Genna Blackburn

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Animals

Character Design

Children & Family

Food & Drink

Lettering

Vector

Line drawing of a sunny nature scene with animals, boat, and trees by Genna Blackburn

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Illustration of bunny reading Carrot Gardening with book cover showing carrots by Genna Blackburn

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Line drawing of animals riding a ferris wheel at night by Genna Blackburn

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Mother duck and three ducklings swimming in a pond by Genna Blackburn

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Book cover showing father holding baby and colorful birds, illustrated by Genna Blackburn

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Cheerful, colorful and happy!

No human disturbs the happy world.

It could be the way the sun smiles down on the world below, or the happy clouds tied together with rainbows, or even the cheerful cats, birds, fishies and rabbits that stand ready to entertain you. Whatever it is, Genna Blackburn’s illustrations will charm you with their simplicity, encouraging a gentle sense of positivity and a warm feeling inside. The secret to Genna’s unique style is her willingness to listen to her childhood self in the creative process. She draws whatever she feels like drawing on a daily basis – characters and environments that are innocent, accessible and comfortable, in colours that tantalise. And this is why her work has such broad appeal. Clients know what to expect and Genna delivers, using her past experience as a graphic designer to ensure she meets the brief accurately and delightfully. Based in Michigan, Genna has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wayne State University in Detroit. In addition to her successful career as an illustrator and surface designer, she is now an educator herself, helping young artists develop their skills and find their own creative voices. What she learns by teaching also enhances her own practise.

Approach

Genna loves crayons and sometimes projects begin as playful drawings, freely exploring where the brief might take her. The best routes are then redrawn in Procreate before being honed as finished vector artwork in Illustrator.

Key software

Procreate and Adobe Illustrator.

Style

“I like to describe my style as a playful exploration of colour and shape stemming from my background in graphic design,” says Genna. The result is optimistic and fun, with flat, clean forms for instant clarity and appeal.

Impressions

Interview

Video

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Interview

What led you to become an illustrator?I’ve always loved art. As a kid, I’d happily fill sketchbooks with flowers and sunshines wearing sunglasses. But I didn’t have the confidence to pursue illustration, so I chose graphic design in college, thinking it was the safest way to make a living doing something creative. After graduation, I spent eight years at a small design studio, freelancing on the side and designing/crocheting stuffed animals in my spare time. In 2014, I took a leap and left my full-time job to start my own freelance graphic design business and launch a stationery brand. While creating products for my stationery company, I began sneaking in little illustrations here and there. Slowly but surely, I grew more confident in my drawing abilities and eventually phased out the graphic design work to focus fully on illustration, and I am so grateful and happy with the work that I get to do today.Where did you study Graphic Design?I studied graphic design at Wayne State University.Where did you grow up?I grew up in Rochester Hills, Michigan, about 30 minutes north of Detroit. When I was a kid, that area was more rural than it is now and I have fond memories of hunting for toads, collecting acorns, and riding my bike on the dirt roads.Do you have a childhood memory relating to art that you hold dear?I used to love to pause my Disney and Charlie Brown VHS tapes so that I could recreate the illustrations I saw on screen. But if you remember how VHS tapes work, they didn't pause for all that long before they would start playing again, so I remember having to rewind and try to find that exact spot again and again.Can you remember when you first saw art used in a commercial context?I remember being about ten years old and being drawn to the packaging for some chocolate, and I cut out part of it and pinned it up on my cork board. That's my first memory of realizing that products you use in your everyday life can be beautiful and engaging, and are created by a designer/illustrator/artist.Where do you live now and what drew you there?I am currently living in Detroit in a beautiful historic neighborhood fifteen minutes east of downtown. Many of the homes in this neighborhood, including ours, are about 100 years old and have tons of character. The tree-lined streets and friendly people make it a really lovely place to live.Describe your studio for usMy studio is about a mile from my house in a very cool building that was built in 1937 called Cadieux Stage. It has sound stages for filming and has had many famous people there over the years. On the second floor are artist studios and I have one of the spaces. I'm currently working on a mural that takes up one wall.What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?I love being by the water. It's so relaxing and peaceful.What's your most prized possession and why?My iPad. It really took my artwork to a whole other level. I was so afraid to use it at first, worried I wouldn't get over the learning curve. But it didn't take that long and once I got going with it, it really helped me solidify my signature style.What's your favorite podcast?The Creative Pep Talk Podcast and Armchair Expert.Who is your art hero?Lisa Congdon.What is your favourite book?Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.What is your favourite quote?“So this, I believe, is the central question upon which all creative living hinges: Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?” - Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.What movie can you watch over and over?When Harry Met Sally.What is the last show you binged?Severance.What was the last concert you went to?Mates of State.If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?I love Italy. I would go there over and over.Is there any random thing you consider yourself an expert on/any hidden talents?I used to be a competitive ballroom dancer!If you could only any eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?Macaroni and cheese.You are stranded on a desert island with no power or running water. What 3 art supplies would you take?A sketchbook, some crayons and Koi Watercolor Brush Pens.If a client paid you enough money to take a year off and create whatever you want – an open brief - no constraints - what would you create/deliver?A children's book.Is there a work lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way?I used to wait for inspiration to strike before I would sit down to work. But I eventually learned that I just have to get my hands moving and then inspiration will come. I wasted a lot of time not knowing that.How has your work or practice evolved over time?For a long time I drew almost exclusively on the iPad. But then I realized the ability to undo and erase so easily was making me a perfectionist and making my work tighter than I wanted. So I started playing with crayons. Now crayons are a big part of my process. I will often do a first draft in crayon so that I can't get stuck on the small details. It often leads to more interesting places than if I started on the iPad.If you were not an illustrator, what would you be?A dancer.What is the most challenging part of being an illustrator?That the creative juices aren't always flowing. That thought of “is my creativity gone forever?” any time I don't immediately feel inspired doesn't seem to ever go away. But I'm getting better and better at knowing how to navigate that.What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?To create art just for fun, and not for an end goal of being able to sell it or pitch it. This changed everything for me. When you are worried about trends and marketability, it clouds your inner voice and makes it hard to find your signature style. And your signature style is the thing that people are going to want to buy.What career advice would you give your younger self?Make lots of art. Draw something every day even if it's only for 5 minutes. Waiting for inspiration doesn't work. And being afraid of making something that you don't love doesn't work either. The faster you get over that, the less time you will waste.Do you have any tips/advice for other illustrators?I think it's important to make art for yourself without worrying if other people will like it or buy it. That's when the really interesting things happen, and that's what people will resonate with.