The Daily Muse: An exclusive interview with Jessica Roux, Illustrator

Jessica Roux is a Brooklyn based illustrator and designer. She is originally from the woodlands of North Carolina, where she grew up surrounded by an abundance of nature. Using subdued colors and rhythmic shapes, she renders flora and fauna with intricate detail reminiscent of old world beauty. She is currently available for freelance work so feel free to contact her. Her work has been honored by the Society of Illustrators and American Illustration.

…and now four our exclusive interview with Jessica Roux

How would you describe your art?
My work is inspired by flora and fauna, with intricate detail reminiscent of old world beauty. I use subdued colors and rhythmic shapes to describe the natural world.

How long have you been an artist and how did you become an artist?
I consider the start of my career in the arts to have begun after graduation, about a year and a half ago. I think I’ve always been interested in becoming an artist, though. I was always drawing as a child, and often exploring nature, which really influenced my work today. I decided to pursue illustration as a career after transferring to the Savannah College of Art & Design during my sophomore year in college, and I started freelancing during my senior year, building up a client base and finding my voice in the current market.

Pick one work of art from your portfolio and tell us the story behind it. Why does this piece have meaning to you? What steps did you take to create the piece?
I created “Botanic Garden” for a show at Light Grey Art Lab, called 6 Degrees. Participating artists were asked to make a limited edition number of postcards, which would reflect their idea of home, which then would be sent to the other artists, so everyone has a postcard from everyone else in the show. When I created this piece, I had just moved to Brooklyn, NY after living in Savannah, Georgia for three years and, prior to that, North Carolina for most of my childhood. I was used to exploring nature preserves, not big cities, so one of the first places I visited was the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. It immediately became a place I could go to for exploration, sketching, and a little bit of nature. It was really one of the first places that felt like home here.

If you could imagine the “perfect art day” for yourself, what would it be like?
I’d love to start the day with a small hike somewhere inspiring, and then spend the afternoon creating something about what I experienced that day. Of course, it would be great to spend it with my husband and our dog, Molly, along for the day!

If you could spend 24 hours with one artist, living or historical, who would you want to spend the day with and why? What would the two of you do?
I’d love to spend a day with Frida Kahlo. We’d sit around in La Casa Azul, hanging out with peacocks, monkeys and little deer. When I look at Frida Kahlo’s work, I feel her spirit, and I relate to her work so much.

Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring artists?
One of the best tips I heard recently is to not be afraid of putting yourself and your work out there. I need to tell myself this a lot, too, because it’s scary! Rejection isn’t fun for anyone, but you’ll never get anywhere unless you put your work out there and try. It can be really tough and discouraging at times, but as long as you’re still hustling, you’ll be going forward.