Meet the maker: Jasmine Chin, Illustrator

Jasmine Chin is an illustrator who lives in London. She sells playful handmade screen prints, risographs and smaller items such as greeting cards. 

Tell us about your business, what is it you do and how did you get into it?

I’m an illustrator who predominantly creates quirky and fun handmade screen prints. I’ve always loved drawing and creating. I studied illustration at Loughborough University and specialised in illustrating for editorial publications. I wanted to learn screen printing and finally went for it before concentrating on selling my artwork to the public.  

Do you have music you listen to or a ritual to create the right atmosphere to help you create and concentrate?

I’d like to say I have a back catalogue of cool music I  listen to, but I really just love listening to cheesy music on the radio. I’m also a bit partial to listening to crime podcasts while I work! So long as I have a cup of tea, maybe a few snacks and some sound in the background, I’m good to go. 

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced and do you have any advice for others?

The biggest challenge I’ve faced is having the confidence to believe in myself and what I’m doing. It’s quite scary to run a business independently and sell something that you made. My advice is to take a leap of faith in yourself, surround yourself with like-minded people and recognise your achievements.

Can you talk us through your making process from start to finish? How does each of your pieces come to be?

I start with a few rough sketches, notes and keywords of ideas that I want to illustrate. I then spend some time researching the subject, reading up about it and looking at various reference images to help me understand it better.

Once the idea is more solid, I will start to draw rough drafts either on the computer or by hand, before finalising the colours and creating the illustration digitally. If I am making a screen print, it’s at this stage I would also work out the layers of shape and colours I would use and any problems I might have to solve.

From there I would spend a couple of sessions at the screen-printing studio, preparing and washing my screens, mixing paints and hand-pulling each layer of the print. I love the process, it’s very satisfying to do and you end up with what was imagined in your head on paper in front of you. 

What do you do to relax? Are there other crafts that you like to do?

I love spending time cooking and baking. Though I’m not very good at the baking part! I’m a fan of the cinema and love nothing better than sitting down to watch a good film with a bag of popcorn and cherry slush puppie. I also enjoy a spot of knitting and attempting to sew the odd dress. 

Shop Jasmine Chin Illustration online

Find out more about the makers behind their creative businesses here.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE

Jasmine Chin

Jasmine is an illustrator who lives in London. She sells playful handmade screenprints, risographs and smaller items such as greeting cards.

Link

https://www.jasminechin.co.uk/shop