Small Talks: Jordan Sondler

Jordan Sondler is an illustrator based in New York, and the author of Feel It Out: The Guide to Getting in Touch with Your Goals, Your Relationships, and Yourself. You’ve probably seen her colorful cartoons and drawings all over Instagram or in projects she’s done for LinkNYC, Starbucks, Hallmark, Scholastic, Bumble, and more. Known for her playful, vibrant style, Jordan’s work centers around self-care and mental wellbeing, with heartwarming messages of love and optimism. Along with being a long-time friend of Brooklyn Art Library, Jordan partnered with us to create a Skillshare course and she continues to use her platform to advocate for mental health and wellness through creative expression. You can check out more of her designs, including her wonderful maps and patterns, on her website or grab a cute piece from her online shop.

On Friday, April 23rd, 4pm EST, Jordan will lead a workshop on “Art Inspired By Life” as part of our Small Talks series.

Working as an illustrator, you have to keep sketches for your personal and client projects. How do you approach beginning a new book? Do you plan out your spreads or you decide as you go along?

I actually do not keep a traditional sketchbook. I draw digitally for my clients, so all of those files are kept more as a gallery than as a book. But I have been keeping a fear journal this year that lives on my kitchen table with a jar of markers. It helps to have a theme and a template for the book, that way I don’t get overwhelmed with possibilities.

Beginning on the first blank page can be quite daunting. How do you conquer that art fear? 

I start on the second page! I am not above saving the best (or most daunting) for last.

Who are some artists that inspire you?

Esther Pearl Watson, Marissa Moss, and Maira Kalman.

What was the process like creating Feel It Out, a book rather than individual illustrations or commissions? 

Feel It Out was my first opportunity to create a body of work that truly felt like an extension of myself. It was really emotionally overwhelming, but at the same time felt so right. It’s really cool to think about people being able to sit with my work in this way.

What role has making art played in your own self-love and mental health journeys?

I have betrayed myself so many times with negative self-talk. But when I’m creating art, I feel really at peace, allowing me to silence that inner monologue a bit. The more I’m creating, the more this frees me from those constraints.

You’ve led many workshops over the years, including at Brooklyn Art Library and through Skillshare. How do you approach designing an educational course, especially when speaking about creativity can mean so many different things to students and participants? 

When I have taught (both in-person and digitally), I’ve tried to really focus on what I wish I had known, or what I’ve come to on my own over the years. I will never be able to appeal to everyone’s hopes and expectations for a course, but I will always be able to reflect back on what has made an impact in my life. I am very interested in teaching the business of illustration, because that is something we all have to make our own mistakes and forge our own paths with. But we can also be learning from other’s lived experience. I feel equally passionate about helping others find a spiritual connection to art, especially if they’re balancing a commercial career in the same space. 

What’s the best piece of art-making advice you ever received?

Don’t wait for inspiration, just start creating.

For Starbucks

You studied at Maryland Institute College of Art. Could you speak about your experience studying art in school? Do you have any advice for artists considering a similar path?

Art school was amazing for my growth as an artist, and as a person. Do I think college is right or necessary for everyone? Absolutely not. But I was very adrift, and needed the space that MICA provided for experimentation and self-discovery. I even met a couple of fabulous professors along the way that continue to inspire me.

How can people support your work? 

You can follow me on Instagram at @jordansondler, and find my tees and prints here.