We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jordyn Reinhart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jordyn below.

Jordyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

One of the first times I realized I wanted to pursue an artistic profession was during my teenage years while watching Hayao Miyazaki’s animation “Spirited Away”. While I had consumed plenty of animated shows and movies by this point in my life, Miyazaki’s work truly inspired me. I remember that as the credits rolled at the end, I thought “wow, this is a true piece of art. This is what animation is capable of accomplishing.”

The story, the world-building, the character designs, the way that feelings were captured in a way that can only be done through animation. I was in awe of the way all these elements effortlessly came together to create an experience I would never forget. It was in that moment that I realized I wanted to give life to ideas in the same way. Those strong feelings led me to pursue a career in art and to fill my work with the kind of love and care that only an artist can provide.

Jordyn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hey, my name is Jordyn! I’m an illustrator, designer, and entrepreneur who runs OHJO Studios LLC. I began freelancing in 2017, when I was 21 years old. This was at a turning point in my life, having just moved a few hours away from the town I grew up in to live with my partner. I was taking a break from college and left behind the job I was working at prior to moving, so freelancing was my lifeline during all of these turbulent changes.

It was a completely different challenge from holding a “normal” job. I had to learn proper time management, how to price my services, file taxes, organize my own tasks and deadlines, how to reach new potential clients, and most importantly, how to stay self-motivated. I continued working on these skills as I returned to and finished college, gaining the most valuable experiences from just taking on new projects and figuring things out along the way.

Now, I primarily work as a graphic designer and website designer, although I love finding projects where I can include my illustrative skills as well. I’ve found that I value working with other small businesses the most, giving their passions a brand and identity, as well as building websites or other materials that will help them get more work. I’ve also discovered that I love seeing tangible results, whether that be a decal on the side of a service truck or a billboard on the highway. It just feels nice to see your work out in the real world.

Some common issues I might help my clients with is refreshing their company with updated branding and a new website. I often have clients approach me with ideas that they’re not sure how to execute by themselves. It’s so satisfying to transform an idea from a napkin-drawing to a fully-fledged design, or to launch a website that reflects their vision and goals as a business. Something I’ve learned is that clients often prefer to work with one person (or team) rather than using separate entities that they would have to keep track of for different types of projects. This has led to me picking up so many skills that I never thought I would have when I initially started my freelance journey creating infographics and writing blogs. But it feels great to say “I can do that” or “I can figure that out” when a client brings up a new idea and runs it by you first before looking for someone else to handle it.

I’ve often felt that what sets me apart from others in my field is that my roots as an artist changes the way that I approach design as a whole. There can be a lot of repetition in the design world nowadays, which leads to so many designs and websites looking the same or stale. Being an illustrative artist helps me push past those limitations to bring something custom and unique to my clients. The thought and effort I put into my work is reflected in the end results. At the end of the day, I’m most proud of the way that I can connect with my clients and help them get their ideas out in the world. Having that connection with others who are trying to achieve their dreams brings me a lot of joy and I never regret putting my heart into my work because of that.

Regarding the future of my business, it’s my goal to keep working with other creative individuals and expand the types of projects I work on. It’d be so fun to do something like illustrate a children’s book, or design a whole conference’s visuals, or maybe even make album art for a local musician. I’m excited to see what the future holds.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Creatives of all kinds need your support more than ever right now. Whether it is someone who is trying to make a living from their art, or just a person who is recreationally making art, I think showing support to artists is pivotal to keeping the spirit of creativity alive and well in our society.

Next time you are out on a drive or running an errand, take a moment to look around and understand that everything we surround ourselves with is designed by an artist, whether that be through woodworking, or signs on buildings, or items we use to decorate our personal spaces. Art is crucial to how we define our existence, and yet artists have become less and less valued over time. Less jobs, less pay, and less appreciation of how wonderful it is to have people who want to create something from nothing. While I believe that artists will always create regardless of how society chooses to value their skills, showing them support is important.

You can show support by hiring real artists to work on projects they specialize in, by not using AI-generated work for final products, and by interacting with those brave enough to share their work online. When you want to buy a gift for a loved one or a new decoration for your home, spend some time looking at custom-made pieces by creatives online, rather than buying something that’s mass-produced and cheaply made. These pieces are often made with care and will make your space or gift feel more unique because of that. If you’re unable to give any sort of financial support, then just interacting with creators online is a great way to help them grow their reach and feel encouraged.

These are all simple actions that I believe will help guide our society towards a future that values artists, creatives, and the “human touch” element that makes the world we live in so special.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being an artist has always made the world a more beautiful place in my eyes. It sounds cheesy, yes, but it’s true. Ever since I was young, I’ve looked out at the world and have been entranced by the natural beauty of vibrant leaves or the way that puffy clouds change their shapes. When I watch movies, I think about how many people had to come together to create something just so others could experience it, and how wonderful that is. When I read a good book, I think about how the author was able to put emotions and experiences into words so succinctly. Being an artist means that I understand all of these things that I consume have required someone to learn the skill required to do them. To appreciate the simple things in life as well the things that have required a tremendous amount of effort to achieve is a perspective I’ll always be grateful to have.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ohjostudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohjostudios
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ohjostudios6153

Image Credits

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