JALEN PERRY

ILLUSTRATOR + Designer

RANDALLSTOWN, MARYLAND

5 favorite musical artists of all time? 

1. Sawano Hiroyuki

2. Survive Said the Prophet

3. Adele

4. Lil Nas X

5. Milet

What inspires you? 

I am an introvert at heart but also like to be a person of attention when outside so I do this through my clothing. I tend to be more comfortable in my clothing choice (hoods, sweatpants, jeans, sweaters) but also like to style patterns and vibrant colors to create an ensemble that is different from the "popular" blacks, grays, and white.

What advice would you give to your younger self? 

Don't let what others say turn into how you view yourself. What others spout about you is only a reflection of themselves and you shouldn't take it to heart, you are fine just as you are and you will grow into your hobbies and mannerisms. Don't feel like being different from everyone is a bad thing, it is in-fact what makes you special.

What industry blogs/websites/podcasts do you enjoy?

I mainly stick to Linkedin, Instagram, and Twitter for websites or art related sites, and podcasts/streams from @HealthygamerGG and @TheBirthdayGift

What do you think the future holds for people of color in creative industries?

I feel as if, with my current generation of active political and social thinkers, we are making room progressively to allow for more POC to be entered into the creative industry. Companies themselves seem to have more of a focus on diversity which will only increase the space for POC to be hired.

What is your dream job?

Fashion illustrator for luxury brand or character designer for gaming/ animation company.

What skill(s) would you develop if you had more time? 

I would like to further develop my illustration and design skills in Procreate, and Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. I’d also like to learn new languages!

What is the last thing you learned? 

How to reach out and form more connections to create space for entering the illustrator/design industry.

I was working on some content and was being a stickler about using Premier Pro, when it was actually way more efficient for me to just use Capcut. Yes, Premier Pro is industry standard, but for certain projects, it just isn’t necessary.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on a series of fashion illustrations with original character and garment designs under varying themes, that being; vampiric, oceanic, and astrological. I’m also completing a series of nine fashion magazine illustrations tackling mental health.

If you could talk to your favorite creative for an hour, who would it be? Why?

Lil Nas X, I would talk to him because he has changed my perspective on how I express my sexuality as a gay man in art. His confidence and music is a mirror for how I've felt walking through life and I would have to ask him about his experiences, behind the media, with how he has grown into himself and his artistry.

What advice would you give to creatives of color looking to pursue their passion full-time?

Don't give up and seek advice from your peers and mentors. It’s those closest to you that can be your breakthrough! You are not alone in this process.

How do you keep your creative drip going? 

I scroll through my social media accounts, mainly twitter and instagram where I follow other creatives who inspire me. I also like to take time to cater to myself outside of always trying to work, from nature walks, gaming, or eating my favorite foods.

Contact: ahmirillustrations@gmail.com

Check out his portfolio and Instagram to see more of his work!