We recently connected with Sandra Jockus and have shared our conversation below.

Sandra, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve been drawing since I was a child, and it’s always been a constant presence in my life, even as a hobby. I studied fashion design and making in Tokyo, where I naturally gravitated toward the fashion illustration classes — those were always my favorite.

After graduating, I began working full-time in the fashion industry, but I never stopped creating art on the side. I even participated in a number of group exhibitions. Still, I eventually reached a point where that wasn’t enough, I felt a deep urge to dedicate more of my time and energy to my own creative work.

On the advice of a friend, I made the bold decision to move to New York, believing it would open doors for me as an artist. I’d spent nearly a decade in Japan, so the move was both exciting and challenging. I arrived in New York full of hope, but the reality quickly set in, the high cost of living made it difficult to carve out the time and space I needed to focus on my art.
It wasn’t until the pandemic forced the world to pause that I found myself with time again — and I used it to return fully to my creative practice. I began illustrating digitally on my iPad, which eventually led to my first paid illustration jobs. From there, things slowly grew, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. But I’ve kept going, and I’m proud of the journey so far.

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 a self-taught digital and multidisciplinary artist currently based in New York. I primarily create illustrations on my iPad and bring my work to life through both digital and physical formats. My artistic journey has been shaped by many places and experiences — I was born in a small town in Lithuania, raised in Berlin, and spent nearly a decade in Tokyo, Japan, where I earned a degree in fashion design and garment making in 2015. My time in Japan had a huge impact on my aesthetic and attention to detail, and it still influences my work today.

While I’m now based in the bustling energy of New York, much of my inspiration actually comes from the sun-soaked, relaxed atmosphere of California. I’m drawn to that contrast — blending light, warmth, and daydreamy surrealism with the chaos of city life. In the past two years, my dog Trevor, a basset hound–Labrador mix, has also become a major creative muse. His calm presence and quirky character often find their way into my illustrations.

Although I began as a digital artist, I started to feel the urge to bring my art into the physical world, to create pieces people could touch, feel, and hang on their walls. That led me to revisit my background in textiles and begin printing my illustrations on luxurious fabrics like satin and velvet. I enhance these pieces with hand-sewn elements and layered textures like ribbons, creating one-of-a-kind artworks that feel both tactile and ethereal. In May of last year, I held my first solo exhibition showcasing these fabric art pieces, a moment that felt incredibly rewarding and personal.

Over time, my work has evolved into a blend of illustration, textile art, and visual storytelling. I offer original artwork, limited-edition fabric prints, custom pieces, and illustration services for brands. Past collaborations have included clients such as Topo Chico and the Hankyu Department Store in Osaka, Japan. Whether I’m working on a client project or a personal piece, I aim to create visual experiences that feel whimsical, emotional, and a little surreal.

What sets my work apart is its emotional honesty, combined with a tactile, immersive quality. I believe art should feel alive — whether it’s on a screen or printed on velvet — and I want my pieces to transport people, even just for a moment.

I’m proud of staying true to my vision and continuing to grow through all the ups and downs. I’m always open to new challenges, creative collaborations, and opportunities that align with my values and love for storytelling. For anyone discovering my work for the first time: expect color, emotion, a touch of fantasy and lots of dogs :)

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one of the biggest things non-creatives often struggle to understand is how deeply personal and all-consuming the creative journey can be. Many of us choose to pursue what others might call a “hobby,” often at the expense of financial stability, just for the chance to keep creating, with the hope that, one day, something meaningful or “big” might come from it.

What’s often overlooked is that creatives experience the world a little differently. We see things more intensely — colors are brighter, sounds are louder, emotions are more vivid. All of that sensory input and internal emotion needs somewhere to go. For us, it comes out through art, music, writing, movement, whatever form helps release what’s been building inside.

That’s why it’s so important for creatives to work on personal pieces, not just client projects. It’s not about productivity or output, it’s about emotional processing, self-expression, and staying connected to our core. Sometimes we need days that look like we’re “doing nothing,” but internally, our minds are wildly active, observing, processing, imagining, dreaming. That stillness is part of the work too. It’s what makes space for new ideas to emerge.

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

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing my work out in the world, whether it’s published somewhere or hanging in someone’s home. That moment of connection, when someone chooses to live with a piece of my art, tells me that it resonated with them in some way, that they saw a part of themselves or something they needed in it. That’s incredibly special.

I also love witnessing people’s immediate emotional reactions. At The Other Art Fair in Los Angeles this past February, I noticed how visitors would walk up to my booth and instantly start smiling. They were drawn to the colors, the characters, the energy of the work, and those genuine reactions are the best reminder of why I do what I do. Creating something that sparks joy or connection in someone else is the most fulfilling feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sandrajockus.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrajockus
• Other: Behance:
  https://www.behance.net/sandrajockus