24
february 2021
THE COMET
Semi-local: the art of Kitschy delish
tm
Artist Kelly Jackson
by ron evans Kitschy Delish™ is a paper and gifts company founded in 2017 by Seattle illustrator Kelly Jackson. What initially started out as a small art show at Trophy Cupcakes has blossomed into a burgeoning gifts and paper goods company, supplying her tasty and salacious creations to licensing deals, boutiques around the country and customers around the world. With a love of play on words, pin-up, candy and cake, Jackson creates a world filled with sweetness and whimsy. The Comet reached out to this semi-local artist to see where her love of retro and vintage design began. So...where did this love of retro and vintage design begin? My work has naturally had a vintage look even before I developed my signature style. In the 90’s when illustration trends were ‘grungy’ and ink splattery, I wanted to be that too. But I had many art directors tell me my work looked like it was from the 50’s. I wasn’t sure why because I was never really into vintage things growing up in the 80’s. ‘Round about 2009 though, I was introduced
Home Run it into color by drawing over my sketches in to the Seattle burlesque community by the Adobe Illustrator. I used to paint with acrylbeautiful Shanghai Pearl who brought me into the sparkly world of tongue and cheek. ics, but found I kept stifling myself because I Something clicked for me and I wanted to didn’t like my technique. So I taught myself Illustrator and haven’t looked back. At some be completely immersed in a world of my point I may paint again. During the color prochoosing that involved sparkle and confeccess, an idea might tion. Where the best things in life, sex “This past year has been brutal for get changed from the and indulgence, was sketch I made. It all me in trying to keep my head up depends on what I discelebrated and also cover along the way. laughed at. It just fit. and draw happy dancing food.” I keep all my sketchI booked an art show books because someand then more and more followed. At the same time, I discovered times I’ll get around to finishing a piece after I’ve let it sit for five years. my love of retro kitsch in vintage shops. My personal style and home decor also follows Are there specific artists or designers you that aesthetic and I have not tired of it. have been influenced by or is it more of an Tell us about your technique from start to overall ‘era’ style you are drawn to? finish. Does it vary from piece to piece or is It really is the era and feeling I am inspired that depending on the ultimate medium of by. Of course, I love anthropomorphic adverthe end product? tising from the 50’s and 60’s. But I also like to bring modern things into my work too just It all starts with an idea for something cheeky. A play on words. I think of them all the time. for fun. You know, like foods taking selfies of I have lists and lists of ideas. But one idea themselves I think is pretty funny. will usually nag and pull at me until I sketch Your style seems a perfect fit for greeting it out on paper. I sketch on toned paper with graphite pencil and white pencil. Then, I bring cards and stationary. Is that avenue some-
Tin Cans thing you focus on with your designs? Back in 2010 when I was new to doing art shows, I had customers request my work on greeting cards, so I did a few of my pieces as greeting cards. I rarely create a piece just for a greeting card. It’s usually when someone sees a piece of mine and asks if I’d do it as a greeting card. In 2014, I exhibited at SURTEX in NYC - (a surface design licensing show). I got my first greeting card licensing deal. Now, I print my own cards and supply them to stores around the country. Trader Joe’s has licensed a few of my designs as well. What is your workflow like? Do you go through creative spurts? Or are you pretty much working on something every day? I try to work on something every day. But sometimes inspiration can be fleeting. This past year has been brutal for me in trying to keep my head up and draw happy dancing food. During those dry spells, I focus on filling orders and packaging my inventory. But there’s always something to do with my business and prepping for orders, etc. I will say, I am constantly inspired to keep drawing and creating because customers and IG followers
