Jennifer Starr, an artist and maker from New Jersey, USA, provides inspiration for countless makers and DIY enthusiasts around the world. As an active member of the Cricut community for some time now, her creativity and expertise add greatly to the Cricut Design Space library.
A treasure trove of ready-to-make projects, designs, and images that make it easy for anyone to create or personalize, Design Space houses many designs created by independent artists like Jennifer, who provide a diverse range of styles and inspiration.
Through this artist spotlight, we’ll share a bit more aboutJennifer and her creative process, learn about what inspires her, and see some of her favorite images.
So, let’s get started!
How did you find Cricut, and why did you decide to join the Contributing Artist Program?
About 6 years ago, I was looking for a way to make shirts or drinkware with my own designs. My online research, and some recommendations from friends, brought me to Cricut. Last year, on a random Sunday night, I was scrolling through posts on the Cricut page on Facebook, and I saw an open call for designers. There was a brief explanation of the CAP program, and I immediately thought, “Oh! This is for me. This will be a perfect fit.” I applied that night!
When I was accepted to the program, I dove right in and never looked back. I’m happy to say I was correct — it has been a wonderful collaboration!
Where did your artistic journey begin?
My mother would say that my artistic journey started at 3 when I started drawing on the walls. And she may be right. I eventually traded in the walls for a sketchbook. I’m always drawing and writing down everything that I see around me. I love playing with colors and working with typography. Unsurprisingly, my journey would take me to art school to study graphic design. Many years later, I am running my own design studio and photography business where I can let my creative spirit flow. It’s been an amazing artistic journey so far.
What does creativity mean to you?
Creativity is how I can express myself. It could be through design, drawing, or photography. It is how I make whatever I am working on mine and how I give things a personal twist. It could be how I put colors together or how I decorate my personal space. Creativity is how I take the vision in my mind and make it into something tangible.
Who or what inspires you to create, and why?
I often create things based on what is going on around me. Something that has me excited or has affected me emotionally or mentally. It can be sparked by the people that I interact with or the life experiences I am going through. I design a lot in “waves.” If I have found myself needing a little kickstart to the week, then that inspires me to create designs that are motivational or inspirational. I will work through those designs until the next wave hits me. My best work is derived from things that I am invested in, so I follow whatever I’m passionate about at that time and create based on that.
What is your favorite type of craft?
I love creating custom apparel. The ability to make designs that I can then wear is such a fun thing to me. I mean, who doesn’t love a personalized shirt? Most of my designs are created with that in mind.
What word would you use to describe your design style?
Eclectic. I like to run with whatever inspires me at the moment, so I have a few different design styles. It depends on the emotions I want that design to evoke. Sometimes I want them to be bright and positive or fun and whimsical. I always love things that are classic and simple. I think my underlying goal is the desire for all my designs, no matter what style they are in, to look crisp and clean.
If you had to choose a color to describe yourself, what would it be?
Magenta, for sure. It is bright and bold, and it has some depth to it that adds a bit of sophistication to the color. I love the energy and the vibes that the color exudes.
What is your favorite family vacation?
Camping with the family is the best! Although my youngest was still in diapers when we did our first family camping trip, we wanted to start them young. The best part about camping is that it gives us all a chance to disconnect — quite literally! No internet, no electronics, just the great outdoors! We hike, swim, and fish. We make our meals over the campfire and fall asleep under the stars. It’s the best way to feed our souls and take a break from our crazy schedules.
Are you a morning person or a night person?
I don’t do mornings. I do them if I must, but I’m not happy about it. I am hands down a night owl. Once the house is quiet, and after all the running around between school stuff and sports, I get my second wind. It is not unlike me to start a project at 11 pm or later. And I’ll just work until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. It’s probably why I need so much coffee every morning! But I can’t control when inspiration hits, and it always seems to be at night, so I roll with it!
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Jennifer and learning more about her creative process. Visit her Design Space profile and explore more of her artwork, which we hope will inspire and delight you whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just starting. All of Jennifer’s artwork is included in a Cricut Access subscription, or you can buy each of her images à la carte.
Show us what you make with Jennifer’s designs! Make sure to tag #cricut on social.
Interested in seeing more Contributing Artist images? Check out all of our artists here.