Explorers Meet Illustrator Brittany Jackson

The Explorers competed to see whose photo would make the cover!

Illustrated by Chad Sutton

Explorer finalists did a great job in setting up a photo they felt would best represent their amazing interview with illustrator Brittany "Bea" Jackson.

Photos by Dare'l McMillian

What Happens When Your Dream Comes True?

Brittany Jackson created this image of Explorer Adrianna Ryan during Jackson's interview with the Explorers at the Kalamazoo Public Library.

Illustrated by Brittany "Bea" Jackson

Dream Continued

www.comvoicesonline.com

Jackson poses with Adrianna after illustrating her in an interactive interview session.

Photo by Dare'l McMillian

By Sonya Hollins, Founder-Merze Tate Explorers

Every snaggle-toothed child or candy-colored bouquet of balloons on the cover of children’s books did something to third-grader Brittany Jackson. The enticing smiles and bold confidence of the characters made her feel something. Although she didn’t know it then, a palette array of colorful seeds was being dropped into her spirit.

She savored graphic novels and studied how artists used their chosen art to take readers on adventures. Could she be an artist? In her heart, that’s what she wanted. But growing up in the inner city of Detroit, she had never met an artist and leaned toward what she felt adults wanted to hear. “I want to become a doctor,” said young Jackson.

When she learned that one of her favorite artists used a computer to create digital art, she decided to give it a try. She skipped traditional art forms and purchased Microsoft Paint software for an old computer her parents had at home. They then purchased a scanner, which allowed her to draw an image on paper and scan it into the computer to use digital technology to add color and dimension.

“I didn’t have an art store or art supplies,” Jackson told Explorers. “All I had was what was in the house. So that’s what I worked with. Then, what was a hobby became something I wanted to do full time.”

It wasn’t until she was a student at Henry Ford High School that an art teacher saw her potential. While she struggled in her classes, it was her art teacher who pushed her to perfect her craft. He entered one of her works into a contest sponsored by Coca-Cola. The winning artist would receive $5,000 for college and a vending

The Explorers celebrate as they all get a copy of Jackson's bestselling illustrated book, Parker Looks Up.

Everyone gets a book!

Photo by Dare'l McMillian

machine filled with Coke products for their school. She won!

Today, she attributes her art teacher to keeping her on a focused path and for her confidence in her passion. Unfortunately, she had friends who weren’t so lucky.

“If you invest in children and give them something they can use that creative energy in, whatever form it takes (sports, music, arts, cooking), that can change a lot of kids’ lives,” said Jackson.

Jackson is best known for her work in the best-selling book Parker Looks Up, by Parker and Jessica Curry. The book is based on a photo taken of Parker as she looked upon a portrait of Michelle Obama in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

“That one book opened up so many opportunities for me to where I could continue to do the things that I love to do without struggling to do it,” Jackson said.

As she made a name for herself, she added a new twist. She uses “Bea,” as her first name, which is short for Beatrice, meaning Blessed. Her new name reflects how her journey catapulted from an artist for self-published authors to a sought-after illustrator.

Jackson had heard the horror stories of bogus artist contracts and art projects where clients skipped out on artists without paying

them. So, when she received an email from someone at Simon and Schuster publishers, she was skeptical. But her friends in the world assured her the request to submit her art was real.

“All those years of grinding and putting in the work made it worth it. Now, I’m in the position that I don’t have to work as hard, but I can still make a living doing what I love. And I’m getting to the point where I can start telling my own stories. “

Her dreams are to bring her own stories to life and work on projects with artists Kadir Nelson and Vashti Harrison. Jackson admires how her city of Detroit has embraced art through downtown mural projects created by local artists. She only wishes that one day soon, that same respect for art can flow into the inner city to beautify areas of hopelessness. She boldly confesses that art saved her.

“I will never forget where I came from. That’s what makes my story unique. I’m forever grateful for that, and I am forever grateful for the people in my life who helped me climb each step of that ladder to where I am now and where I will be in the future.”

Learn more about the Merze Tate Explorers at https://www.merzetate.org The Merze Tate Explorers is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Kalamazoo Public Library staff Jerome Jackson and Bill Caskin pose with Jackson as she autographs books for the library branches.

Photo by Dare'l McMillian

Library staffers Jerome Jackson and Children’s Librarian Bill Caskin meet Jackson after Explorers interview her about her life and career. Photos by Dare’l McMillian.

Learn more at https://www.merzetate.org