We were lucky to catch up with Jeanine Colini recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jeanine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

From a very young age–around 10–I’ve always had an innate sense of wanting to pursue an artistic path. I was one of those kids who was always drawing or making something with my hands. I was particularly obsessed with alphabets and drawing letterforms. I have no idea what that was about!

I attended public school in the 1960s where we were fortunate to have lots of options for both art and music. I loved both but had an easier temperament for art than music. I was shy as a youngster and performing was nerve wracking!

I also had have posititive creative influences and strong encouragement from my mom, dad and aunt. So I was not afraid to try new things. My art teacher in grade school was more conventional so I didn’t get great marks because I was thinking too far outside the box to her liking, But it served me well in art school and beyond.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Though I pursued art from a young age, I discovered in high school that my career was going to start down the design path. Fine art would re-emerge later. I was introduced to graphic and interior design in public school. I’ve always been adept at using my creative skills to solve problems in a business environment. Plus, design was a practical way to pursue a creative career with less push back from my parents!

In 1981 I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute in New York City. When I began my design career, creative professionals were highly valued. The DIY culture did not yet exist. Designers were given lots of creative freedom by corporate clients. In 1983 I was hired by the NY office of Pentagram Design and worked on financial reports and high-end corporate publications. I learned so much at Pentagram and was very lucky to get off on the right foot so early on in my career, In fact, after just one year at Pentagram, I was well equipped to strike out on my own as a small design studio doing corporate work.

In 1985 I moved to Los Angeles and started my own design studio a year later. It was initially called Jeanine Colini Design Associates and it’s been in existence for nearly 40 years. My specialty has always been in publication and book design, corporate marketing materials and logo/branding design. I worked for the public utility companies, universities, hospitals, non profits and the aerospace industry

A lot has changed over the years with the advent of the computer and internet. In many ways, design creativity has taken a back seat to business and sharp cost cutting. Sadly, the discipline is less valued than it once was and this can be frustrating to a creative person in the commercial arts.

So in 2010, I took my longest-standing body of work out of mothballs–my “A to Zoo” animal alphabet. I devised ways to monetize it and sell it as a sideline to my design business. I started with a new edition of alphabet prints and a line of greeting cards. To signal this change in my shift in services, I renamed my company Jeanine Colini Design Art, maintaining my long standing URL of jcda.com.

Jumping back to 1981, I created “A to Zoo” for my art school senior project at Pratt and it was highly successful immediately upon its inception. On graduation day I delivered my “A to Zoo” artwork to Pratt for use on the admissions handbooks for the upcoming year. Within my first year of working as a designer, I formed a partnership with a businessman and together we produced and sold thousands of “A to Zoo” alphabet posters to retailers like the Nature Company and art distributors. In 1994, the critters were licensed by the Los Angele Zoo for their annual fundraiser, The Beastly Ball. Through this venture, some of my original watercolors ended up in the private collection of actor Jimmy Steward who was active on the Zoo foundation, “A to Zoo” also appeared in the television series “Dynasty” and the movie “Three Men And A Baby.” The critters have been published numerous times and exhibited internationally. “A to Zoo” turned 40 in 2021 and the critters are still going strong!

SInce 2010, I’ve created additional alphabet and type-inspired work: “Art of the State” USA map where typography meets topography; “What’s Your Sign?” astrology signs drawn in letters; “A to Z Cactus” alphabet made up of four species of cactus from the Sonoran Desert. More alphabets are in the works so stay tuned!

In 2020 I launched my online art web site business. This was the perfect business model during the COVID lockdown. I still do design assignments and book designs and and especially now focus on new art creation, public exhibits and art sales. In addition to my alphabet work, I’m expanding my art collection of watercolor work inspired by nature and animals. You can see my art on on my e-commerce web site at jcda.com. There is something for everyone: original art, commissions, book art and design, art prints, greeting cards and fine art merchandise. A wide range of individuals and businesses purchase my artwork to enjoy and enhance their environments.

I’m proud of both the longevity of my work–like “A to Zoo”–and the breadth of design and art that I’ve accomplished over 40+ years. I consider typography and letterforms to be one of my primary mediums both as a designer and an artist. I’m equally at home making type functional as well as artistically sophisticated and joyful.

I create whimsical art to brighten your day!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Over the years, an awareness of our changing world and a willingness to embrace change has made me resilient.

In the late 1980s I had to learn and adapt to a whole new set of digital skills. These did not exist during my early creative education. An even more profound change was the recognition that all the printed corporate work I had produced for over 25 years was no longer relevant, That took a while to get over and then figure out what to do next.

It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t fun. But I discovered that a return to basics–creating art–would be a way to refocus and rebuild my business in a way that would lead to happiness. I came full circle, starting over again from scratch. It was hard work and required enormous faith.

I told myself, “nobody. can take away my God-given artistic talent.” I truly believe that. I trust the powers that be to guide me along the right path.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m an artist and will always have a business-like mindset because I make my living from my art and creative skills, Starting out as a designer in the business world gave me an edge. Pivoting is essential and there have been many along the way:

Working as a designer is an assignment for a business or organization. The client has a set of needs and the process is strategic and thoughtful. When it goes well, a client expresses their needs clearly and allows me to create a successful solution.

Pivoting to an art commission: This is an assignment for an individual who feels a connection with me and my art. They come to me with a specific need–often some particular subject matter–that they want me to create in my artistic expression.

Pivoting to my own personal art: This is something I create in my own artistic expression. When somebody connects with it, and with me, they may wish to have it for their very own, Some people want the original art, hand signed and personally touched by the artist, Some people are happy with a print or art product.

People can acquire my art in whatever form best suits their needs and wants.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jcda.com/shop-art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeaninecolini/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanineColiniDesignArt