Shelby x Jordan Penland (he/him)
Q1. We love what you created for this month’s issue of the zine. Could you share a little overview of this and talk us through your process?
I’m glad you liked it! Design-wise, this piece was made in response to Celeste, one of the sample pieces I submitted. Celeste was the first drawing I made that really resonated with me. So much so that I became scared to draw anything new in fear of not being able to recreate that feeling. Which is, in retrospect, quite dramatic. To combat this, I took elements of Celeste and expanded upon them in a new work as a means of demystifying the original. Where Celeste uses some finger imagery, What a View is dominated by it. The hands and fingers of the drawing came first,and the rest of the work was finding what I wanted the piece to say. Which it turned out, was all about gaining the mental clarity necessary to get out of oneself and gain some perspective. Whether this can be found through Cannabis or meditation is up to the individual!
Q2. What attracted to you to being a part of the 4 :20 issue of the e-zine?
It would be a lie to say that there wasn’t a part of my brain that doesn’t immediately perk up when it sees 4/20. But really, I am actually drawn to any publication using its platform to help advocate and normalize the usage of marijuana.Personally, I feel that Cannabis has a lot of benefits that go ignored as a result of asinine drugs laws that have only succeeded in depriving many people of color of their futures. So, to be able to use my artistic passion to help the cause alongside a zine that is doing the good fight is a no brainer.
Q3. It was great to read your thoughts on the zine scene, how did you discover zines and have you made any yourself?
My exposure to the Zine Scene is thanks to my very good friend @sundayschoolkid. She’s an amazing artist and has been making zines for years. I was always inspired by the intimacy and DIY vibe of her pieces and it really opened me up to this really great world of artists making and distributing their own works.
A little while ago, I founded this community journal for my old neighbourhood, but lately, most of my art attention is focused on sending my work out to open calls for other, more focused, and talented people’s zines. Although, I am planning on compiling something for the future.
Q4. Your illustrations are so vibrant and full of colour, how did you develop your style?
I really love looking at bright colors, which is sad because I can only really pull off dark and gray clothing. One of the goals I set for myself when I started drawing was to always make something that pops. The color needs to be dominant and give the piece a life far beyond the simple drawing. It took me a while in quarantine to figure out that Watercolor Markers were the way to go for this. Before that, I tried drawing with color pencil, pen, acrylic paints, oil paints and so on, but none of them gave me the look I was going for. But once I started playing with the Markers, it all fell into place.
Q5. Who or what most inspires you to be creative?
Other creative people definitely inspire me to actually sit down and make something. Whenever I see a really great comic, drawing, or cartoon I go, “That’s so cool, I want to be that cool,” and then I realize I can be if I keep making stuff.
Also, I can’t ignore how the awfulness of the world pushes me to create. Whenever I become overwhelmed by the injustices and atrocities that humans do unto each other, I draw. It's my attempt to offset the terribleness of the world by making something vibrant and alive. I don’t know if this is a true equalizer in the eyes of the cosmos, but for me, it brings a calm I otherwise haven’t really found.
Q6. If you could collaborate with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be?
My previous incarnation. I feel like there would be no greater artistic accomplishment than collaborating with a human who is both you and not you at the same time.
Q7. Where can people find/buy/commission more of your work?
The best way to contact me is on Instagram @mostlymildmidnightmocha. I'll have a website eventually and I suppose things to sell, but just DM me if you have any requests or desire to collaborate.
