We recently connected with Jennifer Marlin and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
After Highschool I thought I had a specific life purpose, but after pursuing that for a while, I figured out that I would rather be a fashion illustrator. Though it isn’t a service job it brings Joy to people which is actually a very important purpose. Joy is something that people keep forever, though jobs coming and going, through divorces, changes in worldviews, through loss. Sometimes a favorite meal or song, or a favorite artwork or happy place is what gives people’s lives meaning. So I’m grateful that in some way I can contribute to that.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m Jennifer, a Freelance Fashion Illustrator living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I first fell in love with fashion illustration as a little girl, because of a coloring book that I still have somewhere in storage. In grade school, I’d draw fashion sketches in the margins of my notebook paper and sometimes in Microsoft paint (a long time ago).
I currently draw live for many weddings, fashion store events and galas and really love traveling to sketch. I’ve drawn for cozy gatherings of 25 up to large scale Gala’s and weddings of 1000+ guests. I’ll be traveling around the US this year for events. I offer both live onsite fashion sketching and custom illustration commissions for brands and individuals. If you’re planning an event and haven’t heard of live illustration, live sketches make unique gifts.
How it works is I set up my supplies at a table and begin taking photo’s of guests, then I draw fashion sketches for each person or couple from those photos. The guests return to my table throughout the evening to collect their artworks. Sometimes I work with a host to speed the process and manage the line, and for larger events I’ll often work together with other local live illustrators.
I offer an option to take home photos of as many guests as are interested in having a sketch and complete the additional artwork for drop-off or mail directly to guests. I’m happy to answer questions about live sketching via email.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Learning to draw the human body has helped me feel confident in fashion sketching. Art fundamentals, techniques and digital illustration in college prepared me to develop and polish my work. Love for fashion and fashion illustration and reading about both has been beneficial and inspiring.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client would be a fashion brand like Oscar De La Renta, Dior, Mirror Palais, Dolce & Gabanna, or Valentino to have me draw a few fashion illustrations for marketing or advertising. I would also love to draw at weddings or events In Europe and the Maldives. Of course any client who I can make happy even if it’s just a tiny sketch of their pet is also my ideal client.
Contact Info:
- Website: jennifermarlin.com
- Instagram: @jennifermarlinillustration
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferm_illustration
Image Credits
Sam Potter Photos
