Artist Statement
My name is Archer Seaborn, and art is the only thing I can see myself doing in the future. The first time I saw the movie Spirited Away, I was instantly enraptured in an idolized dream of artistry. For the past four years, there has not been a single day where, in some fashion, I have not taken a pen to paper. I make art in my own time quite obsessively. This starts with a planning phase where I quickly fill a sketchbook with messy thumbnails and map out possible solutions keeping in mind tone, proportion, and viewpoint. If I need a reference, and I cannot find an in-person solution, I opt to take videos of my friends or myself. I usually post the end result on my social media, but I have taken part in a few exhibitions. I also had some of my art displayed in my community college. These experiences opened me up to sharing my art and got me very comfortable with criticism. I find a lot of my art explores my relationship with femininity as a Trans individual, that being confusing, frustrating, and almost robotic at times. However, I make a lot of my art in hopes of connecting with people. There are feelings I have that I find incredibly hard to describe, and I hope that even my silliest drawings can explain them to their fullest. I look forward to my future with art, and I hope you will join me for it!

What work do you currently have at ShopColumbia?
I have filled ShopColumbia with cryptids and spongy animals. I say spongy because that is how they look to me. Big eyes, big feelings, very spongy. I have stickers of lovable animals and spooky monsters, as well as prints with more serious themes. I love them both equally.

 

What inspired you to create this series of work?

The stickers are created because, in general, they make me laugh. If I draw something silly, and it makes me laugh at least once while drawing, then I put it up for sale in hopes that it makes others laugh the same way!

The monster stickers are around because I love drawing strange, friendly creatures. Something that would be comforting late at night as the monster under your bed or in your closet. They may steal the occasional sock or sandwich, but they certainly aren’t going to eat you… maybe.

My prints are a bit older. They describe how I feel about my own experience with femininity, but, in all honesty, I kind of just love clowns… robots… clown-robots.

In what ways do you think you have benefited from being a ShopColumbia artist?

ShopColumbia has allowed me to showcase my work in a way I was not able to before. It is not the first shop I have sold my work with, but it has led to the most connections and longest standing relationship I have had with a retailer! The staff and leadership has been super wonderful to work with.

Give us an update about recent project/artistic life events; what’s next for you?
I am about to enter my senior year at Columbia as an Animation BA, and I am starting to work on my final film. Honestly, I am terrified to continue on into the world without college, but I know that, wherever I end up, I will be happy as long as I am drawing. I plan on becoming a character designer- er storyboard artist, uh no… animator? Well, I’ve got a year before I inevitably decide to try and do all three. Wish me Luck!

Shop more of Archer's work in-store and online!