
Here at IPaintMyMind, we have a pretty unique model. It’s self-sustaining, and if rendered artistically, makes an absolutely perfect wheel. We call it the Wheel of Impact, and it illustrates the way that our services create a feedback loop where art and action create social change. Our big idea is that by sourcing art and creating programs that give back to our communities, we can turn art into impact.
Our organization started in 2009 as a blog and a virtual space to celebrate working artists. Our founder, Evan La Ruffa, is an artist himself, and has prioritized artists since Day 1. This brings us to the first of three problems which IPaintMyMind sets out to address. Artists don’t get paid or supported enough. Too many artists have to have other jobs to support themselves, and relegate art to a side hustle. Oftentimes, artists are exploited and taken advantage of, not paid upfront or for what they are worth.
Yet artists fulfill one of the most important roles in our communities. They bring us together, tell our stories, and inspire us. At IPMM, we do our best to treat artists with the respect and dignity that they deserve. We buy prints from new artists at their rates, never asking for anything for free. We celebrate them on our blog and social media, and get to know them through interviews and workshops. We also feature their work in our Shared Walls™ program and through art rentals to businesses. If we get an art consulting call, or are asked to commission a mural, we reach out to our pool of partner artists. If our artists succeed, so do we.
We maintain relationships with each artist, publicizing upcoming shows or drops. We cultivate a community of artists, putting them in contact with each other and with new potential clients. We want to be that support system that is so hard to come by in the often solitary experience of working as an artist.
Whether you’re a classroom teacher teaching art for the first time or an art teacher who could use a simple refresher, check...
March 27, 2023We love receiving artwork from our Shared Walls partners across the city, showing us what they’re up...
March 26, 2023At IPaintMyMind, we are super passionate about screen prints. When our founder, Evan La Ruffa, first started collecting art, he couldn’t...
March 24, 2023