Rising Stars: Meet Meredith Jones

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Jones.

Hi Meredith, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have been drawing, painting, designing, and making my whole life. But it wasn’t until 2019 that I learned the term for the fun patterns and licensed art I’ve always admired in stores – “illustration!”

My background and education are as an interior designer – I can remember sitting in meetings with design reps thinking “WHO makes all these amazing fabrics I’m specifying?! What did they study in school?” Along with my experience at the design firms, I did some teaching in Italy and as an adjunct design professor for my alma mater. Most recently, I was an artist for my neighborhood Trader Joe’s (yes, it was as fun as it sounds)!

I almost always had a side gig going on though – if someone wanted to pay me to make art, I was doing it (paintings, murals, sewing, building, etc.). But once I found Lisa Bardot on YouTube and began learning about illustration it was all over. I got the smallest iPad since it was all I could afford, and I joined her #makingarteveryday community.

Midway through 2020, I was sitting outside on my deck reading Austin Kleon’s book “Show your work.” While I didn’t have any social media at the time, I can remember putting down my book, purchasing my domain name, and getting back on Instagram. There has been lots of exploring and learning thanks to YouTube, Skillshare, Instagram, etc. And I’ve had more fun creating than ever before. Though it wasn’t until 2021 that I went out on my own.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has certainly not been a smooth road – is it for anybody though? During my six years of marriage, I supported my ex-husband’s dream of becoming a physical therapist while he went to school. So it wasn’t until after he unexpectedly left me that I began pursuing my own dreams. And honestly, it’s still a struggle. You have to continually put yourself out there (hey, Instagram and query emails…) until someone decides you are valuable enough.

Part of my issue in starting out is that this whole new world exists, and I want to do it all (surface design, cards, picture books, editorial, etc.). But I’ve learned from trial and error, that I need to focus on getting good at one thing before expanding into different sectors of the market. So far, everything I have done has been for “print-on-demand” (Redbubble, Society 6, etc.). Currently, I’m working on getting my prints, cards, and stickers into stores, and looking for representation. Having an agent would allow me more opportunities to license my artwork to larger companies than I can reach with my current following.

Some business owners may thrive on running the business. I can’t speak for all the illustrators out there, but at my core, I’m an artist and would love to spend more of my time making the art. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg and a tiny fraction of what I spend my time doing.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in imperfect illustrations for surface design and greeting card applications. When I reluctantly started my Instagram account midway through 2020, I put in my bio that I was “overcoming perfectionism one illustration at a time” and that couldn’t be more true today. Having struggled with perfectionism my whole life, I intentionally try to embrace the imperfect/wonky nature of my illustrations because that’s what makes them “mine.” The bright, fun color palettes I work in are a symbol that our imperfections should be celebrated!

The neat thing about digital illustration is how many different things you can do with the art once it’s made. For example, one day at a coffee shop I drew these little transparent, sketchy balloon dogs – that turned into a pattern for fabric, phone cases, etc. – then I took all those elements apart to create a birthday greeting card about “teaching an old dog new tricks.”

And I still think there are ways I’ll use this original sketch! Communicating through art brings me great joy – especially when I can combine complex concepts with eye-catching art or make someone laugh.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
While I graduated with an interior design degree, I have two years of fine art experience. Hours upon hours of drawing still lifes, figure drawing, etc. So what comes most naturally for me is to draw what’s realistic, exactly as it is in front of me. So, when I learned about the idea of stylization in illustration, my mind was blown.

I give so much credit to Lisa Bardot of “Bardot Brush” whose YouTube tutorials I have watched and shared with so many artists wanting to learn about illustration. That being said, some people are surprised I’ve never had a graphic design class (because in college I remember saying I didn’t want to sit in front of a computer for the rest of my life – I sure showed my past self…).

But I love the flexibility of digital design. And working on my iPad means I have every art tool at my fingertips!

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@meredithann.com
• Website: https://www.meredithann.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithannillustration/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meredithannillustration
• Other: https://www.redbubble.com/people/MeredithAnnArt/shop?asc=u&ref=account-nav-dropdown