Artist interview: Jenny Kalejs, Lark illustrator, blessed with early art spark

April 9, 2024 — Jenny Kalejs is an exceptionally cool human who I had the good fortune to meet at my previous job. We were both communicators working in different, but related, areas. Jenny was with the University of Michigan Biological Station. I worked in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Prior to 2019, we worked in separate buildings but with our move into the new Biological Sciences Building, our cubicles shared a (tall) wall. I knew Jenny was an artist as I’d seen some of her creative drawings for the Biological Station and if we sat together in a seminar, I’d notice her amazing doodle notes. But what I didn’t know at the time was that she was a children’s book artist. 

After looking around on the internet and social media for an artist to illustrate the book I was planning to self-publish, and coming up short for one reason or another, I walked over to ask Jenny if she knew any children’s book artists. Coincidentally, she had just illustrated her first children’s book (mentioned below). She shared it with me and I liked her style of sketches finished with watercolor. And just like that, our collaboration was born. I was always excited to see her next illustration — they were delightful and such a fun complement to my words. She really brought the book to full color fun and vibrant life! As I wrote about in a previous post, it was ironic that after virtually searching the globe online, I found my artist literally right next to me (over the cubicle wall).

Let’s move onward to our short interview. If you read this and think, I have a question or two for Jenny, you can send them through this website’s contact page. 

1. Do you have a favorite illustration in How Happy Is a Lark? And/or favorite page?

That’s tough — I feel a certain kinship with all the little characters we created! I’m going to go with the Happy Clam because she’s a sweet role model for contentment, and because I like the way the drawing turned out. 

2. Any fun feedback you’ve received on the book and/or your illustrations to share?

I’ve had a lot of friends and acquaintances tell me that they bought the book for their young kids or nieces and nephews, which warms my heart. 

3. Was there anything you especially enjoyed and/or learned while working on Lark?

I liked the challenge and joy of matching the art aesthetic to the tone of the book — sweet, whimsical, colorful, a little silly, and thoroughly good-natured. 

4. You mentioned a new project you and a friend are involved in for the Ann Arbor District Library’s anniversary. Which anniversary is it? Can you tell us anything about that or is it under wraps?

This year, the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) is undertaking its “Ann Arbor 200” project celebrating the city’s bicentennial by commissioning works of art from local creatives. My dear friend Sam Ankenbauer (with whom I collaborated on my first children’s book, Grandpa Cai and His Garden) and I are creating a book/catalog of Ann Arbor residents’ favorite trees, the personal memories that give those trees special significance, a bit of natural history/ecology, and original paintings of the trees through the eyes of the beholders. It will be released in digital form this fall.

5. What else are you currently working on or planning to do? Please tell us about it.  

In addition to the Ann Arbor 200 project, I’ve been doing freelance art, graphic design, and copywriting for individual clients and local businesses. 

6. What do you do for fun in your free time? 

I spend a lot of time rambling, running, biking, backpacking, playing sports, and just being outside. I also love to read (mostly fiction), draw (of course), write poetry when the mood strikes, listen to/see live music, and be with my family and friends.

7. When did your interest in art begin and what sparked it?

I have always been a creator (and appreciator) of art and I don’t know why. I firmly believe that anyone can be an artist if they want to, but perhaps there’s some semi-magical spark that creates the persistent interest. If you have that, you’ll naturally develop your own style and set of preferences through practice, exploration, and paying attention to the accidental art that happens around us every day. 

In that way, art teaches us how to see and makes us more engaged citizens of the world — which comes back out in the things we make, filtered through our own experiences. I was blessed with the spark of interest in art and I’ve gotten better because I’ve made a lot of it, just for the inherent joy. This is a self-portrait I did when I was four. :-)

Of course, I thought of some more questions for Jenny later. We’ll see, maybe I’ll have a follow-up post with more from Jenny. If you have any questions, I’ll run those by her as well. 

Jenny blog part II is here 

Images: Jenny Kalejs at Craig Lake State Park. Jenny in the Porcupine Mountains “repping the Yoop.” Credit: John Den Uyl. Self-portrait of Jenny, age 4.