Artist of the month November
Jana @whitepapersucks
32 years, Creative Copywriter
That's me in five words:
Creative head, squirrel fan, chaos queen, peanut butter nerd, and brand new: dog mom.
Interview
What role does being creative play in your everyday life? Are you creative in other ways besides watercolor and lettering?
I would say around the clock.
Creativity doesn't mean that you paint, craft or make music
every day. For me, creativity is more the attitude with which I approach things
. Do I dare to simply try something out, even if it could go completely wrong? Do I do something different from the others - but exactly the way I want to do it? That's also possible away from pen and paper.
You travel to a desert island and are only allowed to take one pen/brush/color with you - what do you choose?
I'd definitely take Tombow Monograph - then I'd have a pencil AND an eraser with me.
And maybe I'd finally be able to make sketches, which I'm often too lazy to do in everyday life. 😊
Where do you find most of your inspiration?
Sounds boring, but it's true: in everyday life. When I watch the squirrels in our garden, see good advertising, or even during conversations with others. That's where I often get ideas for funny illustrations.
How did you manage to find your own style?
I stopped wishing that everyone would like my stuff. 😊
Do you sometimes have a "crea-low" and if so - what do you do about it?
All the time! And that's totally okay. If life looks different every day, why should my creativity be any different?
I don't stress myself out anymore, just take a break for two weeks, put the paper away and know that when there's room in my head again, creativity will come back all by itself. Are there any artists you find particularly great - if so, which ones and why?
I celebrate so many artists, it's hard to pick out just one. But I have to say that the ones that inspire me the most are the ones that don't just make awesome stuff and post it, but make their dreams come true. Who turn a hobby that started at their desk at home into workshops that come to life. Who turn individual followers
into a real community with their infectious style. And those who also use their reach for others, for example to collect donations. I think that's great!
Creativity and social media - what are your thoughts on this?
I think I'm like everyone else: it's a curse and a blessing. On the one hand, I love the exchange, the appreciation in the community and of course the tons of inspiration I find on Instagram and Co. On the other hand, I often sit on the couch in the evening, scroll through my feed - and suddenly feel this pressure to keep up.
Do you have any other creative goals and dreams you're looking forward to?
I would love to illustrate a children's book one day. Maybe 2023 will be the year I can fulfill that dream. 😊
-thank you for the interview, dear Jana