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Episode 251 - Finding Your Signature Style
288 Plays14 days ago
In today's episode, I'm chatting with Genna Blackburn about finding your signature style. Whether you're a designer, artist or any kind of creative, I think you're going to find a lot of wisdom with Genna.
This episode is sponsored by BDOW!, formerly Sumo, the very best intelligent form and pop-up tool for your website. Deliver the right message, to the right visitor, using our advanced targeting rules. Whether you want to display a pop-up to only new visitors, or generate a unique discount code for those who subscribe to your list, you can get the job done using BDOW!
As always, links and resources can be found in the show notes. Check 'em out over at https://daveyandkrista.com/finding-signature-style-btb-251/. And if you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review over at Apple Podcasts.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast and Episode
00:00:00
Speaker
it's good to just keep it consistent and consistent is confident when your portfolio is cohesive it gives a sense of confidence it makes it look like you've put the time in You're listening to the Brands of the Book Show, a podcast for creative entrepreneurs who want practical tips and strategies to build engaging brands and craft high converting websites. We're your hosts, Davey and Krista, co-founders of a brand and website design agency specializing in visual brand design and show it websites.
Finding and Discovering Your Signature Style
00:00:33
Speaker
You're listening to the Brands Book Show. In today's episode, I'm chatting with Jenna Blackburn about finding your signature style. We cover everything from why a signature style is important to how to actually find yours to the ways that it can help elevate your work and cause less friction between you and your clients.
00:00:51
Speaker
So whether you're a designer, an artist, or really any other kind of creative, I think you're going to find a lot of wisdom in this conversation with Jenna. And if you listen to this episode in the week or so after it first comes out, she's actually teaching a free workshop to help you find your signature style. You'll actually get to draw alongside her. And if you're interested in finding your ideal style, I think it would be a really fun week to join along and learn with Jenna.
00:01:14
Speaker
So now on to the episode. Today's episode is sponsored by Badao, formerly Sumo, the very best intelligent form and pop-up tool for your website.
00:01:25
Speaker
Deliver the right message to the right visitor using our advanced targeting rules. Whether you want to display a pop-up to only new visitors or generate a unique discount code for those who subscribe to your list, you can get the job done using Badao.
00:01:41
Speaker
One of my personal favorite features is the show a tab function. Basically how this works is when visitors close the pop-up, it minimizes to the bottom of the page so that visitors can open it back up if they'd like, but it also remains out of their way while they browse.
00:01:56
Speaker
You can check out how that feature works over at the Davy and Krista website. Also use the code Davy and Krista to save 20% on your subscription. Create an experience on your website using Badao.
Jenna Blackburn: Journey and Success Stories
00:02:10
Speaker
Jenna, I am so excited that you're here today and that we are going to be talking about finding your signature style. I've gotten to know you little bit this year, and i think that your approach to art and design is super interesting, and i think that it can benefit so many people, even if they don't think that they ever want to draw.
00:02:29
Speaker
So yes, I'm excited that you're here. Yes, thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to chat with you today. Yeah. So I'd love for you to kind of introduce yourself and then share a little bit of your story. So what did you do? how did you end up there? How did you end up teaching what you teach?
00:02:46
Speaker
Yes, absolutely. So my name is Jenna Blackburn, and I'm a surface designer, illustrator, and educator in Detroit, Michigan. And I was a graphic designer for many years. I went to school for graphic design and then I sort of felt this pull toward illustration and surface pattern design and licensing. and And it was kind of a hard transition for me because as a graphic designer, you know, I worked at a design studio where I didn't get to pick the clients and I just, you know, one day I'm doing a brochure for a manufacturing company and one day I'm doing a website for a nonprofit and like all these different things. And you kind of have to be a chameleon and kind of do whatever serves that company.
00:03:29
Speaker
And I hadn't really developed my own voice or style. And, and when I started to get interested in illustration and service pattern design, I felt really vulnerable I felt like maybe i don't know what I'm doing. i felt a lot of self-doubt and it was something I had to work through quite a bit. And so now that I've gotten to the point where i really can enjoy drawing and making art and it's not ah as much of a struggle as it used to be and I don't have as much self-doubt and I feel like I've developed a signature style, I love talking about it and sharing that with other people because it can be kind of a hard thing to achieve.
00:04:10
Speaker
Because as creatives, we have so much fear and self-doubt and that can really hold us back. And so the fact that I now have artwork on diapers for Hello Bello, pajamas for little sleepies, greeting cards that you can buy in Target, like this blows my mind because Krista, if you had met me like five years ago, six, seven, eight years ago, you wouldn't, you'd be like, no, that's like, I had so much self doubt. And I, I was afraid to even like show anybody, if I drew like a little cat, I'd have like, was afraid to show it to anyone.
00:04:44
Speaker
And so to go from that to now working with these brands and getting my artwork in the world and And, you know, I get to put those diapers on my, my children and see them running around, you know, like that is amazing to me. I cannot believe it.
Embracing Natural Style and Creative Process
00:04:59
Speaker
Yeah. That is so impressive. We are done with the diaper phase, but I kind of wish that we had like one more round so I could buy. I feel like I always felt like the really boring basic diapers, but your designs are so cute.
00:05:11
Speaker
And it's so fun that you've been able to find that style and then get your stuff on products everywhere. Yeah, it is so rewarding and fulfilling. And when you when you hold that product in your hand and it's got your artwork on it, or you see someone out in the world who's using it, it's it is just the best feeling.
00:05:29
Speaker
Yeah. So how did you figure out your style? do you have like ah Was there a process? Was it a lot of trial and error? If somebody doesn't know what their style is, do you have some ways that they can go about finding it?
00:05:41
Speaker
Yes. So for me, it was a lot of experimentation. And I think that's true for everyone. You have to just try lots of different things. And, you know, I tried watercolor, I tried doing things more realistic, I tried doing things more abstract. And, and I loved a lot of those different experimentations that I did.
00:06:02
Speaker
But I just felt like, there's got to be a way that is just more me. That's just more like in touch with the art that I want to make. And I actually went through this phase where I tried to do everything in black and white because I don't know, like a little while back, this, it's kind of seemed like that was what was on trend and everyone was putting these really beautiful black and white things everywhere. And I tried that and I just could not, like, i wanted so badly to be on trend, but color just came pouring out of me.
00:06:33
Speaker
And really like playful, and wanted to be sophisticated. I try to do sophisticated work, but this playful, colorful work kept coming out of me. And I finally just decided, you know, if that's what's pouring out of me, let me lean into that and see what happens.
00:06:48
Speaker
And I started to follow my intuition some more. And I started to set up parameters for myself. Like, let's see what happens if I use really bright colors and I draw in a very simple way. And I try that for a little period of time.
00:07:01
Speaker
Let's see what happens. And so that's what I think it is. It's about you experiment, you try lots of different things. And then at some point, you start to see a little glimpse of what really resonates with you.
00:07:14
Speaker
And you just lean into that more. And then you analyze it and you say, do I enjoy using these bright colors? Do I enjoy what do I like? What do I not like about what I'm
Building a Cohesive Portfolio and Client Alignment
00:07:24
Speaker
currently making? And then you make adjustments. And so I think it's a lot about following your intuition. But at some point, I do think kind of setting parameters for yourself so you have less decisions to make, even if it's just for five days.
00:07:36
Speaker
Let me pick out a set of eight colors. Let me just say I'm just going to use colored pencils, like those types of parameters. And you try it for five days and you see what happens. And that's my best advice is first experiment and then set some parameters for yourself.
00:07:52
Speaker
And during this time, were you like creating these designs and then sending them off to see if anybody bit on making them into diapers and patterns? And were they saying yes? Or was it just kind of like you didn't like it?
00:08:04
Speaker
And so maybe it wasn't a good fit for them. Tell me about that too. I'm really interested in that process. Yeah. So I started greeting card company in 2014. And those greeting cards mostly had copy on them that a friend of mine had written. And I was kind of hiding behind that copy. and And then I sort of started to kind of put a little bit more of my artwork on there. And and it just, it wasn't really selling that well And no one was really coming to me for licensing deals. And I also didn't have, wasn't really pitching at that point to companies for licensing because I didn't have any confidence and I didn't feel like I had a solid body of work to send to them.
00:08:44
Speaker
And so when I really took the time find my signature style, the artwork started to flow out of me. And then I had a body of work that I felt like, okay, I can put this into a portfolio now.
00:08:56
Speaker
and I can pitch it. And then when I started doing that, I started getting lots of more yeses and attention than I was getting before. And I think having that cohesive body of work, that was really me.
00:09:10
Speaker
It was really the work that I, like it felt like me. Whereas the greeting card company in 2014, that was, you know, i was still kind of experimenting. I don't think I had gotten to that work that felt like me.
The Importance of Daily Practice and Creativity
00:09:22
Speaker
And i think when you get to the work that feels like you, whether you're a graphic designer or you you know make ceramics or photography, whatever, when you get that root of the work that is you, that's when people resonate with it. That's when people want to purchase it and put it in their homes or put it on their um their websites and things like that. So and yeah so I think a signature style can be really helpful to get your artwork out into the world more and more.
00:09:50
Speaker
Yeah. And would you say that like this style was just like naturally there? Like was your home filled with bright colors and like little more whimsical designs? Or did you really have to like go through that discovery process?
00:10:02
Speaker
Because I feel like for me, my home was like naturally filled with a a lot of those things, but it did still take me some time to figure out like what style of imagery did do I like? What typography do I like? And like you, i think I looked around and I looked at to see what other things people were doing, what they might've been selling. i don't even know if what was actually selling at the time when I started.
00:10:23
Speaker
And I feel like I just had to stop and put my blinders on and figure out like, wait, what do I like? Would you think it was similar for you? I actually feel like my home is just now starting to reflect my style.
00:10:35
Speaker
I think for a while I was sort of like decorating my home based on, you know, what's trendy. And then And I started to realize, why am I not, I love color. Why am i not leaning more into that for my home? And so I've been having fun more recently, like bringing more color in and, and playing with that and getting better at, ah you know, incorporating that into my home.
00:10:58
Speaker
Yeah. So within your style, do you feel like there's also room to incorporate some trends? Like I know there trending colors at any time. I think that bright colors are coming back in right now, which is probably so good for you.
00:11:10
Speaker
Do you feel like when you have that signature style, it's easier to bring in some elements if you feel like they fit? Or do you feel like you really want to stick to your established look and feel? I think it could go either way. I think once you have a home base, as I like to call it for your signature style, you can kind of evolve and experiment and bring different things in. And so, yeah, you can absolutely, you know, something's on trend.
00:11:34
Speaker
you can bring that in and do it in your style. Like I know owls were really, really big back in the day. Like like you could you know do owls, but in your style.
00:11:44
Speaker
And I think once you have that home base, you can you can do that. I personally still am just kind of stubborn and I just do whatever I want. i don't even know and don't even know what's trendy right now, Krista.
00:11:56
Speaker
I should, I don't know. That's okay. I don't always know it's trendy. I feel like sometimes I try to be aware of design trends because I get asked about them or we're creating content about them.
00:12:08
Speaker
Like I normally am very excited about about the Pantone color of the year. This year it's like a mocha color, which is great because they've had some not so fun colors. I'm not a bright color person.
00:12:18
Speaker
If you, you can't see me recording this video, but my whole room is black and white and tans. Yeah. It's beautiful. The opposite of you. But yeah, I do try to be attention. So that's fun that like you can stick within your aesthetic, but maybe bring in other stuff too.
00:12:34
Speaker
So do you feel like most of what you're creating these days is just what you want to create? Or do you feel like you also sometimes need to balance what the market is demanding with what you're creating? I know that that could be maybe more true if you're working with product companies like Does Hello Bello, like a company like that, do they come to you and ask for owls or something like that? And then you just create them? Or how does that work? This whole world of like getting your products and designs on stuff is new to me.
00:13:02
Speaker
I will mostly just day-to-day create whatever I feel like drawing. And if like, if I, today I want to draw an alligator, I'm going to draw an alligator. And I just kind of get quiet for a second. I feel like, and I think like, what do I want to draw?
00:13:16
Speaker
But when ah client comes to me and and says, we, you know, we need some holiday designs for an upcoming, you know, release, they usually give me a brief to work from. and I really enjoy that because it gets me out of my, you know, sometimes I just draw cats and bunnies every day. And so it's nice when a client comes to me and says, can you draw this?
00:13:38
Speaker
And then I get broken out of my, what I'm focusing on. And so what I love about having a style is that even if they ask me to draw trains or they ask me to draw cacti with faces on them or whatever, they kind of know what they're going to get from me before I draw it because they see a body of work that's pretty consistent. And so rarely nowadays do I get pushback.
00:14:04
Speaker
after the first draft of something I do. Whereas before, when I used to you know work with clients, sometimes the first draft was missed the mark quite a bit from what they were wanting because they didn't know what to expect from me. and And so now that's what's really fun about working with clients now is like, they don't usually have too many changes because they can kind of picture what it's going to be like when they hire me.
00:14:28
Speaker
And if they don't want something that's going to be super playful and colorful, they're probably not going to come to me. with the project. And so, yeah, I enjoy putting my style into other, into their creative brief and seeing what happens.
00:14:42
Speaker
That's such a good point that like, when you have that style, it sets you up for fewer or sets your clients up for fewer disappointments or fewer revisions. Like, I think that that is true of photographers. Like if you are consistently shooting the same style of image throughout all of your sessions and all of the weddings and everything on your site looks very similar, people go to you and they they expect that. And so if you were to create something very different from that, that's probably where that client disconnect comes from. And so it seems the same is kind of true for an artist, I would say like a floral designer. i think that anybody in the creative world, that is probably one of the biggest benefits I would think of having a signature style
00:15:20
Speaker
like your clients know what to expect. And so they can already visualize what it's going to be like when they work with you or hire you. Yes. And then you get to work with clients that really are a good fit for you. And you get to do more of the work you love.
00:15:33
Speaker
I always tell people don't Don't put work in your portfolio that you don't want to create more of because sometimes you feel like you need to show everything that you have made just in case. like What if this really old wedding invitation I made is like the thing that they're going to want? you know I need to put it in my portfolio, but I think it's good to just keep it consistent and consistent is confident. When your portfolio is cohesive, it gives a sense of confidence.
00:16:03
Speaker
It makes it look like you've put the time in. It makes your work look elevated. And so I think less is more a lot of times. Don't show every single thing you've ever done in all these different styles. Just show a curated, cohesive amount, and then you'll attract the people that are going to want you to make more work like that.
00:16:21
Speaker
Yeah. We've learned that so much in our business and in creating websites. And Davey and I used to be photographers and we did mentoring with a very established photographer. And he told us that the best photographers show the fewest amount of images because they're so curated.
00:16:36
Speaker
They're so like detailed and they only want to be known for one thing. so like if that wedding happened to take place in a dark church with red velvet floors, which can happen, they wouldn't show those images. And like That's such a great point. So i love that.
00:16:53
Speaker
Do you feel like working on your signature style is something that takes practice every day? do you recommend somebody just like create something, even if it's small, every day to try to figure out what their style is?
00:17:04
Speaker
Yes. I say quantity over quality, which seems like the opposite of what you would think. But I think sometimes we get really stuck on, like, I have to make a masterpiece.
Continual Practice and Inspiration Resources
00:17:17
Speaker
I'm going to sit down and I'm going to make something amazing. And I would rather come at it from a place of play and lightness, and I'm going to do it for five minutes. And if it's, if I love it, or I don't love it, I still did it.
00:17:30
Speaker
And if you do that, and you keep coming back every day, you stay in touch with your creativity. You know, I've had phases where I've gone months without picking up a pencil or ah crayon or something. And then Not lately.
00:17:45
Speaker
Right now I'm on a streak of drawing every day for almost two years. That's amazing. this summer it will be two years. and Sometimes it's just scribbles on a piece of paper, but it still counts.
00:17:57
Speaker
But in the past, I've had phases where I've gone you know weeks and months without picking up a paintbrush or a colored pencil. And then when I go to do it, there's so much pressure and I don't feel in touch with my creativity at all.
00:18:09
Speaker
And so I think picking up your medium every day and spending even just five minutes with it, no matter what the result is, no matter if you love what you made or not, is going to keep the door to inspiration open.
00:18:22
Speaker
It's going to keep your hands moving. It's going to keep you from feeling rusty. And it's going to build up this sense of confidence that you know you're coming to your creativity every day. And so you're sending a signal to your creativity that you're serious about it. And you're going to you're going to feel that. And it's going to impact the way that you approach your work. And I think approaching it from a place of play is so important because we we can put so much pressure on ourselves and that can just be so trifling.
00:18:49
Speaker
I feel like that could apply to so many things in life, approaching it from a sense of play and less pressure. Have you discovered any like tools or resources if somebody is like really struggling to define or figure out their style?
00:19:03
Speaker
Or do you think it's just like putting in those reps? Like I am not a sports person, but I imagine an athlete, like if you're trying to make a basket, you have to do a lot of reps to be able to get that skill. Yeah.
00:19:14
Speaker
yeah i Yeah, I think, yeah, you just have to do it right? You just have to do it. But I think there are lots of things that you can do to make that easier. Like there are so many classes online.
00:19:26
Speaker
Skillshare, things like that, like draw along with other people. Like if there's a class, like I'll do classes where I'll i'll say, come draw with me. And I think that can be really helpful because if you're following along with someone else, it makes it so you don't have to come up with an an idea by yourself. You can just kind of do what someone else is doing. And then maybe you draw what they're drawing And then once your hands are moving, you draw it again, but in your own way.
00:19:54
Speaker
So sometimes just kind of following along with someone else can be really helpful. I also love the book, Big Magic. I recommend this to any creative person.
00:20:04
Speaker
I love the audio book, especially because Elizabeth Gilbert reads it and you can listen to it while you're drawing or while you're doing other things. And The way that she talks about creativity, it just sometimes I'll put it on if I'm staring at a blank page and I just need that inner critic to be drowned out by, you know, the soothing soothing sounds of Elizabeth Gilbert.
00:20:27
Speaker
And she says all these really wonderful things about the creative treasures that are hidden within us and how we all have them. And this just gets my hands moving and takes the pressure off. So that's one of my favorite resources for sure.
00:20:41
Speaker
Yeah. I listened to that or read that book a long time ago. Does she talk about how these ideas are just out there in the world and you just need to like be open to them, which I think is an interesting concept because I think that so often when we're creating, we think it has to come from us and we have to be like the genius who comes up with every single detail. But I think when you're just playing and when you're open, sometimes those ideas just come and sometimes they're the best ones.
00:21:06
Speaker
Yes. She says, just keep working Just keep going and then the idea will eventually come to you. But it won't come to you if you're not working every day on your craft.
00:21:18
Speaker
And I think that is so true. i have found that I used to think, I can't sit down to draw if I don't have an idea.
The Role of Movement in Creative Flow
00:21:25
Speaker
if I'm not inspired, what what am I going to draw? And only recently did I realize this.
00:21:30
Speaker
I wasted so much time. You have to start moving your hands for the idea to come. So I tell people, just draw yourself. marks on a page, just draw circles, draw squares.
00:21:42
Speaker
It doesn't have to be anything meaningful. But once you get your hands moving, suddenly you'll think of something, you'll have a spark and ah of an idea. Like one time I was just drawing circles and feeling like, oh I'm never going to come up with an idea. And suddenly I felt this urge to draw a hammerhead shark.
00:21:59
Speaker
And I drew this hammerhead shark and I loved him. And it was, it felt so good to have this idea come to me, but it didn't come to me until I sat down and started drawing. Yeah, that is so fun.
00:22:11
Speaker
Have you ever faced any criticism from your style? like And do you think part two of that question is, do you think that if you have a signature style and you like really love it, it feels so close to your heart, do you think that if you if somebody criticizes it or says they don't like it, it's just you take it more personally? I know that that can be just one of the struggles as a creative, like you pour so much into something, you might love it. But then if nobody else does, or somebody says something mean, don't know, feel like you have to have a thick skin.
00:22:39
Speaker
Yes, because when you're creating art in your signature style, it feels more vulnerable because it is you. And so i think that's very true. I had an art agent, look at my work, not too long ago, a couple of years ago, after I had started getting success with it and signing licensing deals. and she But she didn't realize I had signed any licensing deals. she just It was a portfolio review. And she just jumped right into reviewing my portfolio without without finding out more about me and started telling me my work wasn't marketable. it looked like
00:23:15
Speaker
very much like a college student and that my work needed more texture because my work is very flat. It's very colorful and graphic and I don't use texture. I don't use shading or shadows. It's just very like colorful and simple.
00:23:31
Speaker
And she said, you need more texture in here. this No one's going to buy this work. And I, luckily, this wasn't too early in my career where it broke me, but I was just like, she little does she know, i'm already... you're like, Hello Bello is putting my designs on diapers. So you were wrong. Yeah, you are wrong. I should have just told her. I was trying to be respectful.
00:23:53
Speaker
i was trying to just let her just see what else she had to say. and But yeah, so you'll get feedback like that. And I think... you just have to stay true to what you want to make. And as long as you're true to what you want to make, others will feel that and they'll resonate with it. And I think there will always be an audience for what you have to offer. Yeah.
00:24:15
Speaker
Do you, the the designs that are the drawings that you do every day, do a lot of them end up in your work or some of them like just playing? a lot of just playing. I do a lot of drawings with crayons.
00:24:27
Speaker
I just got into, or some people say crayon. i say crayons because I'm from Michigan. I think it's a Michigan thing. I love drawing with crayons, but when I finish something for my portfolio or for a client, I draw it in Procreate on the iPad.
00:24:42
Speaker
And so I do a lot of crayon drawings that never end up anywhere, but some of them do. Some of them I end up redrawing and procreate. And I actually made a coloring book from, i spent all summer a couple of years ago, drawing in crayons and filled up a couple of sketchbooks.
00:24:58
Speaker
And then I thought, you know, this could be a coloring book. And I turned them into coloring book pages and, you know, released it on Amazon. But at the time when I was drawing, I wasn't thinking like, these are going to end up somewhere. i was just playing.
00:25:11
Speaker
And then after a while, I looked back at the work and and saw something I could do with it. So sometimes they do end up somewhere, but a lot of times they just live in my sketchbook for now. Yeah, that's so fun.
00:25:23
Speaker
Okay, only a couple questions left. In what ways do you think having a signature style as an artist sets you apart, especially in ah marketplace that is super crowded? And I know that there are a lot of artists out there. There are a lot of digital creators.
00:25:37
Speaker
So maybe you can speak a little bit to that. Yes. Having a signature style, I think, is one of the best things you can do to stand out from the crowd. When your work doesn't have a cohesiveness to it, it doesn't speak to the art that's within you. You're just kind of making work that you're trying lots of different things. Maybe you're you're doing some work that kind of looks like what this person's doing and what this person's doing.
00:26:02
Speaker
and then you pitch that work to someone, they're not going to get that excited about it because it's not cohesive, it's not confident, it's not curated, and it's not you. it just kind of looks like what everyone else is doing.
00:26:14
Speaker
And I think when you're really able to tap into the work that only you can make, people will feel that and they'll be more interested in in putting it on things. And there are lots of examples of people out in the world who have really successful signature styles and and they're doing amazing things. And I think I think that will help you stand out from the crowd. I had a student who who said, you know, no one's buying my work. No one wants to license it No one wants to use it for anything. And I said, do you love the work you're making? Do you really, really love it? Is it truly you? And she said, actually, no, it's not.
00:26:49
Speaker
And I said, I think that's the problem. I think that's the key right there. If you really, truly loved it and you and you you know were really pulling out the treasures that are hidden within you,
00:27:00
Speaker
I think people are going to want to buy it more. Yeah. That's such a good point. Have you written a children's book slash will you ever write a children's book? Because I feel like you're your style would lend itself so well.
00:27:11
Speaker
No, you're shaking your head. Oh my gosh. I want to so much, Krista. put Let's put it out in the universe. Yes, you should. Jenna wants to write slash illustrate a children's book. that is That's like the number one thing on my list right now that I want to do.
00:27:25
Speaker
Oh my gosh. I think you could totally do it. I don't know. Children's books, some of the ones that we have that, i don't know, maybe we've bought or other people, oh goodness, the words are not that great. feel like pair it with your cute illustrations and it's going to crush it.
00:27:37
Speaker
And when you talk about like crayons specifically, do you have the book, The Day the Crayons Quit? Yes, I do. It's just like the cutest book. If anybody out there has kids, it's such a cute book. It's about like the black crayon being mad that he only gets used for outlines and the green crayon being tired from all the dinosaurs. So it's a very like creative way to talk about colors.
00:28:01
Speaker
Yes, I would. Oh my gosh. Yes. That is my dream. And I hope I get to do it before my kids are too old to appreciate it right now. They're five months and two and a half. And so if I could get this done soon so that they could, they could enjoy it. Like that would be so amazing.
00:28:19
Speaker
Maybe somebody listening wants to write the book that Jenna can then illustrate. There's a girl in my town who illustrated a book. She painted it, but somebody walked into her mom's shop where her artwork was on display and asked her to illustrate a book.
00:28:33
Speaker
So that's how she got to do it. So maybe somebody listening to this wants to write a book that Jenna can illustrate. Yes, please reach out to me. I would love that. Okay. So if somebody is interested in learning more about finding their signature style, I think you're teaching a class soon about that.
00:28:50
Speaker
Can you tell people more about that topic and how they can watch the class and join you? And is it drawing with you? Yes. So I am teaching a free workshop starting April seven It's called Signature Style Week. And we're going to spend the week together.
00:29:05
Speaker
We're going to be live on Zoom. And we're going to cover some of the really powerful things that you can do to start tapping into your signature style. And some of those are going to be drawing together. And so...
00:29:19
Speaker
That would be a really great way to get started if you are interested in finding your signature style. That's so fun. And is it like any medium? Like can somebody use crayons, colored pencils? Could they paint?
00:29:30
Speaker
Could they use the portrait? Yes. Any medium is welcome. Bring whatever supplies you have, whatever your favorite supplies are. This applies to illustrators, surface pattern designers, artists, painters, artists,
00:29:44
Speaker
Anyone that pat is creative can get something out of this. That's so fun. Okay. And where else can people find you? We'll include links to everything, but do you want to tell us where we can find you on all the internet and all the socials?
00:29:57
Speaker
Yes. You can find me at jennablackburn.com. And my name is spelled with a G. Thank you, mother, for making that complicated for everyone who... No, I love it. I love that it's more unique, but it you know if you go to find it, it's G-E-N-N-A, jennablackburn.com.
00:30:13
Speaker
That's okay. People always misspell Krista. They always do like C-H-R-I-S-T-A. Oh. It's okay. I bet. Yeah. It shows that we're more creative and different.
00:30:24
Speaker
So yes thank you so much for being with me here today and sharing all of your amazing drawing inspiration and tips. I feel like this is going to be so helpful for so many people, regardless of whether they want to draw or they're just trying to stand out in their market.
00:30:38
Speaker
So thank you, Jetta. Thank you. this has been my pleasure. Thank you. Thanks for tuning in to the Brands That Book Show. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, and sharing this episode with others.
00:30:52
Speaker
For show notes and other resources, head on over to daviancrista.com.