Win this watercolor map print by Jessica Durrant!
Anyone who likes Loki Loki on Facebook, follows @lokitimestwo on Twitter, and/or signs up for the Loki Loki mailing list in the next two weeks (between now and midnight EST on November 15, 2011), will be entered for a chance to win an 8.5″ x 11″ print from Jessica’s World Map Series (a $25 priceless value).
Like, follow, and subscribe for three chances to win!
A little over a year ago I was working with Alexandra Greenawalt, fashion stylist extraordinaire, on her logo and website designs. It being her industry, Alexandra had the idea to feature a fashion illustration of herself on the site, so she reached out to an artist she found on Etsy to commission the custom piece… And that’s how I became aware of the amazingly talented Jessica Durrant.
Fast-forward a year and I’m completely overwhelmed at the idea of finding a photograph for my own website bio. Lightbulb moment: I love Alexandra’s illustration—that’s what I should do too! I might not be in the fashion industry in the strictest sense, but fashion certainly inspires everything I do… I reached out to Jessica and before I knew it, I was commissioning my very own portrait. The process was new to me, and I’m sure I was a bit too picky (we can’t help but be most critical when we’re the subjects!), but Jessica was never anything short of gracious, patient, and beyond-kind in all of our communications. After several drafts (first in pencil to get the pose, then with color, then with some details altered, then, finally, the final), I honestly couldn’t be happier with it. Not only is it a unique way to represent myself without defaulting to a photo, it adds texture, depth, interest, and art to my website… Something I strive for here and with my clients’ projects.
An illustrated journey of the creative process behind the Jessica Durrant portrait of me on the About page of this site:
The Loki Loki Q&A with Jessica Durrant, Illustrator
Jessica Durrant is an Atlanta-based freelance illustrator with a passion for fashion and a killer (and super popular) Etsy store. Her fashion- and travel-inspired pieces are vivid, imaginative, and timeless, and her watercolor drips and splatters add a high-art edge. In addition to the aforementioned portrait of me, Jessica also illustrated the storefront on the homepage of this site and has collaborated with me for the first in a series of home/body stress-relief iPhone and iPad apps (Like, follow, and/or subscribe for news on its up-coming release)… And I hope/plan to continue to work with her again and again!
Tell us a bit about your art training/background:
I’ve been drawing since I could pick up a pencil. I concentrated on art more in high school in large part due to the encouragement of my art teacher, Ms. Lyle; it was only natural for me to study art in college. My emphasis was in illustration, but I also started interning and then working at our school’s art gallery. I was afraid to get out of school and try to make it as an artist at that point in my life—I felt safety in looking for work in the arts administration side of things. So I worked at a couple of art museums. I loved doing that for a couple of years, but I knew I needed to get back into the process of creating—I missed being drawing and painting. When I came back home from my first trip to Europe at 25, a fire was lit inside of me to create again. It was a long process of doing little things here and there until circumstances at the end of the Summer of 2009 allowed me to see clearly that it was a now-or-never type situation: either I was going to give it my all, try to create artwork that I could be proud of and get it out there, or I was never going to do anything about it. Two years later to be illustrating full-time and selling personal work in my Etsy shop is a dream come true.
What inspires you?
So many things can inspire an artist. I would say the biggest inspirations for me are other artists, nature, fashion, traveling, and music.
I know you teach art, you have your Etsy store, and you also do custom commissions (hallelujah!)… Do you think that diversifying is a necessary part of being a working artist?
I sure do! In college you are well aware to make it as a full-time artist isn’t something that happens overnight or something that happens for everyone. Most artists will not get out of school and sell a painting for $10,000—that is extremely rare. There are no shortcuts to becoming a great artist, but because we live in 2011 there are so many ways to earn money through your art now more than ever. It’s a tough profession—always has been, always will be. But if you have determination to pay the bills with it, you’ll find a way to make it work.
What do you find most challenging about being a working artist?
It can be that you work in solitude. But that is also something that can work for you as well. It’s also knowing that it is highly underappreciated profession, even in 2011. When you tell someone you’re an artist either the person thinks it’s the coolest thing ever, or they think you’re lying and it’s just a hobby. That kind of b.s. gets so many artists riled up.
Most rewarding?
I get paid to draw.
What advice would you give an illustrator wanting to build a business?
Start with the basics: have a strong portfolio that you are proud of, get some business cards and a website. When you don’t get the jobs or work you want, take that time to keep building the best portfolio you can. I always use my slower times to create my personal work.
What do you think is the key to your Etsy success?
Hah. It took a while to figure out Etsy! I didn’t know a soul who used it at that point in my life. Make sure to tag and describe your work as best as you can so that it’s very search friendly. Have great photos or scans of your work. And of course, relist as much as you can. Getting my work on the front page numerous times has opened doors for me. Even if you are spending $20 a month on relisting in the beginning, look at it as an investment and a platform to find an audience that will love and buy your work. You’ve got to spend money to make money, you know?
I know you have some exciting projects/news as of late (HGTV, Anthropologie, etc.). Can you tell us a little bit about them and how they came about?
Sure! Well, I licensed some illustrations to a children’s clothing company called Curio & Kind—a line that sells at Nordstrom and other U.S. retailers. It will be out Spring 2012 and I’m super proud of the quality of the line and what illustrations they choose to use. A couple of weeks ago, someone from Emily Henderson of HGTV‘s team contacted me about using one of my illustrations in her gift guide—will reveal more on that soon via my website and blog! And an Antrhopologie store in Westport, CT will be displaying some of my work in their store in 2012. And loads more of things that I can’t always share because that is the way the business works. I’m still shocked when people contact me about new exciting projects—sometimes I feel like they’ve plucked me out of obscurity… But then I remind myself that I’ve worked hard to stay true to myself and only create things I love and that were inspired. I think people can tell that. At least I hope so. Most people seem to find my work through Etsy, Tumblr, or blogs. Those are great, great tools for artists.
For more Jessica, visit her Etsy shop, follow her on Twitter, and check out her website.
And don’t forget to enter for your chance to win one of her famous watercolor map prints! Anyone who likes Loki Loki on Facebook, follows @lokitimestwo on Twitter, and/or signs up for the Loki Loki mailing list in the next two weeks (between now and the end of the day, November 15, 2011), will be entered automatically!