IllustrationInterview

2024 Booooooom Illustration Awards Winner: Jess Martinez

For our first-ever Booooooom Illustration Awards, supported by Format, we selected 5 winners, one for each of the following categories: Editorial, Personal, Product & Packaging, Advertising & Promotional, Student. Now it is our pleasure to introduce the winner of the Student category, Jess Martinez.

Jess Martinez is a Mexican-American illustrator and designer. Born and raised Los Angeles, Martinez creates work under the pseudonym Scion Illustration. “Scion” refers to a young shoot or twig used in grafting, and mirrors Martinez’s creative process of bringing various design inspirations together.

A huge thank you to Format for supporting our awards this year. Format is an online portfolio builder specializing in the needs of photographers, artists, and designers. With nearly 100 professionally designed website templates and thousands of design variables, you can showcase your work your way, with no coding required. To learn more about Format, check out their website here or start a 14-day free trial.

We had the opportunity to ask Jess some questions about her work—enjoy the interview below!

Illustration by Jess Martinez

Jeff Hamada: What was the first piece of art you saw when you were younger that actually stuck with you?

Jess Martinez: It was a book I had when I was a toddler. It’s actually one of my earliest memories, and I was probably 2 or 3 years old. The book was The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I loved the light washes of color, the gentle tones, and the cute animals. It really stuck with me. I think it’s one of the reasons I gravitated toward nature a lot as a kid, and it continued to influence me well into my adult life.

Describe an artwork that you currently have displayed in your home. Who made it, what does it look like, and what do you like about it?

The Accolade by Edmund Blair Leighton is a painting my parents have hung in our home for over 20 years. Obviously, it’s not an original painting but one of the many pre-Raphaelite works we have displayed alongside impressionist landscape pieces. It portrays a noblewoman knighting a man who is on his knees. I always found the lighting and the overall theme very interesting as a kid. On summer days, when the weather was so hot that the power would go out, I’d spend hours analyzing the sparkle of the chainmail or the golden threads on her dress. I guess I like it for a multitude of reasons, the strongest one being nostalgia.

Illustration by Jess Martinez
Illustration by Jess Martinez

Who are your biggest creative influences currently?

Lately, I’m on a journey to strengthen my skills in gouache painting techniques, so I’m very influenced by Hayao Miyazaki and his use of gouache and poster colors. I saw his paintings when they were on display at the Academy Museum, and I’m actively trying to replicate the liveliness I saw in his brushstrokes with my own work.

How would you describe your aesthetic to someone who has never seen your work?

My aesthetic blends feminine-forward designs with a touch of melancholy, often drawing inspiration from botanical elements. It’s a balance of delicate colors, moody subjects, and emotional depth. I like to think my work feels both intimate and universally resonant, combining vintage and contemporary details.

Illustration by Jess Martinez

Can you share a bit about the process of creating your winning image, from the initial seed of the idea to the final version?

The winning image is named Morning Glory. She’s part of a series inspired by Georgian jewelry. I wanted to create something that incorporated the old and the new, so I designed ornate earrings on a subject with a botanical twist. I wanted her to feel delicate, intricate, and beautiful, just like a morning glory.

Where do you feel you are at in your creative journey?

I feel like I haven’t really started yet, if I’m honest. How I feel could best be described as being in my chrysalis phase. After so much learning and practice, I’m now implementing what I know into the real world. I feel like I’m desperately trying to burst out of my cocoon, but I’m not quite ready yet. I think that’s where I’m at.

Illustration by Jess Martinez

What’s one piece of good advice someone gave you, and who said it?

“The best tool you have is to observe” is something one of my professors, Brian Rea, said in a class. Always observe, keep things simple, and never stop being curious—these are great pieces of advice I’ve received over the years from multiple people. I’d say those three things are important to never forget.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve seen, heard, or experienced recently?

The Boy and the Heron is a Studio Ghibli film that is confusing, complex, and full of emotion. I rewatched it recently, and it made more sense after watching it from a different viewpoint. It’s a beautifully perplexing movie that’s been inspiring me lately.

Illustration by Jess Martinez

What is one thing you want to accomplish this next year?

I want to create more. I hope to have the ability to properly translate my thoughts into brushstrokes. I’m getting close but haven’t quite cracked it yet. I’m planning to close that gap next year.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime?

I hope to inspire people the way I’ve been inspired by others.

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