14 Day Portrait Challenge: Jessica Mack
As the creative mind behind Brown Paper Bunny, Jessica Mack combines her love of fashion illustration with a sharp eye for color and bold patterning. The Australian-born artist now calls Seattle home and has created gorgeous designs for brands like Essie, Famous Footwear, and Make Me Up among others. Along with creating custom pieces such as murals, branding, and even lending her skills to live illustration, Mack also teaches watercolor classes through Skillshare. You can support her work by checking out her shop, which has prints, hand-painted gifts, and more. You can check out more of Jessica’s work and get a behind-the-scenes look at her process by subscribing to her Youtube channel and following her on Twitter and Instagram.
A long-time participant of the Sketchbook Project, you can check out Jessica’s 2011, 2013, and Limited Edition sketchbooks on our Digital Library. Mack’s portrait of actress Reese Witherspoon was published in the 14 Day Portrait Challenge book.
When did you begin making art?
I’d always wanted to learn to draw and paint but didn’t really know where to start. It felt like too big of an undertaking. But on my 30th birthday, I decided to just do it and enrolled in a creative drawing class. We did all sorts of fun exercises from painting self-portraits using ink and a spoon, to collage, to life drawing. I was completely hooked. Ever since then I’m always taking some sort of class and trying new techniques and mediums. The Sketchbook Project was a big part of my art journey, because I discovered it right as I was getting started and it connected me to this wonderful creative community, and motivated me to continue.
Why did you decide to do the 14 Day Portrait Challenge?
I’ve been doing more and more portraits lately and it’s something I want to improve on. The 14 Day Portrait Challenge was a great excuse to try some different mediums, styles and draw people I might not normally attempt to draw.
What were some of your favorite pieces to come out of this experience?
I did a couple of blind contour portraits and they are simultaneously horrifying and completely hilarious so those were equally the most challenging and probably my favorites.
How has quarantine impacted your creativity?
I’m now working full-time from home while attempting to run a home preschool for my daughter, so I have a lot less time for art. I have to find stolen moments here and there, and I haven’t been able to sit down for more than 15 minutes at a time to create.
What does your workspace look like now?
My home studio has a lot more games, Legos and puzzles on the floor these days. Previously it was a kid-free zone so that’s different….and painful on the feet.
What role does sketching play in your creative practice?
I almost always sketch a piece out first, either with paper and pencil or on my iPad. It’s rare that I just go straight in with paint.
What are some of your favorite materials to work with at the moment?
I’m definitely finding myself doing more digital work, even if it’s just sketching out an idea that I’ll later complete in watercolor or ink—mainly because I can use my iPad in bed before I fall asleep. Paints tend to stain the sheets.
When did you realize that you could pursue making art as a career?
Over the years, I received a few commission requests from family and friends, but it’s only in the last few years that I’ve started selling my art and worked on brand projects and collaborations. I think it’s 100% just confidence in letting people know your work is for sale. No matter your style, there is someone that wants exactly what you’re doing. You just have to be confident enough to put yourself and your work out there.
Do you have any advice for those wanting to pursue a similar path, or anyone looking to develop their unique illustrative style?
The best advice I’ve ever been given (especially because I’m an over-thinker) is to start before you’re ready. If you wait for all the stars to align you’ll never do it. You just have to take the leap and start whatever it is you’ve always wanted to do, because this time next year you’ll be really glad you did.
In terms of style, I know it’s been said a million times before but make as much art as you can. And keep making it and experimenting until you start to see your style emerge. I think that’s the only way. You can make art just for you, you can make really bad art, and you don’t have to share any of it with anyone unless you want to. Just keep creating.
What gets you through creative blocks?
When I’m really stuck but I have that itch to create something I’ll start making color swatches in my art journal, or I’ll stick something I’ve found in there just because I found it interesting. Usually spending time around my art supplies and my sketchbooks will get the ideas moving again, and, if not, I’ve still spent time making something with my hands which always makes me feel better.
How can people support your work?
Come say hello on Instagram, I love to meet other creatives. And if you’re interested in buying any of my work check out my website or my Society6 store:
I also teach on Skillshare if you’re interested in taking any of my classes.