As promised Saturday, here's the latest on Jennifer Young. I will prove a bit wordier than usual in this 'conversation' so I'll keep this intro short and sweet. Enjoy!
1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?
Jennifer "Jenny Bunny Bunns" Young, Atlanta, GA
2) What have you been up to lately? What are projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?
Because I've transitioned to a different tattoo studio - the first one since my apprenticeship, I'm wrapping up The Apprentice Diaries, my comic strip diary of my life as a new female tattoo artist. Volume 8 will be my last. Now that I've left my "alma mater" to move onto a new studio, I've renamed my comic strip diary The Inkbunny Diaries. Both hardcopy versions will be available on my website and various book selling sites (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders) and Lulu.com.
Other than that, in the past year I've been getting back into the art-show circuit, starting in the Atlanta area. The first one I did in 3-4 years was last December, and since then I've been in 4-5 art shows and did a spot in a lecture series at The Contemporary in Atlanta, GA. They can be a little stressful if the deadline is short notice, but it pushes me to draw for myself, which I rarely do otherwise. And it pushes me to explore different avenues and to delve deeper into familiar themes.
3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?
My website is probably the most convenient way to see everything I do and how to get stuff! I'm also on Facebook and Myspace, too.
www.myspace.com/jyoungart
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenny-Bunns-Young/9002583889
www.theinkbunnydiaries.com
4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.
I just released my final "Diary of an Apprentice" volume (8) a few of months ago. I was also really excited to be in the recently released Anthology, Muscles & Frights! YAY! Other than that, I've got a few art shows coming up, the one I'm most looking forward to is at the Youngblood Gallery in Atlanta, GA, opening January 10th!
*Note: Great news all around. Did I ever send you a personal copy of Muscles & Frights or did you slip through the cracks when you didn't show at Fallcon? Whoops! -AR
As for my new comic strip diary series, "The Inkbunny Diaries", I'm debating whether I should submit it to publishers, or keep going with self-publishing at Lulu.com.
*Note: Your army of fans would probably be the best sounding board on this. Either way, I know your books will continue to look amazing AND be very entertaining. -AR
5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?
Yes! This year I've applied more of my art nouveau influences in, including my tattoo work. I've invested in getting new materials to help supplement my graphic design and illustrative work, like getting a wacom tablet and new software, etc.
*Note: Mucha is at the top of my most beloved artists ever... in any medium. I've always enjoyed seeing the At Nouveau influence in other artists. -AR
6) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?
Of course it's always good to keep "in shape". However, lately, I have not really kept a set sketchbook. I just use loose papers or different paper pads, depending on what I'm doing. I think working at a tattoo shop has made me form these habits - not that other tattoo artists do this... it's just been so hectic between work and side-work that it's all I've been able to use whenever I have time.
*Note: After a (too) long hiatus from drawing and painting I've put some sketches together -recently- and I also put together an ink drawing for someone... what a relief. I feel ready to put together more finished work now. I suppose there must be some relation between constant sketching and final product productivity. -AR
7) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.
I like the sketchy look. I often think, as far as my own work, anyway, that my sketches look better than the final draft. I just enjoy the loose line work laying under the stronger lines. There's something very beautiful in those lines - like happy accidents, etc.
*Note: I wish I had the patience for this. I love some of my brush works, but I feel too... erm... exposed when showing that work. My usual tight pen work makes me feel some sort of strange, unexplainable security. -AR
8) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?
The only one I make time to go to these days, because of my busy work and travel schedule, is the Minnesota FallCon. I always look forward to seeing everyone there each year - it really brings me back to my Midwestern roots, haha! Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts with a new tattoo shop I moved to, I could not make this 2008 one :(
*Note: You were sorely missed Jenn. I think you would have loved the ICC lounge. -AR
9) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?
I'm bringing as much stuff as I possibly freaking can.
10) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?
Between everything I'm doing and involved with, there is very little time for reading, unfortunately. In fact, BECAUSE everything's been so hectic, I no longer have the attention span for reading. So instead, I've been following webcomics & blogs, such as:
http://ryandow.com/ic/
http://bewilderedkid.com/blog/
http://www.baristagirl.com/
http://www.thoughtmarker.blogspot.com/
http://corinna-tomrlova.squarespace.com/dear-dairy/
And a plethora of misc. others.
As far as film and TV, I recently saw Bolt, and LOVED it. I'm also following the shows House and Dexter.
11) Anything already in the works for 2009?
Ha! One thing life has taught me - always work toward long-term goals, but never plan too far ahead. There are too many surprises down the road.
Thanks, Jenn!
There you go, folks. I hope you'll check out some of the sites shared in the 'conversation'. The economy being what it is, we could use all the free stuff we can get our grubby little mitts on.
But not all that is free is good... I'll be letting you in on what I mean next installment.
Peace
-AR
