Designer Feature- Janice J

Do you want to have a better idea of what to expect at on the day? Well the We Make London team have gotten some of the exhibitors to down tools from their busy workshops and step into the blog spotlight. First into the WML Diary Room is Janice J!

Janice J is a talented illustrator who takes inspiration for her work from the places she visits and the sights she sees during her travels both around the United Kingdom and overseas, having spent time growing up in Hong Kong. Books and the visual arts also play an influential part in her work.

Janice works from a single starting point (perhaps some furniture or maybe a person) and lets that take her through until the picture is complete – she’s never sure of what the final outcome will be until she reaches it!

Her love of architecture filters through into her work. She enjoys creating scenes and locations with an underlying story to entice the viewer in.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED?

London, South of the river.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START BECOMING INTERESTED IN CRAFTS?

Sometime when I was little, not sure when, but I do remember watching Hart Beat and painting awful wallpaper designs on pieces of paper and sticking them to the living room wall.

GREATEST INFLUENCES?

Tricky one. Hong Kong, where I spent most of my teenage years, I’d never been anywhere like it and it definitely seeped into my visual vocab. More recently, graphic novels. They’re incredibly varied and some of the artwork I’ve seen is so atmospheric and captivating. Oh, and Studio Ghibli, I’m working my way through their animations, what imagination.

GREATEST PROBLEM YOU’VE OVERCOME?

Gaining the confidence to show people my work and to stop always comparing my work to other people.

WHAT PIECE OF WORK ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

Usually the piece I’m currently working on, as long as it’s going well. From my shop it might be The Good Harvest Supermarket because it was such a challenge to get the colour right, but it’s a tough choice, I’m changing my mind as I write this.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT ON SELLING THEIR GOODS?

Be more organised than I was. Do your research and have a plan. Start when you know you’re ready and are confident in your product. Don’t underprice yourself, know your costs and what your time is worth. Know your market and, of course, promote.

WHICH 4 PEOPLE (DEAD OR ALIVE) WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE AS WEEKEND GUESTS – AND WHY?

Stephen Fry – he’s so funny and I’d learn a lot.

Michael Palin – funny again, plus he’d have lots of fascinating travel stories.

Bill Bailey – for the musical entertainment, although he’d have to bring his own instruments.

Lastly, Derren Brown, he’d have some great and freaky party tricks and I’m curious about hypnotism, although I could probably do with someone to cook the meals.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU KISSED?

?

WHAT’S ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE?

Books I’ve been halfway through for ages, a lovely lamp from Kuching, Malaysia, pens and pencils, and scraps of paper. The dreaded alarm clock.

HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY DESCRIBE YOU?

Not too sure but the words quiet and odd might come up.

NEW YORK OR BARBADOS?

New York! As you can probably tell from my work I have a thing for high-rise cities. I’d rather explore the streets than lie on a beach.

FERRARI OR MINI?

Mini. But to be honest I’d feel a bit daft in either.

EASTENDERS OR HOLLYOAKS?

Neither.

CHOCOLATE OR CHAMPAGNE?

No contest. Chocolate, preferably in the form of a chocolate muffin.

IF YOU COULD ONLY ACCESS 3 WEBSITES, WHICH WOULD THEY BE?

1. would obviously have to be Etsy otherwise I’d have a big problem.

2. Flickr because there’s so much inspiration to be found there, anything you can think of someone’s taken a picture of it, and a lot of things you can’t.

3. There are so many great indie art/craft/design blogs I have bookmarked, but if I had to choose 1 it might be Book By It’s Cover, I’m constantly in awe.