Intro It all started the day I downloaded Instagram. The photo-based social media app became my gallery of inspiration. I followed as many creative people on Instagram as I could find. From Disney illustrators to graffiti writers, tattoo artist. Anyone that I could draw inspiration from I followed. I found the profile Marker_Masters. It was an account dedicated to marker artists, and it was amazing. I hadn’t considered markers as a serious medium, but people were creating crazy artwork with this simple tool. Completely inspired, I drove to a local art store to buy some magic markers. I spent around fifty dollars on a pack of ten Prismacolors markers. They were expensive, but I was sure I’d create a masterpiece. I was wrong. I hated them. The ink spread like paint, blending colors was a mess and my color choices were limited due to the price. They were useless. I threw them in an ArtBin, never to be used again.
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After my failed attempt with Prismacolors, I was close to giving up on markers altogether. A friend gave me a pack of 24 fine-tip Sharpie permanent markers. Not expecting much I started sketching with Sharpies. The colors didn’t bleed, they didn’t fade, the ink dried instantly and I had more than double the colors to choose from. They’re way more affordable than Prismacolors. So I began to experiment.
Beginning After some trial and error, I decided to use line as a means to color and create form. This more sketch-like approach worked surprisingly well. The Sharpie ink did not smear or blend so each individual stroke remained very crisp. This made things fast and easy. One of the first drawings I shared on Instagram was a collage of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. It was simple, but the strokes created a nice effect. I received positive feedback from friends, family and Disney fans who found it on the app. Nothing major, but enough to motivate me to do more drawings.
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Soon, I discovered the power of the hashtag. In social media its used to search a trending topic. And that’s how I was able to get feedback on my drawing from people outside of my network, and gain new followers. So I started tagging to drawings of anything popular, superheroes, classic cartoons, pop icons, and illustrations of my hometown Louisville.
Opportunity In only a few months I gained over eight hundred followers. I was impressed with the attention I was getting. When I got an email from WHAS11 I realized just I how big my audience was. The production assistant was a fan of my Instagram account so he offered me a spot during a local talent segment of the morning show Great Day Live. It was a short interview followed by a live Sharpie drawing of the channel’s mascot, Fisbie. I was flatter and terrified. I accepted. And it was quite a chaotic experience. I met the entire Great Day Live staff and I share my art with the entire city. This was the first time I felt like a real artist.
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After my television debut on GDL, my followers started to multiply and so did commissioned Sharpie drawings. One of my favorite requests was from the director of media for the Louisville Riverbats minor league baseball team. He asked me to do a series of drawings based on the team. They would share the illustrations on their various social media accounts, including Instagram, crediting me as artist. I stepped up to the plate and agreed to do the Riverbats drawings. They didn’t pay me, but it was a great way to promote myself. The collection included the Louisville Slugger Field, star players and team mascot Buddy the Bat. The man inside Buddy’s purple bat costume became one of my coolest customers.
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The opportunities continued to come. The owner of local clothing brand called Big Time Yurts, was headed to New York for a sneaker convention and thought it was a great chance to expand my fan base. His idea was to take some of my artwork with him to sell at the sneaker convention, taking a small commission. I spent the following weeks attached to my Sharpies, drawing sneaker artwork. Along with selling my illustrations, BTY passed out flyers I made to promote my Instagram page. As a result I gained hundreds of new followers and a ton of motivation.
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“I love how dynamic the form is in this piece!� @jocfrost
Popularity I continued drawing using hashtags to gain followers. This strategy was working and I started getting shout outs. Some of the biggest art profiles featured my work, and things really took off. Being featured on these profiles always lead to increased views and followers. These art sharing profiles serve as virtual art galleries. They filter through tons of profiles and showcase the most skilled work. I entered a celebrity portrait contest. My entry was a Sharpie drawing of Bob Marley in a cool hat. I won third. And I was thrilled! This led to a huge increase in views, likes and follows.
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I remember the day I was featured on Marker_Masters. That was huge for me. I felt like all my hard work paid off. Marker_Masters was the profile that initially inspired me. They featured my drawing of Superman with the caption “sometimes something very loose and sketchy can be appealing to the eye. Artist @jenna_art�. My name was mentioned alongside some of the best artists on Instagram, some professional. My follower count soared to over ten thousand and I decided to take things more seriously.
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Business I was already selling art to friends and family, but I wanted to expand. I decided to take email orders through my Instagram account. The response was a little too great. It was overwhelming. I needed a more professional approach. I set up an online shop, Jenna_Artshop, on the eCommerce site Etsy. I offered original drawings, prints, and custom orders. This approach made it easier for me to track orders, and track my sales numbers. Jenna_Artshop was a better experience for myself and buyers. I shipped my art all over the world! That’s something I never even imagined when this all started
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“Very creative style.” @twinky_ashian
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“So few lines but they do exactly what they need to.” @tapedmetalcanavas
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Inspiration Even with all the custom orders, I always draw for pleasure. I like Disney, 90’s cartoons and retro video games. I love all things colorful and whimsy. I’m inspired by music and pop culture. Sometimes I recreate famous works of art, other times I make original pieces; it just depends on how I feel when I pick up my Sharpie.
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“Josh and I want that!” @toni_smith13
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“COOL!!! I really love how your imagination drifts on your way.” @zharinaaa
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“Messaged you on Etsy! :)” @dianasarai15
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“I’ve been waiting to see what you’d do for LOZ (:” @yup_its_talia
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“Love ur art, such an inspiration!!!!!!!” @kayla_colorful_world
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“You’re a sharpie genius!!” @art_by_aimee_leigh
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“Very creative style.” @twinky_ashian
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“Your style is amazing.” @lifefullofart
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“I love the way you draw, I have never seen anything like this before.� @disney.all.the.time
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“I love your art style it is so bright and cheerful and beautiful!” @invisiblyfanvy
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“Your work is fantastic! I mean seriously, what a unique style!” @mtejeda007
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“I like the line thing you do.” @geek_philosophy
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“Please please please put this on Etsy!!!” @rhiarnblanch
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“Aaahh!! That’s dope!” @thatboylennox
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“Yo phenomenal like always.” @murtzh
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“Please show us a pic of your sharpie collection!”” @isseypower
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“We’d love to show this off on our website!” @michaelsstores
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“You’re so talented. I’m going to practice so I can be as good as you!” @lottahouben
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“Seriously love it!! And I need wall decorations in my bedroom...” @kcafero
Closing My sketchy Sharpie experiment turned into way more than I expected. I was able to set up an online store, swap works with other artists, appear on TV and connect with people all over the globe. The experience has been invaluable and I hope the opportunities continue. This was well worth the fifty bucks I spent on those Prismacolor markers.