Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jardley Jean-Louis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jardley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

I can’t remember earlier than this, but I think my first dollar earned as a creative was as an illustrator’s assistant for a one person animation studio. At the time it was $15/hr and I got the opportunity to not only work on character and background design for animations, but he welcomed and wanted my collaboration on storyboarding, writing the script and doing light background animation work. It was an incredible period where I was given a well-rounded education on the different parts of production that would prep me for when I produced my own animations for clients. At the time, I think it was also the most I’d earned working and was and am really grateful for the experience.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Jardley Jean-Louis (they/them). I’m a non-binary, queer multi-disciplinary artist of Haitian descent. I work in illustration, animation and film. The medium of choice has shifted throughout the years, but I’ve always been an artist. At the moment, my work is character focused projects that centers under-represented identities and narratives and quiet life moments. I produce illustrations digitally using Photoshop, and animate them or produce for animation via illustrating the designs, storyboarding, directing or writing. I’m passionate about details, lighting and narratives.
I am currently in a liminal stage in my creative career. It’s a space wherein my previous passions (here it’s: illustrations and animations that character focused projects that center under-represented identities and narratives) don’t feel as aligned anymore, and the next stage hasn’t made itself known yet. The short term goals I have for my career are 1) to be in the book illustration space – children and adults and 2) I’m currently developing a short fictional animation film on the early years of the AIDS epidemic. Besides these two goals, I’m open to the next phase of my career revealing itself to me.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to unlearn over and over again that I don’t need to have all the cards in place to take the first step. I have the perfectionistic tendency whether it’s starting a project, applying for an opportunity or reach out to someone to believe that it’s necessary to consume as much research as possible, have the funding/idea/intent all figured out before I make a decision. It has limited my being able to experiment, be flexible, and be kinder to myself.

The backstory is completely unrelated to the arts: it was choosing health insurances at a job as a contractor. I did all this research and even met with HR to understand the benefits of going with it and keep in mind, as a contractor, the company was only giving me this one option. No alternatives. Yet I still felt the need to research. A friend/co-worker just went ahead and signed on without second thought. I hold that experience to help me to relax and let go as much as possible.

Now when I’m illustrating something, I remind myself I’m the only one who would notice a particular detail not included, that I can lean on others to have me figure out how best to get a project off the ground, and to be honest if I’m not sure where to go with an idea in an application, but this is the idea I want to go with for said residency or grant, etc. I try to remind myself “Done is better than perfect” which I also think aligns with “Start before you’re ready”.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think the particular mission or goal driving my creative journey is always searching for and creating what is honest to me. What feels true. What nuances from my life, my experiences inform what I share on screen? What moments in life like the quiet ambience of a bedroom while branches without leaves shake from the window’s view resonate for me to illustrate? What do I want to say? What do I hope others can feel as mirrors? Does this feel enough to me? Is there more?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jardleyjean-louis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jardleystudios/