Play Ethic Studio is the new biz name of Shastablasta Studio
A reintroduction! An announcement!
Hello from the newly renamed Play Ethic Studio! I’m Shasta Garcia, owner. My business has been evolving and needed a name better suited to what I’m offering; support for creatives and the creatively curious. Shastablasta remains my longtime nickname and artist moniker as it relates to my own personal art and creative explorations.
Prototyping is a design principle that I lean into — trying things out and iterating. I’m announcing a few things here today and acknowledge all the expressions of my business on the internet are always works in progress. If you’re reading this you’re sharing in my journey as I grow my business, shape the experiences I’m creating for you, and create resonant posts on Substack (where these emails are always accessible). Thank you for reading and supporting me!
Where we’ve been
For many longtime subscribers to my newsletter updates, you’ve seen me through many “Shastablasta” phases over the years. To reflect on where we’ve been here’s a short list.
Blogging about DIY paper crafts (2011 - 2016)
Being a finalist in Scotch’s gift wrapping contest (2012)
Selling cat related letterpress stationery. Anyone remember my catnip tea?
Silly Halloween costumes photo essays
Being featured in the Uppercase Compendium of Craft & Creativity (2015)
100 Day Project documentation (2015 - today)
Developing and creating watercolor palettes and art tools (2022 - today)
Starting this Substack (2024)
All alongside my design career
What’s ahead
Play Ethic has been a phrase I’ve been using for many years. It’s what I’d found to best describe how deliberate I am in cultivating creative practices and taking care when showing up and using them in the workplace. It was an alternate descriptor for “work ethic”. Now I see a broader meaning.
Play Ethic can mean taking care of our creativity and taking care of our creativity is taking care of ourselves. It’s cultivating creativity as a tool for connecting and experiencing our worlds. It’s important to maintain creative energy for the workplace and our own lives.
That’s what I intend to bring to you here on Substack and into the Play Ethic Studio business. This is not a 180 of what I’ve been sending to your inbox. It’s broadening and focusing simultaneously the creative musings I send your way.
What does play ethic mean to you?
You can reply to this email, add a comment, or message me!
New offering: Creativity and design coaching
An important achievement over this past fall/winter was completing life coach training and acquiring my coaching certificate! As a human-centered experience designer, one of my favorite parts of the process is research into understanding client needs related to the product or service being designed; bringing empathy and translating it into solutions to solve problems.
Creativity and design coaching is a human-centered experience. As a coach, I’m able to bring my design and strategic thinking skills together with coaching tools to aid clients in designing their lives.
There is more to share about my coach offerings. This has been a big announcement already. For now, if you’re curious to learn more about becoming a client or to book a connection session, please message me!
Looking forward to supporting your play ethic,
shasta
Two workshops for color mixing confidence. On sale now!
Discount when purchasing both classes as a bundle!
Watercolor theory and pigment basics
Start with the basics of color theory. From three colors to many.
Sunday May, 4 @ Arch Art Supplies
11:30 am – 2pm
Nature and neutrals watercolor theory
Then gain an understanding of blues, greens, and grays for a well-rounded approach to color for natural settings. Both classes are beginner friendly. Take one or both!
Sunday May, 18 @ Arch Art Supplies
11:30 am – 2pm
Congrats, Shasta — great to see you moving in this direction