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