Buckle up! You’re in for a deal with with this unique interview with the GOAT: artist, crafter, maker, Jodi Levine.
The Changing into collection began in 2019. We wished to listen to from girls in several walks of life and the way they had been approaching creativity, profession objectives, and extra–principally the WHY and HOW beneath all of it. It’s been superb to conduct these interviews and get a “behind the scenes” have a look at so many inspirational girls like right now’s, Jodi Levine. You’ll be able to see all of them right here.
Jodi Levine
Right now I’m thrilled to share an interview with on of my crafting icons–the one and solely Jodi Levine. Jodi is a modern-day legend within the crafting world, the GOAT if you’ll (and I’ll!). She graduated from the distinguished Rhode Island Faculty of Design earlier than heading out to Martha Stewart Dwelling for twenty years, the place she used her distinctive capacity to rework on a regular basis gadgets into inspiring concepts. She was a part of the workforce that created Martha Stewart Children and Martha Stewart Child magazines, the place she served as Editorial Director. Jodi was a visitor decide on HBO’s Craftopia and has appeared on The Right now Present, MARTHA, NY1, CBS Morning Present, The View, and elsewhere. She creates unique content material and crafts for manufacturers together with Sesame Workshop, Mattel/Fisher-Value, Walmart + Todd Oldham’s Smarts & Crafts, and Goal, and for publications reminiscent of The New York Instances and The New York Instances for Children, and The Week Junior. Jodi lives within the Hudson Valley together with her husband and two sons.
Jodi is the creator of a number of craft books, the newest being Mousetown, which launched final month and is an absolute delight. It’s such an amazing one for crafting together with your children!
Jodi, What do you take into account your self? Instance: Artist, designer, illustrator, maker, enterprise particular person, educator, and so forth.?
Jodi Levine: Good query! I’m a maker, however I additionally get pleasure from making issues after which educating others to do the identical after which transferring on to a brand new factor, as creating craft content material for publications and types permits me to do. So, I’d describe myself as a “maker/craft editor”!
The place did you develop up? Had been there points of your childhood which have influenced what you do now?
I grew up in Queens in NYC. Whereas I loved taking part in outdoors, we had a small yard and I didn’t have a lot publicity to nature—I used to be extra of an inside child! At the moment, NYC didn’t have many large chain shops, and particularly not large craft shops. I had by no means even heard of Michaels! (That may have been for the perfect, as we lived fairly frugally, and if I had visited one, I might’ve freaked out!) 🙂 I beloved making issues and simply used no matter I had or might discover round the home: cardboard, bathroom paper tubes, and so forth. A favourite reminiscence is making doll garments with my mother from previous clothes. My aunt remembers that I might quietly gather (steal!) the paper doilies she set out below footed glasses. I bear in mind watching household eat their fruit cocktail and considering “do NOT drop that berry on *my* paper doily, I would like it for a craft venture!”
What did you dream of turning into if you had been youthful?
I dreamed of turning into an artist, a dressmaker, and an indication painter. (I’m sufficiently old to recollect when sale indicators at our grocery store had been hand-painted, and I used to be obsessed!) Actually, I simply wished any job that got here with a large set of markers at a desk—one thing I had seen in a film, haha! I additionally LOVED magazines and dreamed of working for one. I even used to make my very own tiny, quirky magazines—one was a trend journal for waitresses. I additionally beloved taking part in with meals….however extra like, making meals that appears like issues!
What sparked your curiosity in crafting and creating?
I at all times beloved drawing and making issues. My mother and father had been very encouraging and took us to museums repeatedly to see artwork. As a child, I had a bunch of classic craft and cookbooks I learn again and again. At my grandma’s Brooklyn apt, which we visited each Sunday, there weren’t any toys however just a few gadgets that I now notice had been formative: my mother’s classic Speedball lettering guide. I used to be obsessive about it and, as I discussed, would have beloved to be an indication painter.
In her junk drawer was her stash of saved buttons and spools and pink & white bakers twine that I beloved to play with. My grandma was a use-what-you-have crafter, as many from her era had been. She knit sweaters for her children and grandkids, however for herself, she solely used the leftover balls of yarn. Consequently, the vests she wore in her drafty house had been at all times striped–the sample was actually designed by her selflessness! I’ve a type of vests, and it’s one in every of my most treasured possessions!
You could have a brand new guide out. How did that come to be? What was the collaboration course of like?
My co-author, Margaret McCartney, is one in every of my closest pals. We went to artwork faculty collectively at RISD the place we had been roommates, then each labored at Martha Stewart, had children at across the identical time and even shared a babysitter! When my household moved out of Brooklyn, we wished to collaborate, partly as a solution to keep related but additionally as a result of we had an concept that we had been enthusiastic about: a guide that mixed story and craft. We bonded over a childhood love of fictional mice and their tiny, hidden worlds. Margaret developed the cutest mouse characters and I created mini crafts with a concentrate on recycled and family supplies.
The method was sort of insane however we made it work! I made the units and props and how-to’s and did the images. Margaret created the characters and did the graphic design. We developed the unfastened story arc collectively however Margaret tightened it up and wrote a lot of the dialogue whereas I wrote the directions. For every web page, I’d create a mini scene and ship a photograph to Margaret. She’d sketch the mice onto the photograph and I’d regulate and re-shoot the scene if crucial. Margaret made cardboard mice based mostly on her sketches–utilizing recycled cereal and cracker containers, yay!–and introduced or snail-mailed them to me. I photographed the mice in addition to the gadgets in all of the how-to’s on a white background and despatched her the pictures and he or she digitally merged the mice and scenes in photoshop, including shadows to make it look extra pure. She additionally laid out the educational pages. A number of *years* later, we had a guide! 🙂
What’s your instructional background and the way has it formed or modified your present profession?
As I discussed, I studied portray at RISD. That they had this nice mini semester the place we might check out completely different departments. I used to be happiest floating round and attempting jewellery and metalsmithing, printmaking, woodworking, and extra. On the time, I felt like I had failed as a high-quality artist since my main was portray. I look again on the artful explorations that had been distracting me from my “high-quality artwork” work and it was what I’ve ended up doing professionally. However I’m so grateful for my high-quality arts training. It gave me instruments wanted in any space of design like colour, composition and an appreciation for the pure world.
The world has modified a lot, fortunately, since I used to be at school and the phrase ‘craft’ was typically perceived very negatively. The entire design/DIY/craft world has exploded and labels have blurred which is nice for these of us that wish to make stuff and dabble in a number of media and don’t match neatly into basic artwork faculty classes.
What’s one venture that you’re particularly pleased with and why?
I’m actually pleased with our new guide, Mousetown. I really feel like Margaret and I honored our youthful selves and it’s the guide we might have beloved, as mini- and mouse-obsessed children!
I additionally really feel very pleased with the work I do for The New York Instances for Children part. I really like collaborating with Deb Bishop, the Design Director, who I labored with at Martha Stewart Children. Every situation has a theme and it’s a lot enjoyable to give you concepts inside these tight constraints. One Halloween situation was themed round “concern and phobias”-themed. I’ve an eyeball phobia and it impressed my big eyeball (donut gap) croquembouche.
The place do you discover inspiration?
For a few years, I collected classic craft and cookbooks, particularly from the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties. I really like previous Betty Crocker cookbooks and classic Dennison’s Crepe Paper craft booklets. I used one in every of these booklets to make my very own crepe paper wedding ceremony bouquet, and one other impressed a crepe paper costume story we did at Martha Stewart Dwelling! These books and booklets offered a lot inspiration, particularly earlier than the web.
Now, I discover that taking part in with supplies conjures up me. I used to assume, “I’ve finished all the things I’ll ever consider with a rest room tube or a marshmallow.” However then you definitely begin experimenting and new concepts emerge. This ties again to the idea of working inside constraints. For instance, I created a guide known as Bathroom Tube Treasury that was completely about bathroom tube crafts. I initially thought I’d by no means give you sufficient concepts to fill a guide, however as soon as I began taking part in, I felt like I might try this for the remainder of my life!
By the way in which, this method additionally works for arising with reward concepts. For those who’re caught for concepts, strive giving your self a constraint or theme—just like the recipient’s favourite colour or animal. I take advantage of this methodology on a regular basis, and it helps a lot!
What artists and creatives do you look as much as, each historic and current?
Oh, so many!! I’ve had a lifelong obsession with Alexander Calder, particularly his circus (omg) his wirework and jewellery, his tinkering…with tins, wire, corks, espresso cans, clothespins, and so forth. For those who come to NYC you’ll be able to see his circus at The Whitney in NYC.
And so many extra together with these, many who’ve been lifelong inspirers: Paul Rand, Mary Blair, Mummenschanz puppet troupe, Alice & Martin Provensen, Ed Emberley, Saul Steinberg, Cipe Pineles, Todd Oldham (he’s category-defying…a trend legend but additionally a crafter and a frontrunner in sustainability and inclusivity), Saul Bass, Christophe Niemann (if you happen to haven’t seen the Summary about him, it’s a MUST!)
And so many crafter/designers…together with you, Brittany! I like all the things about you. Your originality and beautiful pattern- and color-loving aesthetic, in fact, but additionally that you simply take time to rejoice and amplify different creatives (like with this Changing into interview collection) in addition to being charitable and utilizing your platform to carry essential causes to our consideration. [Brittany here–I really should take this part out but can you see why she’s so loved?! She’s THE most supportive and inspiring person out there!]
What’s your workspace like?
Err, messy! Although I do know the place all the things is! My studio is our dwelling’s attic and I adore it a lot! My husband painted the steps main as much as it a very fairly vibrant yellow and the studio itself is all white–a easy backdrop for the chaos! I swear by the Container Retailer’s clear bins with clear lids so I can see all the things. I’ve bins and bins of all of the recycled supplies I take advantage of reminiscent of bottle caps, corks, tins, small containers, printed papers, in addition to bins of artwork and craft supplies like scissors, glue, tapes, beads, paint, and extra. I spent 19 years at Martha Stewart Dwelling journal and we had the dreamiest craft room/studio, however you possibly can not by no means discover a pair of scissors if you wanted one, haha. I do miss it and the individuals, however when my scissors are the place I left them, I’m so completely satisfied!
Is there something extra you wish to “turn into?”
This will sound tacky however I’m attempting to let go of the tales I inform myself…about myself. For instance, that I’m not an artist as a result of I ended portray for thus lengthy. (I’ve began once more not too long ago!) Even once I was portray at school, I felt like an outsider as a result of I switched majors from illustration to portray. And even once I might have felt snug there, I felt odd as a result of I painted figuratively and realistically, whereas most of my classmates had been portray abstractly. This most likely wasn’t even true (!) however I at all times discovered methods to make myself really feel like an outsider. I don’t perceive why we’re all so laborious on ourselves. I’ve pals who paint or sculpt who’re actors or writers and I feel it’s so nice that they’re pursuing these various pursuits—they’re unbelievable!
I not too long ago began doing fast little postcard-sized watercolors and it feels so good! Once I say “fast”, I imply I set a timer for 1 min after which I make myself cease. I extremely suggest this as a method in, if you wish to paint however are intimidated. You’re by no means too busy for a 1-minute portray. And there’s no strain to create a masterpiece! I typically really feel nervous earlier than portray, however then I’m at all times a bit unhappy when the timer goes off!
Are you able to see why Jodi is the best? I really feel so impressed after studying her ideas. I hope you do too! Go away a remark if you happen to do!
Yow will discover Jodi Levine:
Instagram: @supermakeit
Web site: supermakeit.com
Mousetown guide
#Jodi #Levine
