When one thinks of my art, they usually associate it with an undying sense of whimsy and a simplistic style that feels child-like, yet expertly made. But most importantly, my work is most known for its colorful and unique character designs. Not apparent by first glance, but if one were to take a closer look at my art (particularly my character designs) they’ll notice a significant bias towards female characters. It might look like a mere coincidence but there is a reason behind this phenomenon. I wasn’t always the unique artist you see today. In reality, my journey as an artist truly started surprisingly recently. Throughout 2016, major strides were being made in the name of feminism and the LGBT+ movement and such events left a great influence on 17-year old me at the time. From that fateful year, I designed my first pair of original characters who just so happened to be lesbians. From those two characters, more characters were created and so on. My past art may look primitive in comparison to my modern work, but the influence from my past still resonates.
Jalen Lovett
Jalen Lovett is an Atlanta-based artist who graduated from SCAD in Spring 2022 with a BFA in Illustration. His strengths lie in creating character art with strong linework and vibrant colors, which many find very reminiscent of the art found in classic video game consoles that we used to play with as kids, like the Nintendo DS and Wii. The work creates a sense of nostalgia, with the soft shape language further cementing feelings of good memories of long summer days trying to catch ‘em all. In this article, the Connector would like to highlight two of his pieces that were submitted to the SCAD Libraries 2022 Juried Student Artists’ Book Competition.
“Continuation” was originally displayed split in six identical white frames and includes prominent women in history such as Frida Kahlo and Amelia Earhart.
“The piece ‘Continuation’ demonstrates the influence feminism had on me and the world but on a great scale,” says Lovett. “The piece features six individual works of art, each featuring a significant female figure throughout history. Respectable pieces of work by themselves, but when placed together in a particular fashion, a mural is created. No matter if separated or united, one could see the influence of one work bleed into another. Just like the women’s movement [and other similar movements] influence is continuous and everflowing. Great impacts made by brave people in the past can spur others in the future. As for me, both the events that occurred in my past and the art I made in the past influence the art I make today and in the future.”
“Charizard.” Illustrated by Jalen Lovett, 2022.
One of the more fun and unique pieces that we have had the privilege to feature, “Charizard” was illustrated using Posca markers on matryoshka dolls, also known as nesting dolls. These stackable wooden toys portray the evolution of Charizard, an iconic Generation I Pokemon that any person familiar with the IP would recognize. From the smallest to largest nesting doll, it features a fire, then its first evolution Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard and finally Gigantamaz Charizard. It is a piece of work one can interact with by assembling and disassembling it.
Lovett, as a recent graduate, is currently aiming to break into the industry as a concept artist and character designer. If you would like to check out more of Lovett’s work and get in contact with him, you can find him on Artstation.
