Art As Utility
“Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.”
~Bertolt Brecht
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been obsessed with one question: Where does art meet utility?
In the fine art world, most sculptures and paintings serve as aesthetic experiences—beautiful, thought-provoking, but often static. They fill rooms with style or signal status. Sometimes they’re nothing more than high-value collector’s items or a wealthy individual’s tax write-off. They exist to be looked at, not lived with.
But what happens when art becomes useful?
Architecture is the clearest example. Every building, home, or interior design exists at the intersection of form and function. A well-designed space doesn’t just look good; it transforms how we feel and interact. Step into a cathedral or a minimalist studio apartment, and you immediately sense the power of design. Art becomes utility when it changes the experience of everyday life.
Furniture and product design push this concept even further. A beautifully crafted chair or a cleverly designed gadget doesn’t just exist—it works. It solves problems. It adds value to the small, unnoticed moments of daily life. That, I think, is the pinnacle of art’s potential: to make someone’s life easier, better, or more enjoyable in a tangible way.
Where My Work Fits
As a 3D artist and designer, I’ve spent years creating media—videos that attract new business, logos that make brands memorable, and animations that tell complex stories in seconds. These projects are rewarding, and I’m grateful for the impact they’ve had.
But digital media is fleeting. It lives on the internet, where it’s consumed, scrolled past, and eventually buried under an endless flood of new content.
Lately, I’ve been asking myself: What happens when the camera stops rolling? What happens when the screen turns off?
Art You Can Hold
If you’ve followed my work, you know I’m obsessed with customizing everything in my life. My studio, my gear, my clothing—it’s all tailored to fit not just my style but my function. Everything I use daily is an extension of my creative process, serving as both tool and inspiration.
But one item remained generic: my notebook.
I use a notebook every single day—to draw, brainstorm, and map out ideas. Yet for years, I’ve used the same uninspired, blank black books. They get the job done, sure, but they lack personality. They don’t reflect the creativity they’re meant to capture.
And that realization got me thinking: Why not turn one of the most essential tools in my daily life into a canvas for my art?
For the past three months, I’ve been creating weekly 3D animated stories on Instagram, inspired by the topics and ideas that excite me most. These stories are vibrant, complex, and deeply personal. But like so much digital content, they risk fading into the noise of the internet.
So I decided to give them a second life.
My Notebooks
I partnered with a manufacturing company to create a line of hardcover notebooks featuring exclusive designs from my animations. Each notebook is wrapped in a full-coverage print of my work, turning a functional tool into a conversation starter, a source of inspiration, and a piece of art you can hold.
This isn’t just about style—it’s about blending art with utility. Prints are nice, but they hang on walls and are rarely touched. A notebook, on the other hand, is used. It becomes a daily companion, a vessel for your thoughts, sketches, and ideas.
There are 24 designs available now, and each one carries a story. If you’ve ever been inspired by my work, or if you’re looking for something unique to fuel your own creativity, I’d love for you to check them out.
When I create something, I want it to live beyond a screen. I want it to be held, used, and loved. These notebooks are my way of sharing not just my art but my belief in the power of creativity to transform even the most ordinary parts of life.
If one of these designs resonates with you, consider supporting me by purchasing a notebook. And if you do, send me a message on Instagram—I might just have a surprise for you.
Thanks for reading. Now go create something amazing.
-P