-inspired balloon hat in the sea of people...
Adrienne Hodge
Issue 10 contributor Adrienne Hodge layers different types of inks to create her signature ethereal style.
The theme for Issue 10 is Material. Can you...
Sticking Together: Community Art in Pease Park
This month, renowned artist Patrick Dougherty and several hundred volunteers began constructing Yippee Ki Yay: a natural sculpture made of local tree saplings and...
Released January 1st, 2018
Dane Gudde & Sustainable Woodworking
Issue 09 contributor Dane Gudde, shares how he uses trees to their full potential – by creating sustainable "heirloom piece" furniture.
How did you get...
Invest in Yourself: Tiffany Lemieux’s Approach to...
Tiffany Lemieux, founder of Lemieux's Cleaning Company, shares more about the new mindset she has adopted after starting her own venture.
Tiffany Lemieux is a...
Nicholas McCann
Nicholas McCann describes his Desert of the Soul poetry series as his dream state, living state and home state. He shared his poetry in...
Collaborating with Local Companies with Lisa Belcher
It takes teamwork to accomplish something as large as a professionally produced film. So how do you jump into the process as a new...
Released October 1st, 2017
A Meal to Remember
There's been quite a bit of press coverage on Mathew Peters lately and deservedly so. He's the first U.S. chef to win fold at...
Biz-B-Q: How your Business is like Brisket
You just know when brisket is perfectly done. The scent of slightly charred meat, salt, pepper and spice infused with the smoke of live...
The Perks of Having No Money
Experiment with food you've been saving for a natural disaster
A bowl of Cheerios for dinner is sad, but a bowl of salad with homemade...
History & Memories at Austin’s Armadillo Christmas...
WITH ANNE JOHNSON, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER AND GENERAL MANAGER
The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar will run 11am-10pm daily from December 14-24 at the Palmer Events Center.
HOW DID...
Released July 1st, 2017
The Musical Cookbook feat. Cloudchord
Cloudchord shares his “secret recipe” for a great track within his scene. It’s less about the formula and more about the tools and workflow...
Wet Salon and Studio: Austin’s Most Eclectic...
Eric Massey and Jimmy Haddox have been holding down hair on South Congress for 17 successful years, watching businesses come and go and the...
Solar Talks by Fresh Energy Solar
You've heard of Ted Talks. We bring you Solar Talks. Have you recently looked into "Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems" but simply needed a few...
The Enchanting Paintings of Becca Gordon
DFW native turned Austinite Becca Gordon has developed an abstract painting style that is uniquely her own.
Raised by her classical musician parents, Becca grasped the concept...
Released April 1st, 2017
Lisa Belcher and “The Gift”
We caught up with local filmmaker Lisa Belcher to chat about her new short film "The Gift" which premiered in Austin at the end...
A Means Without an End with Chris...
I first came across Chris Long's pottery at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar.
I was drawn to it by the hand crafted elements and simplicity...
Austin’s Mysterious Music Artist Known Only as...
fuvk is a songwriter who is continuously releasing engaging and personal music to every season of the year. We tracked her down to chat...
Anxiety Land: The Game of Pursuing Your...
So you want to pursue a passion project but you're stuck in anxiety mode.
Your guts and your heart are ready to make things happen,...
Released January 1st, 2017
IGAustinTexas Fosters Creativity, One Square at a...
IGAustinTexas was founded in March of 2015 by Javier Gonzalez.
It is a community group dedicated to fostering creativity within Austin, Texas through the Instagram...
Come As You Are with Gert Johan...
Upon arriving to Johan's home AKA "The Dutch Barn" we were greeted by a friendly barking dog.
As we opened his gate a few more...
Making Memories with Emree Weaver
Words: Marque Blackman
Hotel Van Zandt has a crowded cocktail lounge on Friday nights, but an endless barrage of shoulder bumping wasn’t enough to deter...
The Stress Free Alternative to Tipping
Imagine a world where servers were paid enough to take pride in their job without pandering for precious tip money to survive?
Imagine a society...
Released September 1st, 2016
Sculptor and Installation Artist: Kelly Johnston
Kelly Johnston was featured in our double issue, 03 & 04. You can see more of her work on her website.
Julie Pelaez Transcends Control in her Artistic...
Julie Pelaez was exposed to art at a young age. She was born into an artistic family, which immersed her in creative thinking from...
Doodler’s Pair-a-Dice
Practice your doodling skills with this DIY pair of dice!
With an incredible 36 combinations, you'll have plenty of ideas to choose from. Tag us...
Doodling and Designing with Logan Lockett
One thing that is apparent in all of Logan Lockett’s illustrations is his sense of humor.
He transforms doodles into more than a sketch on...
Released May 1st, 2016
In Between Art and Music with Jeremy...
Mixed media artist and sculptor Jeremy Earhart creates ornamentally detailed pieces that appeal to your childhood nostalgia.
We met Jeremy at SXSW 2014, shortly after...
License All Citizens, Register All Vehicles says...
New national bill requires citizens, including children of all ages, to pass driving test and carry license to operate all wheeled vehicles.
This includes but...
Tesla Takes Commanding Lead of Renewable Energy...
Today Tesla has overtaken the combined market value of General Motors and The Ford Motor Company.
With just shy of one million vehicles sold last...
Rolling Up The Issues with Jenn Hassin
Texas born Jenn Hassin focuses on her process to achieve visually intricate and impactful art.
At once monotonous and obsessive, Jenn rolls each piece of...
Released January 1st, 2016
Illustrations by Elisa Wikey
Austin based Illustrator Elisa Wikey has an incredible sense of humor. She also possesses the talents to combine that humor with the cutest little illustrations we've...
Graffiti Art by Vandal
Graffiti artist Vandal is everywhere. One look at his Instagram and you can see his colorful, drippy trademark mesh well with all mediums from spray paint to...
Illustrations by Graham Franciose
Beloved Austin based Illustrator Graham Franciose understands subtle emotion. Each of his pieces is full of thought and his characters seem to ponder you as you peruse...
Prints by Cathy Savage
Printmaking and Mixed Media artist Cathy Savage loves exploring the nuances of her art.
Her excitement with mathematics and scientific theories shines through her work and...