Hi! My name is Karena, and I'm an artist and illustrator based in South Australia. Magic Jelly is a one-person operation that I run from my home studio. From the small inklings of my original ideas, everything begins with pencil on paper; then I make, package, and market everything myself, along with designing Magic Jelly's branding and packaging (which I love to do!). My paper goods are professionally printed by a local carbon-neutral print shop on lovely environmentally-friendly papers, and I always choose materials with sound eco credentials where ever possible. I like to design fun, engaging products with an emphasis on uniqueness and quality.
My artwork is influenced by lifelong loves and obsessions: the pulpy pages of old magazines and comic books, limited colour palettes, halftones, misregistration, vintage ephemera, advertising, packaging and typography; fireworks, Christmas, little plastic trinkets, old photos; as well as pattern and ornament and their diverse applications, such as Mexican cigar boxes, and Chinese apothecary labels. One of my greatest interests is vintage portraits, discarded, forgotten, in flea market boxes; anonymous people adrift from their histories. Inspired by their mystery, I like to shed new light and love on them and give them alternative identities.
I find inspiration in the ghosts of our past; memory, nostalgia, and the things we collect that record our personal stories. Above all, I hope my work is friendly, accessible, and brings people some of the happiness it gives me to make it.
I have a newsletter where you can keep up to date with new work, market appearances, exhibitions, special offers, etc. Subscribe here >> http://eepurl.com/fhAfo
See more of my work >> http://www.magicjelly.com.au/gallery/
Follow me on Instagram >> https://instagram.com/pointypencils/
Thanks for stopping by!