Featured Artist: Carrin Tanaka of Gliss Prints
Carrin Tanaka is a Los Angeles-based music composer and graphic designer who turns music concepts into visual artwork. Carrin holds a degree in music composition and has found her niche collaborating with filmmakers and writing music for media. In tandem with musical pursuits, she also owns and operates Gliss Prints, an online music print store. Music lovers around the world have displayed Carrin’s design work in various types of spaces, including classrooms, music studios, offices, hotels, libraries, and film and theater sets. A few dedicated musicians have even tattooed Gliss Prints designs on their body! Carrin was recently commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to design a set of exclusive print designs to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Check out her Featured Artist Page!
Can you share the story behind the creation of Gliss Prints?
There were a couple factors that led me to create Gliss Prints! I like to keep music theory and orchestration charts handy during my composing process so I can reference them if needed. I thought it would be great to have aesthetically-pleasing versions to keep on my workspace walls as functional decor. I thoroughly searched and couldn’t find what I was looking for, so I decided to dust off my graphic design skills and create them myself. I opened an Etsy shop to see if anyone else would be interested in these functional, music theory designs and it took off from there! This project also came to me at a point when I was frustrated with my music and I was subconsciously reaching for a low-pressure hobby. I was thankful for the additional creative outlet and enjoyed learning how to manage an online store.
How did your musical background influence your journey?
I wouldn’t have been able to create Gliss Prints without my music background. I have a degree in music composition, so having a solid understanding of the music theory concepts enabled me to get creative with making graphic representations of them.
How did you come up with the name Gliss Prints?
There’s really no deep meaning here. I absolutely love glissandos in music, so I chose this term to represent my shop. A glissando is when one note glides or slides to another…. Maybe gliss could represent music gliding into design? We’ll go with that!
What are some parallels you've found between composing and designing?
Music was my main art form for a long time, but after spending a few years now digging deeper into design, I have found that the creative processes are incredibly similar. This is something I did not expect at all! A poster design can start with some basic shapes, images and text, much like a composition can start with a basic melodic/harmonic structure and rhythm. Both design and music can be more interesting when different textures and colors are incorporated. For me, it’s crucial to have a strong initial concept, establish the basic form first and then run with it. The hard part is not second-guessing your initial idea.
How do you balance multiple creative outlets?
I enjoy having multiple projects going on at once. If I’m hitting a creative block with one, I can take a step back and work on something completely different. I’m also a fan of physically writing in a daily planner; I designed one to fit my specific needs. I highly recommend using the “pomodoro” method when working on tasks!
Has your creative style evolved over time?
My creative style evolves with new tools and skills. I am a self-taught designer, so when I started Gliss Prints, I had a lot to learn with Illustrator/Photoshop. As I added to my toolbox, my designs progressed. It is the same with composition. There are infinite tools to learn and incorporate, whether it’s with orchestration, music production, etc.
Can you highlight a favorite design of yours?
I think the designs in my concert poster series has really defined my design style. I had a blast creating them and they are some of my best sellers. They’re the perfect canvas to incorporate new design techniques. This series of posters also led me to collaborate with the Los Angeles Philharmonic! I had the honor of designing a collection of posters inspired pieces in their 23-24” season.
Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self?
My advice to my younger self would be the same advice I have for my adult self. It’s progress over perfection! Allow yourself to create something “bad” or “ugly” or imperfect because you’re building skills along the way. Don’t let perfectionism hold you back from releasing work. In some cases, done truly is better than perfect. This is honestly still a struggle for me, but design has helped a lot with my creative confidence.
Do you have any upcoming projects or goals you are excited about and want to share?
My freelance work has expanded since starting Gliss Prints. I have a couple design commissions in the works. Gliss Prints has also started to expand into doing wholesale orders and I’ve been enjoying working with other small businesses.
What is your favorite song/composer/play/show?
Most of the music I listen to these days are from film/tv. I absolutely love Jonny Greenwood. He takes a concert music approach to scoring and I think his music is incredibly unique. I’m also a fan of Nicholas Britell, Mica Levi, Laura Karpman… Check them out if you haven’t heard their music!
