I love it when I meet people who are being inspired by vintage and are using it in a unique way. Jen Oaks is an artist who uses vintage prints in her digital drawings. What a great idea! She was recently featured for her melding of old and new in Gen Art.
From advertising to illustration…
In 2004, after yet another unsatisfying ad agency job, it struck me that I was just not happy in my career choice. Illustration had always been in the back of my mind, but I'd taken the more practical path in college. So I took a blissful (poor) autumn off to work at a cafe, look at all the illustration I could get my hands on, and practice drawing again. I realized I needed a lot more education before I tried making a career of it, so I returned to advertising with grad school in my sights. 18 months later, here we are.
I lived my whole life in Oklahoma City until my husband and I moved to SF this past January. As corny as it sounds, I will always be an Oklahoman, however atypical. My roots are there, and there's so much I miss about it. Like dozens of thrift stores untouched by the hipster masses!
A fresh take on art…
My work is layered, textured, detailed, and pretty feminine. I'm very drawn to botanical patterns from wallpaper and fabric, and crafty details like stitching. There's some whimsy to my work, I think, but I'd like to explore the more sophisticated side of it. I've been told my style is very fashion illustration, which is funny because I'm a very plain dresser. I work digitally for an organic feel, sometimes scanning in an initial sketch, but usually just drawing in Photoshop with a Wacom tablet, but I'm trying to use a real sketchbook more often. The tangible is important.
I find myself equally drawn to illustrators, gallery artists, and those whose work is a hybrid of the two. I adore James Jean, Audrey Kawasaki, Lisa Congdon, Andrea Wicklund, Jillian Tamaki, and so many more. They employ such expressive line and wonderful color in their work.
Inspiration…
Nature. Things that are timeworn and a little threadbare. Remembering the things my grandmothers had in their homes. Design and decorating blogs. Anthropology catalogs. Looking at what people wear. Window shopping!
Back home, my sister and I would go to a slew of estate sales nearly every weekend. It was our favorite thing to do, and stepping into those people's homes was the biggest treat. Many of the homes had never been renovated and were perfect 60s time capsules, Muppet red shag carpet and all. There were such awesome Christmas decorations, wallpaper, children's board games, kitchen linens, and decorative things from an era when illustrators were hired to put art on everything. Out here, I have been visiting the phenomenal Alameda Flea Market whenever I can. There's so much treasure that it's worth the five hours of cold and walking!
Leaving your mark…
I am really just starting out, but in the future I would love to know that my work has a timeless quality to it. I'd like to reach that balance of sampling vintage motifs and mixing them up with modern elements for a body of work that feels fresh but not trendy. That would be dreamy! I'd love to amass enough new work to enter a group show soon, or have a little booth at an arts and crafts show like Mission Indie Mart. There are so many great opportunities here.
Everything for sale is in my etsy shop, www.jenoaks.etsy.com and my portfolio is at www.jenoaks.com.