Thursday Spotlight: Jen Toth Scribbles (and Celebrates) Local Businesses

Santa loves a stocking stuffer, and Greenpointers love whimsical artwork depicting their nabe. Jen Toth (@jenscribblesny) has discovered a approach to mix these loves — not that business worth is the engine fueling her artwork. As a substitute, she finds methods folksy and cute to focus on the native companies that dot our neighborhood, combining the magic of an iPad, water colours, and an artists’ eye to craft clear, memorable sketches of many New York landmarks. Learn extra about her efforts and artistry under, and discover her catalogue here!

Greenpointers: You illustrate so many enjoyable Greenpoint gems! Do you reside across the neighborhood, or are you only a massive fan? (Or each?)

Jen Toth: You may positively say I’m a fan of the neighborhood. I moved to Greenpoint from town seven years in the past. Now, I don’t suppose I might reside wherever else.  Just lately throughout Covid, I actually noticed the neighborhood pull collectively and it made me so proud.  I like Greenpoint a lot — it’s my dwelling. 

In your individual phrases, are you able to talk about your inventive type and, in depicting native companies and parks, what catches your eye?

I’d classify myself as self-taught.  My type is a mixture of trend illustration and doodles. After I was child I used to be at all times scribbling on paper and bear in mind getting yelled at for drawing on necessary paperwork. Then after I began working in trend as a mannequin, I grew to become fascinated by design sketches. They’re equally freeform and methodical — creativeness and goal. And there’s the place I feel I’m capable of higher outline my illustrations by including silhouettes and colour.

Something with angles and contours provides a layer for me to play with depth and texture. I’ll cease useless in my tracks if I see a horny curve. In my view the sexiest drawing I ever did was the enduring bar at Increase Increase Room. 

On the finish I deliver every thing along with watercolor. A lot might be outlined by the load of the comb and saturation of colour. It could possibly match a temper or feeling, and add to the story and emotion of the piece.  I simply completed a challenge for Del Maguey and sat down with them for his or her Liquid Artwork Collection. That time period nails my type. 

We love that you just illustrated La Merced; we had featured them a couple of weeks in the past and are glad to see them getting some love from artists as nicely.

Ruben, the proprietor of Paloma Espresso, prompt I illustrate them.  I truly grew to become conversant in them as a result of once they began following me on IG their emblem was so memorable. 

I learn that Greenpointer’s article! Ricardo is so fascinating and I used to be pulled in by his phrases and story. My mother is from the Philippines so I felt that immigrant connection instantly.

By way of your work, what’s the ratio of by hand to by laptop? What’s your course of like and what instruments do you use?

I’d say it’s a fairly good combine. I do plenty of portray at dwelling with watercolor and acrylic however I’m within the behavior of taking my iPad with me all over the place. Since I’m additionally on the go, the iPad is my device for creating when I’ve a second of inspiration. If I’ve 20 minutes between seems to be or an hour lunch break, I’m on my iPad scribbling one thing.

Even at dwelling, I’m at all times transferring from one space to a different. I might begin in my kitchen desk and will finish mendacity on my yoga mat with my iPad (often in some loopy pose trying like a loopy individual). I’ve a foul behavior of forgetting the place I put my Apple Pencil, the opposite day I spent 20 minutes in search of it and located it an hour later in my jacket pocket. Plus, after I’m packing up illustrations my area can appear to be a twister rolled via. I’ve stickers, scissors, paper, and mailers specified by an organized chaos. 

By way of focus, meditation helps floor me earlier than I begin working. I at all times have music or a podcast going whereas I’m sketching. Dance breaks are a should, too.  

You’re making holiday cards depicting metropolis scenes and in addition stocking stuffers — how goes enterprise?

It feels so good to create one thing and have this overwhelmingly optimistic response. I’ve one of the best clients with superb tales about New York and the locations I illustrate. I’ve a pal that commissioned Lucali and an hour after I posted it, somebody reached out and mentioned that they had their engagement dinner there. All these institutions maintain so many recollections and overlapping tales. That is New York. 

Any Greenpoint institutions you might be hoping to get to and depict sooner or later?

I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t achieved Paulie Gees but and I dream about their pizza. I do wish to begin doing tattoo parlors, salons, Meserole Shoe Restore, Mr. Plums, St. Vitus…okay I’ve a protracted listing nonetheless.

It may additionally be a secure wager for me to simply work my approach down Franklin Road.

I’m additionally desirous about the way forward for JenScribblesNY and the way I might be of service to the neighborhood. I used to be excited to be requested for instance the Park Armory for his or her annual Snowflake charity occasion. I’d like to throw extra initiatives like this into my schedule.

Anything so as to add?

Simply three issues:

1. I hope my work serves as a reminder that everybody has the flexibility to find their artistic facet or one thing new…something new. That is all new for me, and it feels so so proper. 
2. I’d prefer to encourage folks to exit and assist small and native companies this vacation season, together with artists. These locations want our assist greater than ever. About 17%, or 110,000, of restaurant have closed this 12 months with one other 10,000 on the point of closing within the subsequent three weeks. Let’s amp up our assist.
3. I’m excited to say that as of final week I grew to become affiliated with One Tree Planted, the place every buy means we’ll plant one tree.