G ROOVY ART TH IS WORLD THAT IS OUT OF G ROOVY ART TH IS WORLD

My name is Maisie Kane. I am 23 and a digital collage artist. My work is best described as vintage-styled, surrealist, digital collage art that is otherworldly, vibrant, imaginative and a bit psychedelic, with strong themes of nature and space. I started making my artwork back in 2019 while I was still in college. I was studying digital media and photography, and getting acquainted with the Adobe Suite. During a break, I went to NYC and had an idea to make an Instagram account for fun, where I would Photoshop giraffes doing things, like climbing skyscrapers, riding the subway, etc. The more I played around with Photoshop, something inside me clicked, and I realized I could do so much more than just editing giraffes doing things. I began experimenting with scale and various concepts and my work evolved into what it is today, where you may see giant mushrooms hovering over swimming pools on the moon, or coral reefs above land. Although I drifted away from giraffes, I continued to post my work on @giraffesdoingthings

Written and images by featured artist Maisie Kane

Once I graduated college in 2021 with my degree in digital media and photography, I decided I would stick with my art, which at that point was just a hobby, and attempt to turn it into a business. That summer, I was gaining more of a following on social media and began making an income from my work that I was able to live off of. I continued to post my work on Instagram and also began posting my work to TikTok. I noticed people were very interested in the creative process. I found TikTok to be a useful platform to help teach people about making digital collage art. TikTok has served as a great tool for getting my work out to a larger audience, which ultimately has led to more sales, commissions and brand deals. I currently live in NYC and to this day still make art as my full-time job. My income comes in various ways. I sell my work on Redbubble, on products such as t-shirts, tote bags, stickers, prints, home décor, and more. I take commissions in the form of album and cover art, as well as personal commissions. I do freelance for people and companies who are seeking designs with my style. Along with an occasional brand deal, I am aiming to sell more digital prints on Etsy and NFTs.

SAY CHEESE > < KOI

Something I love to do in my work is merge together underwater environments with our above ground environment. The shift of perspective is eye catching and intriguing.

The biggest inspirations for my work come from the natural world. Growing up, the forest was my playground. I am from Vermont, the Green Mountain State, and when I was three years old, my parents moved us to Monteverde (which in English translates to green mountain), Costa Rica, where we lived on and off for 15 years. My childhood was completely immersed in the forest and jungle. I was a very curious kid and spent most of my free time walking through the forest, collecting flowers and dried leaves, picking up insects, even some snakes, rescuing injured animals, and admiring birds through binoculars for hours. Nature has always played an important role in my life, so it is of no surprise that my artwork is completely focused on the natural world.

Purple Mushrooms

When I first started my work, I used lots of space imagery, but overtime my work has shifted and space themes aren't as common as they once were in my work. Today, my work is well balanced between looking mature, but also playful and imaginative. Space work can come across as cheesy very easily. I love this piece because it does not cross the line of cheesiness, but remains imaginative and otherworldly.

MUSHROOM HOUSE >

The story in my head around this image is that a man wanted to grow moss on his roof but magically grew these giant mushrooms out of nowhere and is trying to keep them under control. Representing how the best things in life happen unexpectedly.

My advice for fellow creatives or people who would like to begin their creative journey: The one thing that has really helped my success as an artist has been consistency. A few years back, I told myself I had to make one collage a day. It did not matter if it was good or bad, but regardless I would make it. Doing this forced me to improve not only my Photoshop skills, but also my creativity. Creativity is a muscle just like any other. The more you use it on a consistent basis, the stronger it becomes. Practice every day without worry of what the outcome looks like.

Unleashing The Octopuss

This is one of my first pieces where I began to experiment more with vintage imagery collected from old retro ads. People loved this image a lot and it really was a milestone of growth and change in my work.

TUCKED IN >

A concept I love working with is placing women as giants in landscapes, while keeping a regular sized person in the image for scale. I love this because I see myself in these women. They're often sleeping or in their own world, unaware that someone is even watching them. I am a serial daydreamer and am always off in my own little world, sometimes unaware of what's going on around me.

My work is available for purchase on Redbubble, Etsy and Opensea, by searching my name, “MaisieKane.” For general inquiries or commissions, you can email me at maisiekane@gmail.com. To see more of my collection, visit my website at MaisieKane.com Let's be friends: @giraffesdoingthings @maisiekane

Reaching Out

This is another image in which simplicity proves to be effective. I love how the image is as 3D as you can get for a 2D image.

TRAVEL THE WHIRL >

This image is scary yet enticing. It looks like a scene from one of those Tsunami movies where the wave is forming yet nobody is running yet. This image provokes curiosity about what may be inside the whirl, making you want to go towards it not away.

< LETS TAKE A RIDE

This is one of my favorite pieces yet. I love that the women are gracefully sunbathing on this ray while it sweeps the ocean floor unscathed.

SMOKE >

This piece is meant to show how smoking can appear glamorous, but the cloud coming from her mouth is that of an explosion or pollution, representing how harmful smoking is.

< ISLAND SLEEP

When I originally thought of this piece, I had the intention of having it provoke a feeling of isolation, with the woman on the island. However, the end result went in a different direction. I love how the woman is isolated but it comes off as serene and peaceful. Having time to be alone in this vast and beautiful world is sometimes exactly what you need.

SHE WAS THE MOON >

When I look at this image, it makes me want to be that woman. She seems so comfortable, like the moon is her secret hideaway spot.

ABOUT OUR COVER IMAGE: UNDER THE TULIPS

There is something very magical about this collage and the perspective of the tulips. You feel immersed in this fairyland of flowers, where life is slow and easy, and people lounge by the pool all day. This remains one of my most successful pieces of work and has resonated with many. This collage is only made up of 3 images, the pool, the tulips, and the sky. This collage proves that not all work needs to be complex or take hours to make in order to provoke a strong reaction.

ABOUT OUR TABLE OF CONTENTS IMAGE: SUNRISE ADDICT

I would almost always choose summer as my favorite month. Sunlight is healing and joyful, and brings an abundance of life. I love this piece because it shows the desperation and need humans have for sun, but has playful take on doing a line of “sunshine cocaine.”

COME AND MEET THOSE DANCING FEET.

One of Broadwayʼs longest-running musicals, 42nd Street tells the story of a humble, young actress who comes to the big city to be in a Broadway musical. With luck and hard work, she becomes a star! Showcasing spectacular dance routines, lavish costumes, and wonderful songs, this Tony Award-winning musical will lift your spirits and have you dancing all the way home.