This months etsy interview is with illustrator Jenny Meilihove.
Jenny sells her beautiful art in her etsy shop 'Be Happy Now'.
You can purchase prints, original paintings, postcards and mobiles.
Her art is bold, colourful and full of gorgeous characters going about their business in their little worlds.
Lets get to know a little about Jenny shall we...
1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your background...
Hi, my name is Jenny. I am an illustrator from Israel.
I have been drawing from a very young age - about 5 years old.
I studied in the illustration department of Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem (2004-2008).
After the academy I worked in a design studio as a designer but I wasn't so good at it, so after that I wanted to concentrate only on illustration.
I already had my Etsy shop and I started to make much more art for this shop.
Later I created a corporation with my good friend Tali Yalonetzki
I already had my Etsy shop and I started to make much more art for this shop.
Later I created a corporation with my good friend Tali Yalonetzki
(https://www.facebook.com/TushTush-by-Tosya-423815397650169/), who is a great artist.
We sell our products together in Israeli shops. It’s very nice to combine pleasure and work.
We travel together to different shops, taking coffee breaks on the way.
It’s much easier to do this together. Most of our work is separate, we each create our own art, but we meet to create new products, or to get to know new shops and deliver our products to them.
These days I am also illustrating children’s books, games and magazines, and still making my own art for my Etsy shop.
These days I am also illustrating children’s books, games and magazines, and still making my own art for my Etsy shop.
2. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?
I have many children's books by illustrators I love. Some of them are for my son, but others are just for me. I’ve also had the book "Hygge" on my coffee table for a long time; I am enjoying reading it slowly.
3. Tell us about a typical day for you…
Well, every day is different. I just get really bored if my days look the same.
I always start with coffee :), then emails, instagram, facebook, news updates.
After that, if it’s a day in my studio, I decide what I will be working on: it can be a children’s book or something for my Etsy shop.
Other days I may have a walk to the printing house (making new prints or postcards etc..) or sometimes I’ll be meeting with Tali and going together to our shops with new products.
Some days I just go to a café with my sketchbook to think of new ideas.
4. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?
Sometimes I make some sketches of the idea I have for the illustration - checking the composition and the character, or the idea for the illustration.
After that I paint it with acrylics on paper, then I scan it into my computer and, if needed, I make very small corrections. After that I share my new work with the internet world (facebook, instagram, etsy), and then I make prints or postcards of it.
5. What’s the most popular item for sale in your etsy shop?
And your personal favourite?
The most popular item is the yokoo portrait series:
My own favourite is this one with little children:
6. How would you describe your work?
I make simple, colourful and naive illustrations.
7. What’s the most rewarding thing about being a designer/illustrator?
To hold the book I made in my hands and read it to my son :)
8. What are you currently passionate about or fascinated by and how is it inspiring your work?
Mobiles!
I just discovered the world of mobiles, and it is so magical, full of fantasy... and it flies :)
I found that "iclay" is a perfect fit for this, so I am making many dolls like this: some of them are dancers, or sometimes it’s a strong man from the circus. All of them look so charming in the air.
9. What makes you laugh?
My son! He is almost 3 years old. He has many funny ideas, and it is nice to see him trying to copy his father.
10. Where do you work? Describe your studio/work area...
My studio is in my home, and I like that I can do my work at any time of day. It’s very comfortable for me. I like that I have a window with a nice view in my studio.
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