Monday, August 27, 2012

Artist of the Month: Jen Kiddo, August 2012

This month's featured artist is an awesome lady I bought a piece from at the Unique LA spring show: Jen Kiddo! I was immediately drawn to her colorful booth full of cute kawaii girl art and I picked up Ice Cream Tower for my own collection. Jen is extremely talented and all around awesome! But don't take my word for it... read for yourself.

Thank you for joining us on Pink Wonderland today, Jen! Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Herro! My name is Jen Kiddo, but most call me "Kiddo" (even people who have never met me before). I was born in 1943 and I am a time traveler. It is also led to believe that I am an extra-terrestrial cyborg. My favorite time period is the 1960s because of its pure love for contemporary art before technology took over. Here, in 2012, I paint and orchestrate a circus of my two black cats, Yoda and Ninja. My top interests are Japanese culture, rain, shooting stars, animals, music, and lucid dreaming. One of my strongest attributes is my imagination.

Did you always know you were going to be a professional artist?
Yes. There was never any doubt in my mind of this. There were some individuals along the way who attempted to convince me otherwise; however, they could not prevent the prophetic.

Your artwork suggests a strong Japanese influence. What led or drew you to Japanese culture/style?
Japanese culture is such a beautiful world to me. Every aspect has instantly captivated me for about half of my life. Traditional Japan is so fascinating and Westernized Japan is such a unique twist on the culture of the states. I enjoy the cleanliness, randomness, and gorgeous colors of Japanese art.

Tell us about your creative process.
My creative process always begins with an idea or interest - something that I would enjoy seeing in a painting. Once that is achieved, I do thorough research on the meaning, description, and images of the idea. I usually discover a lot of information, which then turns my idea into a whole series of related paintings.

For example, when I was doing research on "kitsune" (Japanese word for "fox" or "fox spirit," I discovered it was a popular Japanese folklore. From there, I embarked on an entire series of Japanese folklore paintings.

You depict a lot of girls with unusual hair colors. Ever dye your hair a crazy color?
Haha, yep! I have rotated between having pink, blue, or purple hair. It's so much fun! When I had purple hair, someone commented to me that I am "living anime."

Who are your favorite artists?
My favorite artists are Yosuke Ueno, Camilla d'ErricoAudrey KawasakiAya Takano, and KozynDan.

What is it like to be an artist living in LA?
I enjoy being in an area where art is a part of the culture. However, I am progressing to be an artist living in Japan. The plans are in the works...

What do you like to do when you are not working?
Music is a huge interest of mine, so when I am not working, I mess around on my electric guitar. Honestly, I'm not very good at it, but it is still fun and therapeutic. I have this secret dream to be a guitarist (lead or rhythm) in a rock band.

What advice would you offer to aspiring artists or someone who wants to start a small business?
My advice would be to keep making new works. It definitely helps to have a full and diverse portfolio. Also, try to promote as much as possible - especially via the internet (it is such a useful tool to get the word out there about yourself). Find shows and venues to display your work and always carry business cards on you.  =)

What is your studio space/work environment like?
It's pretty chaotic. I am a passionate worker, so imagine paint splatters everywhere, a plantation of brushes and pens, a plethora of paint tubes, spray paint, exacto knives, water cups, paper towels, scraps of wood, and so much more! Also, don't forget to add my two black cats flying around in the midst of everything! (My cat, Yoda, likes to perch at the very top of my easel... haha.) It is pretty disorganized, yet I know where everything is at.

Are you working on any projects or pieces that you are excited about?
I am very excited for a new series I just started. To play off my recent Japanese folklore series, I have just begun a Japanese pop culture series. The first will be a Harajuku girl, portrayed in my own style of art. All of the paintings in this series will have very bright and vibrant colors with fun images.

Any big plans or upcoming events for your business?
My biggest plan is to take my art to Japan, so that I can be immersed in my favorite culture. I strongly believe that the new environment will influence my art in such an enchanting way. Before I go there, I will be applying to some fall and winter shows, including Unique LA. My facebook fan page is the place to check for events I will be participating in.

Thank you so much for sharing your stories and advice with us on Pink Wonderland, Jen!

You can find Jen and her work in these places:

In addition to having an incredible, distinct style, Jen's art is beautiful and affordable. Discovering Jen's artwork was one of my favorite things about attending Unique LA, and I would love to have a series of Kiddo art hanging in my house someday! I am a huge fan of the handmade art pendants in her shop as well. If you like her art pendants as much as I do and have something specific in mind, she also does custom pieces. Pretty awesome!


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Artist of the Month is a monthly interview feature with an artist. I am very selective about whom I interview - I pick artists I believe in, whose style I truly love. Previously featured artists:
  - July 2012: Jenny Holiday

6 comments:

  1. Great post! I think it's great that you do this :)

    ♥ Naomi {Starry Eyes + Coffee Cups}

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    1. Thanks, Naomi! I love Artist of the Month interviews - they are my favorite! =)

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  2. Great artist. I love her work.

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  3. I like that she uses wood as a canvas!

    xoxo, Sarah
    fashion blog: www.sassyriot.com

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    1. Me too! It's such a pretty medium.

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