Today we’d like to introduce you to Juniper Moon.
Juniper, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Juniper Moon is a French-Caribbean Pop-Surreal artist who currently resides in South Florida. Inspired by 90’s cartoons, Juniper’s love for storytelling and character development led her to study animation and multimedia design. Juniper’s interests lie in color theory, black beauty, and spiritual connection. Using watercolor, gouache and acrylic paints, she creates patterns and layers that make one question how the black community is viewed within and outside of itself. The goal behind much of her work is to bring awareness to contemporary issues through a blend of Pop Art and Fantasy, using whatever medium piques her interest at the time.
Juniper’s adoration for the Arts has long-lived in her soul, and her audience will recognize this in her style. When she is not working in her studio, Juniper can be found in her favorite bookstore reading comics, skateboarding with close friends, or playing piano with her pet bunny, Ein. Behind her quirky style is a powerful story that is ready to dominate the art scene. For the past four years, Juniper has been working in the art industry with the intent to grow as an artist and perfect her breed of the visual arts. She plans on finishing her degree in Multimedia Studies, and is also in the process of developing a fantastical world and characters for her upcoming graphic novel and fashion-line, “Xoxo, Neurotica”.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think the biggest challenge I’ve been facing as an artist is the notion that artists now have to not only be original, but they also must have their own signature aesthetic. People tend to focus a lot on an artist’s aesthetic, the signature look of their work, and personally, it’s something that has caused me a lot of frustration in my career. I was taught that it was good to be diverse, but I found that it could actually be a problem to not have a “style.”
This led me to doing some searching and self-discovery so I could somehow create this thing that would make me stand out among the sea of artists. It wasn’t until I stopped thinking about having a style that I could actually start developing one. Because I love experimentation so much, I’m still not sure I have one. My best advice for budding artists would be to not focus on it. Experiment with different mediums and make sure you have the basics down pat. If you practice everyday and get good at the fundamentals, the rest should come with time.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
I am currently in the studio working on the release of my debut graphic novel, and I am beyond ecstatic to share my passion with all of you! I have gotten a lot of positive feedback when showing some of my art for this project and am beyond humbled by the response. I also have a lot of amazing opportunities coming up this year that will help me grow as an artist and also help grow my personal brand.
However, I don’t want to just release my comic before I feel like it’s complete. I want my audience to be taken on a journey through this universe, and be enchanted by the artistic visuals that will truly bring my story to life. The story of this comic is relatable to many, and from the heart, I want people to be able to connect with it and feel they are not alone in this universe.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, South Florida has is a beautiful state with supportive people. In the art community, there are so many people willing to help and support you with your goals as a creative.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/xoxoneurotica?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
- Email: junipermoonartist@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junipermoonart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juniperstellar
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuniperMoonArts
- Yelp: https://www.deviantart.com/junipermoonart
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/xoxoneurotica?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
Image Credit:
Joe Grier
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