In this captivating interview, we dive into the creative world of Jessica Lauser the talented designer and illustrator whose viral Inktober videos have garnered millions of views and sparked meaningful conversations on feminism, history, and mythology.
Her viral Inktober videos have gained popularity, not only due to her skillful and beautiful gothic illustration style but also the feminist discourse it enables. In this interview, we take a behind-the-scenes look at her creations. Jessica Lauser @jlauser.art, a designer and illustrator creating images based on history, mythology and urban legends. Inktober is an annual drawing challenge that takes place every October, where artists are encouraged to create one ink drawing every day for the entire month. She started her Instagram in 2016 and her TikTok in 2020. She currently has 1.8M followers on TikTok and her videos have gained up to 9.1M views.
SlashHer: How did you get into art?
Jessica: I’ve always loved art, ever since I was a child. By high school I knew I wanted it to be my career. I started taking it seriously in 2011.
SlashHer: What made you decide to create these images for Inktober? What made you decide to keep doing them year after year?
Jessica: I quit my full-time job in 2018 and I wanted to focus on pursuing art instead. I learnt about the Inktober challenge from other artists I followed, so I started doing it as a way to get some daily drawing practice in, challenge myself and build my portfolio. I continued doing it because I got a really positive response on social media, and I loved pairing the illustrations with stories.
SlashHer: Did you notice any misogyny or insensitivity in your research of the stories you chose to illustrate?
Jessica: I definitely noticed some insensitive themes when researching the different stories. Sometimes I also feel that things are added in order to make the story sound more dramatic or shocking. I try to be fair to each story by finding multiple sources so that I can retell the story in a respectful and honest way.
SlashHer: Is there a certain story/stories that has stuck with you?
Jessica: They all stick with me in different ways because I love history and mythology so much, but one that comes to mind specifically is the one about Bathsheba Sherman. Probably because of the popularity of the movie The Conjuring. I went into that one assuming I knew the story for the most part, however, when I did my research it ended up being completely different. That story to me was a prime example of how a woman’s story was used and overdramatised in order to shock people, instead of telling the truth.
SlashHer: What do you feel has been the impact of sharing these stories?
Jessica: Telling these stories is really special to me because of the reactions I get. People either knew the story already, but learned something new that they hadn’t known about it. Sometimes people also add information that I didn’t include and I get to learn something new. As I mentioned also, I really love history and mythology so the fact that part of my job is getting to research and tell stories is very special to me.
SlashHer: The comments under your videos spark important discussions about the erasure of female history and even themes like sex trafficking and racism…how do you feel about your community, the impact you’re creating and the lessons you learn from them?
Jessica: I’ve learned a lot from my community, and I’m very grateful for all of them. As I mentioned previously, I love it when people add new information that I didn’t include, and as long as the comments stay respectful and with good intentions, I enjoy seeing people discuss the story with each other.
SlashHer: What is the process of creating these illustrations from an artistic standpoint? What mediums do you use? Do you have a favourite illustrations?
Jessica: Once I know what story I’ll be focusing on, I do a rough sketch on my iPad. I try to incorporate certain symbolism from the story whether it’s an important item used or a repeated motif. Then I transfer my sketch to bristol paper and use Indian ink and markers to outline and shade the illustration. I think one of my favourite illustrations of mine is the Casket Girls of NOLA. I like how simple it is and I’m proud of it!
SlashHer: What do you hope to illustrate in the future?
Jessica: I hope to continue illustrating new stories and to finish the tarot deck I’ve been working on.