JENNA
McLEAN
ART
Dreams don't have an expiration date.
Maybe you were creative as a child....but haven't been in touch with that playful part of yourself in a long time.
Perhaps an interesting life chapter is beginning and you'd love to explore a new hobby.
Or maybe you've nurtured a lifelong dream of seeing your sketches on products, earning an income while creating to your heart's content.
Hi, I'm Jenna: self-taught artist, fabricaholic, printer, dyer, bookbinder and nature lover. In my former life I was a biologist. You know, one of those people who was told growing up that they had to have a "serious career in something grounded." So I did that, but I spent my weekends taking art classes in NYC. I learned how to operate a letterpress machine, and how to silkscreen on paper and fabric (from one of Andy Warhol's former assistants).
I took my love of botany and used it to create natural fabric dyes and ecoprints. Eventually I summoned up my courage, put my designs on stationery and linens, and headed off to the NY Gift Show to sell my wares. I did this as a side hustle until the glorious day came when I knew that I could do it full time.
It's funny how creativity hangs around and pesters us, a subtle reminder that we need to slow down and take some time for ourselves. If you're ready to get in touch with your artistic side (even if you think that yours is dead or non-existent), then you've come to the right place! In 2022 I'll be launching several online art courses that will teach you, step by step, how to produce fabulous results in printing and fabric design.
COURSES
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Block Printing
If you made a potato print as a child, then you know how to block print. Create gorgeous designs using rubber blocks that are carved and inked by hand. Fabric, paper, wallpaper--the sky's the limit.
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Natural Fabric Dyes
Bookbinding
Modern textile dyes can't hold a candle to the amazing shades created by plant-based ones. Step back in time and discover the tactile pleasure of concocting and using nature-based tints.
The ancient art of book
binding hasn't changed much over the years--you take absolutely luscious papers and hand stitch them into personal journals and sketch books. Yum.
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Ecoprinting
Mother Nature is the greatest artist of them all, isn't she? Learn how to create patterns on fabric using leaves, flowers, pods and stems.
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Surface Pattern
Design
Take your sketches and put them on wrapping paper, fabric, stationery---anything, really--via Adobe Illustrator. No previous knowledge is necessary!
