In Conversation With... Janni Menn

Can you share a bit about your background and how you became interested in illustration?

Art has always been a part of my life. Like many artists, l absolutely loved drawing and crafting since I was little. My mum was a talented artist and my dad is an amazing photographer, which has always been very inspiring to me. I always knew I wanted to do something creative later on in life. I began working as a photographer when I was 18, and later got a degree as a design assistant in object design. I briefly worked in a photo lab, before I decided to study social work at university.

After I got my bachelor's degree and during my work as a social worker, I started drawing again. Mostly as an emotional outlet, because the work I was doing at the time was quite challenging. I realised how much I missed drawing, how happy it made me and that I wanted to give it another try. A few years later, with a lot of encouragement from my friends, I was finally brave enough to share my art online which was a major step for me.

 

We hear you are still doing some part-time social work?

Yes! I previously worked full-time in social work, both in schools and children's homes. Since being on the road, looking for a new home, I now work online as a freelance mentor for children, which is fantastic, because it allows me to work while traveling.

 

Do you see any overlap between the skills or experiences you have as a social worker and as an artist?

Yes, absolutely! Art is an excellent way to express feelings non-verbally, especially for those who struggle to articulate their emotions. It also plays a significant role in cultural expression and is an essential part being human. In this way, social work and art are deeply connected.

For example, in my work with children, I use colours to help them express their emotions. If a child is feeling down, they might choose grey or a mix of darker colours to represent their mood. The opportunity to draw and create together is one thing I really miss due to working online. It's such a wonderful way to bond and a very relaxing activity to do together.

 

 

We hear you have been living nomadically recently in Sweden - tell us more?

Yes, in a way I am. Over the past two years, my partner and I have moved about seven times and have been living without a permanent home since. About three years ago, during the pandemic, we decided to leave England to live a quieter, more self- sufficient life and find a house in a rural area. Since then, we've been on an adventure, staying with friends, family, or in our van. Brexit delayed our plans by a year, which was quite a setback for us, but now we're thrilled to be back in beautiful Sweden with a residence permit and our cat in tow.

For the last three months we've been staying with friends in a little village, helping them on their smallholding. The community has been very welcoming to us, and we've been learning a lot about the local life and history. We're truly grateful to be here. In a few days, we'll be moving into a cozy house that we'll be renting from another friend for the coming months, just in time before winter arrives, while we're still on the search for our own future home.

 

 

What are some of the challenges you face working as an artist without a permanent studio space?

I think the biggest challenge for me is not having my own personal workspace. It would be amazing to have a place where I can keep all my materials and have a table to work on. I love starting multiple projects simultaneously and having them ready to go when inspiration strikes. This includes not just drawings, but also things like refurbishing, large scale paintings, sewing, pottery, wood working, possibly stained glass - the list of what I want to do and want to try out is endless. Having limited space to work on different mediums is a bit stifling to my creativity, but it also makes me very excited for what's to come.

 

What themes or subjects do you find yourself most drawn to in your artwork?

Oh a lot of things! My brain doesn't have a filter, so basically everything surrounding me has something that I find interesting or gives me inspiration. But for the most part I would say it's organic shapes and nature, risograph and screen prints and retro aesthetic that I feel drawn to. I'm planning on spending more time on developing my style, try out and experiment with a bunch of techniques and materials as soon as I have the space for it.

 

Are there any particular projects you're currently working on that you're excited about?

I have many ideas and future projects planned, that I can't wait to try out and work on. I hope that I can draw lots of inspiration from the last few months and create something fun soon. Until then the next project I'm really excited about is to create a home with my partner, as well as a studio space for me.

 

 

How do you handle creative blocks or periods of low inspiration?

I've learned that I shouldn't try to push myself to hard. It only gets frustrating and makes the blockage even worse. I either take a break from creating - which I'm currently doing - or I try to clear my mind. Put my phone down, go out for a walk, flick through some books, listen to music, work on something different which isn't drawing and so on.