Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Super Star Interview: Jane Smith

Welcome to my monthly interview feature! I’m so excited to be interviewing all the fabulous artists, illustrators and designers I’ve meet over the years (both personally and virtually!) and sharing their artwork and experiences here on Bird Meets Worm. Look for a new interview on the first Tuesday of every month.

This month I am kicking off the New Year by pulling back the curtain on the girl behind Bird Meets Worm: me! That’s right, I’m interviewing myself, Super Jane Smith. I am an Illustrator, who adores paper! I have boxes and boxes, drawers and drawers of it, all organized by color. After graduating with my BFA in Illustration from the Columbus College of Art & Design, I followed the love of my life to Los Angeles, where I worked as an Art Director at the novelty children’s book publisher, Intervisual Books. After creating many wonderful titles there, I struck out on my own as an Illustrator & Designer and have been happily freelancing ever since. I create artwork for a wide variety of publishing and licensing clients, specializing in whimsical imagery for children and anyone who has their head in the clouds.
And here’s a list of places you can buy my artwork in the New Year:

A rare sighting of me! It's kinda like photo proof of a yeti!


Q: Where do you live?

A: In a little beach bungalow in Hermosa Beach in Los Angeles, California.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: I grew up in a Midwestern suburb of Columbus, Ohio.

My flowering branch spring hummingbird • © Jane Smith


Q: Where would you like to travel to someday?

A: Angkor Wat in Cambodia as well as Machu Picchu in Peru.

Q: What medium do you use?

A: I love collage! But first, I always begin with pencil sketches on tracing paper or in my sketchbook. Then I hand collage a variety of elements, drawing on some of them with drawing pens. I also create inked hand drawings, which are scanned along with my hand collage elements and my paper “palette.” Then I use the computer to digitally bring it all together!

Q: Where do you buy your art supplies?

A: I buy my drawing pens & pencils, tracing paper and sketchbooks at my local Aaron Brothers. But most of my collage materials are gathered from a variety of sources—colored envelopes leftover from holiday cards, color aid sheets, old pantone papers passed along from the days of paste-ups, fabric scraps, fancy handmade papers from a specialty shops, etc.

My happy forest critters • © Jane Smith


Q: What are you reading right now?

A: Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes as well as the current issues of National Geographic and Vegetarian Times magazines.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being an Illustrator?

A: I love being alone in my studio, making the dreams in my head real with paper, scissors, pens, pencils and computer.

Who doesn't love a princess AND a unicorn together?! • © Jane Smith


Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Cupcakes, particularly vanilla with vanilla frosting.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: Read, sketch, watch TV, yoga, cook, bake, sew, garden, meditate, run.
(Note: this list gives the impression I have waaaaay more spare time than I do!! Ha, ha!)

What a beautiful butterfly floral? Don'cha love it?! • © Jane Smith


Q: Do you believe in Bigfoot?

A: Yep!

Q: What music do you like to listen to?

A: Punk rocky tunes from the Ramones, Social Distortion, the Cure, Green Day and the Police. And on the more girlie side, some Norah Jones and Carsie Blanton, too.

Let's fly away on a cupcake dream... • © Jane Smith


Q: What dream illustration gig would you love to get?

A: Ooo! I’d love to sell one of my children’s book dummies as well as create a fabric line and/or a line of children’s bedding! But really, I’d love to do it all!! I’m always excited for new and interesting challenges!

Thanks so much for stopping by Bird Meets Worm! Happy New Year! And stay tuned for next month’s interview…it’s gonna be a goodie! XOXO