When me and my wife started Jessy’s Story, we had a pretty solid idea of what we wanted to do: I write the story, she makes the art. At least one piece per session. Though it was hard, we stuck to it, and now that Jessy’s Story is done I can collect all this art into a huge gallery. It is an awesome feeling. Before we get to the art: a few words from the artist.
Jessy’s Story is the biggest art project I’ve ever done in my life and I’m so grateful for the love and support I had from my partner, in both life and this project, without him I don’t think I could have finished all of this. He kept me propped up when I was too hard on myself, as most artists end up being. Through this project, I’ve been able to grow exponentially in my art practice. I started Jessy’s story illustrations with mostly a visual concept, highly stylized and dramatic, like the character Jessy herself, while also trying to keep the dark and edgy nature of Kult. I learned the digital cell shading style that I used in college, and even the textures throughout the illustrations in Jessy’s were assets from one of my professors!
I first took those ideas, mostly the cell shading, into a redo of my Mental Illness Chic project in 2019, but I really developed it in this project. These illustrations in Jessy’s Story were so large and detailed and with so many layers that I think I can at least partially blame it for my graphics card starting to go out on my computer this year! Many of the pieces had to be split into a sketch file and a final illustration file because even the sketches had several layers. Jessy Story sketches, the more detailed ones, tended to be collages of photos I’d taken (thanks again goes to my husband for constantly being a model) and drawings I’d done in my sketchbook. I really loved using photos from an abandoned mining building I’d snuck into with my friends while we were teenagers for Wilma’s set pieces. Most of my other references, especially for Jessy’s wardrobe, came from images on my Pinterest moodboard for the project. Other than that, it was just hours and hours of pure drawing.
I can’t thank you, the readers, enough. Your consistent interest in our project supported and uplifted this little independent artist and it means the world to me you all enjoyed what we made. I don’t know what the future holds, or what the concept of Jessy 2 might develop into visually, but at least we know there will always be an audience for us somewhere in this big world of content.
Click on each individual piece to see it in full size.
There was also some fan-art! It was so cool to see other artists interpreting Jessy. These were all commissions that I requested. The first is from KC Oster, an indigenous Canadian artist and dear beloved. The second is from f0nk, a crazy good artist who stumbled into my life at the exact right time, and the third is by Carm, a close personal friend and brilliant artist who redrew the first piece of Jessy’s Story.
Beyond Elysium 