Against the background of a busy spring full of residencies, exhibitions, and workshops, something exciting has been brewing in the background…the revival of my previous brand, Play with Pigments!
Before I branded my art business under my name Makara Thach Sernett, I was Play with Pigments for the longest time. It started while I was living in Fairbanks, Alaska, many years ago at the beginning of my art journey. Play with Pigments focused heavily on paint parties that I would host, where I was able to teach people how to paint various pieces. I talk about this experience often on social media, since I’m so frequently thinking about the artwork I created during this time. Play with Pigments shifted into so many things; selling art at art fairs, creating coloring books, etc. It was an exciting time and the branding accompanied me while I moved from Fairbanks, to Georgetown, Texas, then 3 different cities in South Korea, and finally to Louisville.
I eventually rebranded to Makara Thach Sernett after I moved to Louisville, in order to focus less on paint parties & teaching classes, and expand opportunities under my own name. However, I always wanted to reboot Play with Pigments, and do more with this section of my business beyond just painting; crafting, sculpting, anything. I always wanted it to be the more playful part of my art world, with an accessible curriculum. As I’ve built my personal branding in Louisville, I’ve kept this goal in mind in the background.
Well, the time has come! The MTS team has been building slowly over the past year, and we’ve finally reached a point where reviving Play with Pigments feels like the next step. What excites me most about this relaunch is the opportunity to have two worlds collide without feelings like I’m sacrificing anything. I can have more serious fine art, but also have the more fun and playful teaching I really enjoyed. Play with Pigments has always been about creative exploration, not mastery. It’s about trying something new, making a mess, learning a skill, and leaving with the confidence to keep creating. As the program grows, I hope to offer a wider range of workshops and experiences that invite people into the creative process, regardless of their background or experience level.
While my work under the Makara Thach Sernett name will continue to focus on my fine art practice, exhibitions, and larger projects, Play with Pigments will become a home for education, experimentation, and community engagement. In many ways, it feels less like creating something new and more like returning to a part of myself that has been waiting patiently in the wings.
There’s still plenty of work to do, and I’m excited to share more details as things develop. For now, I’m simply happy to say: welcome back, Play with Pigments.
Yours truly,
Makara