Introducing Erin Jia
We are extending the warmest of welcomes to Erin Jia as she joins the Brilliant Artists roster. We love the craftsmanship of her illustrations, the traditional style fused with contemporary subjects and vivid colour palettes. We can’t wait to see what Erin draws next, and in the meantime we can get to know her a little better with our Q&A.
What made you want to become an illustrator?
Simply because I love drawing and always enjoy things and places where illustration is present, such as books, products, textiles, interiors, murals, and more. I would also love to see my work in those settings, where other people can interact with it or bring some of it into their lives.
Where do you take inspiration from for your work?
Real-life observations on nothing in particular. Printed materials like magazines and handmade artists’ books. Visiting shops and museums. Things and activities that keep me seeing my own works with fresh eyes.
Are there any other illustrators or artists you admire? What do you love about their work?
I took a lot of references from engravers like Eric Ravilious, artists and illustrators like Stuart Davis and Saul Steinberg.
Engravings are often found in books, which is like one of my earliest memories of what illustrations are, so I guess I just subconsciously drew to that style because of the sense of nostalgia.
Stuart Davis is known for his paintings, but the way he constructed space with shapes, thick black lines, objects with broken boundaries, which reminds me some of the relief print techniques. In terms of the way I work, I find those two mindsets can be combined and adapted to my style.
As for Saul Steinberg, I just love those distorted buildings, landscapes, and comical characters. The way he visualizes sound effects and motions into abstract shapes adds a lot of characteristics to those city drawings. And I don’t know how to adapt all that to my work just yet.
How do you overcome a creative block?
When I feel stuck, I usually try to keep drawing things as an impulse, without overthinking about the meaning or concept in a piece. Personally, that works for me the best to keep reminding myself of the joy of drawing things. Another way is by reading, not just art related but random things, base on what current interests is. That hugely helps to keep myself viewing my works in fresh angles.
What is the best thing about being an illustrator? And the worst?
The best thing is to control my own schedule and navigate my own career path as much as possible. What’s stressful is that I have to constantly keep up with the environment and trend, constantly evolving my own works along with it, without losing myself.
What do you have to have in place before you start work?
Cup of tea, milk tea, or energy drinks.
What would be your dream studio location and set up?
Ideally, I would love to have two locations, one is in the city (any city with a lot of resources and things going on would be fine), and the other is near nature. As for set up, if it’s just for small scale illustration works, I want to have one of those cozy libraries look like rooms with shelves on the walls, a desk, and a day bed near a big window.
What are 3 of your favourite films? Which one would you love to illustrate the poster for?
Alien, The Shape of Water, Vertigo (which I would like to try to do a poster for).
If you could work on the book cover for one book which would it be?
Blood Meridian. It’s just such a sensational book, I don’t know how I am going to visualise it into one single image.
If you could have any artwork in your home what would it be?
That’s so hard to answer! I think I really want Picasso’s The Actor, El Greco’s View of Toledo, any busy city scene by Saul Steinberg and any fashion illustration by Antonio Lopez.
Take a look at Erin beguiling portfolio here.