Meet Jensine Eckwall

Jensine utilizes bold colors and charming characters to telegraph empowering and sometimes cheeky messages. Recently the artist put out a series of prints based on fables, and illustrations to accompany a book about pleasurable activities.

Catch up with this fantastic artist as we have a chat in our latest interview.

“Prime Time Gossip” A fill in the blank by Jensine Eckwall

The ever STINKY "Gilligan's MALL" looks as though it will end up a LONG feature PEAR. Both Universal HOGS and Paramount PIGS are competing to turn this GLISTENING comedy into a SPOOKY blockbuster

What world-famous LEAF designer is INEFFECTUALLY tearing his BOOB out? His staff sold the same provocative and UGLY low-cut SACK to two of TV's leading VLOGGERS. The women hate each other's TOES.

Would You Rather

be stuck in an elevator with Susan Sarandon or Tilda Swinton?

Tilda, if only to be in the presence of her powerful vibes.

Some questions with Jensine Eckwall

What draws you to using the color palette of black white and red?

Printmaking, political posters, and imagery from my youth impressing upon me that those are the "cool and evil" colors. Relatedly, I've revisited Buzz Parker's Emily the Strange art, what a successful illustration venture.

What is the community for artists like in NYC?

My community of artist peers in NYC is my home and I'll die protecting it. I'm very lucky to have graduated school with a group of friends that has expanded beyond illustration into animation, indie games, music, comics etc. I am so fortunate to have my community. There's tons of other pockets of arts micro-communities that vary on the scale of healthy to toxic. We're all around 30 now and are attempting to parse the dissonance of having an art practice as a human being and working as commercial artists.

Are you a dog person or a cat person? Neither? Why?

My partner and I have two dogs but I respect and love cats.

What effects do you think COVID-19 will have on the NYC illustration community?

It's hard to say; personally I'm like half-in, half-out of the larger, very visible NYC illustration community. It's sad to me that students who were looking forward to meeting their role models and new peers won't get to make those connections in person. I'm really missing my regular tabletop RPG sessions, and the absence of indie comics conventions is hurting the health and morale of the scene. People are inventive and we'll make it work. Mostly I worry about the material consequences of the pandemic and people's continued ability to work and create. It's a demoralizing time that lends itself to stress.

What is your least favorite chore?

Washing dishes because i have eczema on my hands :p

What is the one thing you want people to take away from your work?

That feelings are valid and real but we're still responsible for what we choose to do with them.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Has this in any way shaped your work?

Both! Yes, I became socially adept pretty late in life, so an origin as an introvert wishing for more connection shaped the way I observed things and thus the images I choose to make.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

I'd like to plug https://litebox.info/, a wage transparency project for illustrators. I'd also like to point attention to @blackatsva, where Black former and current students at SVA, where I got my BFA, are speaking about their experiences. I'd like to end with an incisive statement about the state of the world but it's been a long day :)

Jensine Eckwall