Oscraps

Designer Q&A: Jen Maddocks

clarabear

clarabear

always chatty at the O!!
As you have probably seen Jen of Jen Maddicks Designs is in the Designer Spotlight. I, personally, like to get to know the designers so I thought we could have a little meet and greet with Jen.

If you haven't seen it yet please check out her spotlight challenge going on now: https://ozone.oscraps.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25396

So let me start with a couple of questions...

1. Where are you from?
2. What's your favorite color in designing?
3. Which designers inspire you?
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
Oh I'm here! I found it! Geez. I must admit I a really terrible at forums.
Ok...answering questions...
I am currently living in Colorado. We've been here 9 years this year. I am originally from Maine (born and raised). We lived right near Acadia National Park. I miss the East Coast and the Ocean but have to say that Colorado is pretty gorgeous too.
My favorite color in designing...would have to go with blue.
Designers that inspire me...When I first started out in digital I loved ScrapArtist. I miss those days. The artists that I loved and I feel still inspire me (still have a ScrapArtist folder, I'm so pathetic) even today are sherrie JD, Fiddlette, Dianne Rigdon, Gina Miller, and Nancie Rowe Janitz. Other artists that inspire me are Van Gogh, Georgia O'Keefe, Theo Altenberg, and Jeane Myers.

I admit I'm terrible about talking about myself. But I'll answer any questions you may have for me!!! ;D
 
dwsewbiz

dwsewbiz

Well-Known Member
I am always curious...do you have a formula or recipe for kits, like 5 of these, 10 of those, to alpha or not to alpha?

How do you know when you're done? :)
 
faerywings

faerywings

The Loopy-O
CHEERY O
waves hi!!!

Its always so nice to meet the rock star O-Designers! Love that you are open to answering questions. I LOVE your style!!
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
dwsewbiz said:
I am always curious...do you have a formula or recipe for kits, like 5 of these, 10 of those, to alpha or not to alpha?

How do you know when you're done? :)
Click to expand...

I do not have a formula. And I never realized that until you just asked me. Which I think is rather funny given how organized I prefer to be. My process with kits tends to be I just think about what I want in it and let it take me where it wants and I just know when I'm done. Eww...how off the cuff is that? I sound like my dh! ;D
 
mrstoa

mrstoa

mrstoa
Jen - I didn't know you lived in :canada:

Now I can brag about the talented artistic Canadian designer!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:


Oh, Canada! our home and native land :lalala:
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
mrstoa said:
Jen - I didn't know you lived in :canada:

Now I can brag about the talented artistic Canadian designer!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:


Oh, Canada! our home and native land :lalala:
Click to expand...

Well Maine is practically Canada! I do have some words I say with a Canadian accent and my kids especially make fun of me. Like "boat" and "about". They are growing up with a Colorado accent and I think its so weird. My parents were from New Jersey so I grew up hearing that from them and my grandparents. So funny how the places we grow up influence the way we talk.
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
How about a list of some of my faves?? ;D

Favorite drink: Coke
Favorite TV show: FRIENDS, The Following, Chicago Fire, Downton Abbey, Castle, Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes, Criminal Minds
Favorite food: chocolate ;D
Favorite movie: Princess Bride
Favorite singer/group: Train, The Fray, Tom Petty, Daughtry
Favorite time of day: morning
Favorite book: Harry Potter Deathly Hallows
Favorite saying: "We are what we repeatedly do." - Aristotle
Favorite color: black
Favorite word: seredipity
Favorite place to be: outside
Favorite destination: Moab, UT
 
dwsewbiz

dwsewbiz

Well-Known Member
OK, no spoilers, and without giving anything away...yes or no:

- are you satisfied with the way season 3 ended?
- will you watch season 4?

:)

Oh wait, maybe you haven't gotten to the end of season 3 yet? In which case, nevermind ;-)
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
dwsewbiz said:
OK, no spoilers, and without giving anything away...yes or no:

- are you satisfied with the way season 3 ended?
- will you watch season 4?

:)

Oh wait, maybe you haven't gotten to the end of season 3 yet? In which case, nevermind ;-)
Click to expand...
I'm assuming u r talking about Downtown. I am on season 2. However. I accidentally clicked on an article the other day and it didn't say "spoiler alert" so I roughly know what happens.:lalala:
 
VickiStegall

VickiStegall

Administrator
Designer
CHEERY O
How fun!!!

Here's my question: Wine or Margaritas?

Ok, here's a real question: Do you listen to music or watch TV while you design? If so, what?
 
Anja DD

Anja DD

Well-Known Member
Designer
Hi Jen! I'm loving this thread!
What I would like to know is, do you have another job besides designing gorgeous kits?
Anja
 
faerywings

faerywings

The Loopy-O
CHEERY O
Jen, love this thread, it is so much fun!!

Where in NJ are your parents from?

Do you have any "traditional" art training ie painting, sculpting, etc or it is mostly digital?
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
Wine or Margaritas? Margaritas. I hate wine. ;D

Music or tv when I design: yes either or both. I listen to pretty much everything under the sun depending on my mood. I have lots of playlists. During the day I turn on cartoons because I miss my kids. Specifically I miss them when they were the age when they wanted to watch cartoons on Qubo. I'm strange I know. I've always liked the tv on. It makes it feel like there is someone here. Otherwise I will watch reruns of Friends.

Other job: I am a SAHM. So that is my first job. But my girls are in school all day so when they are there I design.

Doodling: Yes I doodle on the phone. I don't use all my doodles in my designs. Sometimes I just sit down and scribble because it feels good. I used to think it was unproductive. Then I saw them as "art" and put them in my designs. I had a conversation about this with one of my daughters the other day. She was frustrated because she had artist block and I was explaining to her that scribbling could be extremely therapeutic. Then she was looking at something I was working on and was like, "Hey Mom! You put your scribbles in your work!" Light bulb moment!

My parents: They are from Trenton & Hunderton area. My grandmother was a Wycoff.

Art Training: I went to art school. I did not finish. I have training in drawing and painting. ;D I've been an artist/creative all my life. My mother is an artist, my grandmother was a painter. Both my girls can draw and show an aptitude for art. Funny how it runs so deep in my family like that.
I taught myself Photoshop and digital designing. Graphic design was what I was going to concentrate in if I had finished college.
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
Another random fact...on Feb 22 my dh and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. Well we are actually celebrating tomorrow. He's taking me to see the Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. ;D
 
faerywings

faerywings

The Loopy-O
CHEERY O
Oh Have a great time at the Exhibit! Happy Anniversary!!!

I am not too far from Wycoff :)

Do you have any tips for someone who wants to get into the digi-design business?
 
LSlycord

LSlycord

Well-Known Member
Oh I love this thread!!! How fun to get to know you better Jen!

My question: Where do you get the inspiration for your designs? And how long does it usually take for you to complete a kit?
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
Tips for someone wanting to get into digi-design business:

There's probably all kinds of things I could say but the one thing that has helped me the most is this: Decide who you are and why you want to do this and never let that go. It probably sounds cliche but all of the technical stuff about design can be learned and figured out. It's all the "other stuff" that hits you that really take a toll and if you don't know who you are at the core or why you are doing it then you will crumble at the first "real" obstacle and there will be many... (someone doesn't like your work, you don't get any sales, you don't get that job you were praying for, you get artists' block, etc).

Where do you get the inspiration for your designs? And how long does it usually take for you to complete a kit?

Inspiration comes from everywhere. I get it from life. Watching my girls. Looking out my office window. Driving around. Looking at art. Sometimes if I'm really stumped I'll browse Pinterest. ;D
From start to finish...coming up with an idea and them creating a line of products, quality check, making previews, etc. It takes me about a week.
 
petey111

petey111

Well-Known Member
I loved reading about you Jen!! Thank you so much for answering!

What's your favorite indulgence?
 
LaurieW

LaurieW

lOve the O!
Do you like designing one part of kit better than another- ie papers, masks, embellishments, alphas?
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
What's your favorite indulgence?
Would probably have to be buying shoes. ;D


Do you like designing one part of kit better than another- ie papers, masks, embellishments, alphas?
My most favorite thing to design is masks. I love erasing and then adding/building back up again (with the layer mask) and if it doesn't work then I just start over. I've said it before...the delete key and I are good friends. But there aren't many masks I make that I don't like or use. They just kind of flow. Better than anything else I try.
I must admit my least favorite thing to do is alphas. ;D

I also wanted to say thank you all for your great questions. I am enjoying this!
 
jencropable

jencropable

Well-Known Member
Any more questions before my designer spotlight officially ends?

We can keep this going as long as anyone wants. Just thought I'd bump it for the last "official" day. ;D
 
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