Speaking with Illustrator, Jana Mossmann

Jana Mossmann is a Hamburg-based illustrator who creates beautiful illustrations for children. Her style incorporates quirky animals with muted pastels to create stunning designs.

In our latest Azutura artist interview, we were lucky enough to catch up with Jana to discuss her work, her incredible home office, how she balances family life and a freelance career and much more.

Hi Jana, thanks for taking the time to speak to us. Can you start off by introducing yourself and telling us a little about your life?

Thank you for your inquiry and your interest.

I have been working as a freelancing communication designer since August 2010 and also increasingly as an illustrator for some time now. I am living with my two daughters and my husband in Hamburg.

Next to illustrating and designing projects for clients, I like to furnish my apartment, create new furniture, go for a walk or do yoga.

What’s a typical day like in the life of Jana Mossmann?

A typical day begins at half-past six since our big daughter is at school already. After a common breakfast, I go to kindergarten with the little one and start my work in my #hochbüro.

While working, I usually lose time and noon comes round quickly. Then, I pick up my children and spend the afternoon with them. I can often be found at my desk late at night and at the weekend, however, I can now separate work and leisure quite well.

You have such a unique workspace in your home. Can you tell us about it please?

We hung my home office, a wooden plate, to the ceiling in our apartment. There is a table, a chair and a small commode on 6 square meters.

It’s a wonderful retreat and absolutely sufficient because I only need my laptop and sometimes my second screen to work.

How and when did you first become interested in illustration?

How do you balance family life with your career?

The family comes first. But since I love my job very much, I also enjoy working. Currently, in the morning, and if possible, in the evening or at the weekend. Fortunately, as a freelancer, I am very flexible and since I have been living like this for ten years, I have finally learned how to separate the two areas.

What tools do you use to create your work?

Mostly Adobe Illustrator. I love vector graphics, but I also work with Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects, Google Webdesigner and Canva.

Where do you find inspiration for your illustrations?

All over. I love colours and think a lot in pictures. With two little girls at home, one thing comes to another.

Can you tell us about your creative process from how you come up with the initial idea through to the finished piece?

I start in Illustrator and work out the idea. I often lose myself down to the smallest details. Little breaks help a lot along with a coffee, preferably in the sun. Then I continue.

How did you develop your unique style?

Thank you for the compliment. I work on improving my style every day and, I myself, am probably one of my greatest critics.

Your colour palette is instantly recognisable. Can you tell us a little bit about this please?

I usually choose colours from my surroundings. I like to furnish and it is important to me that I like all the colours in the apartment. I just like colour!

I like pastel shades and I like matching colours. I make sure that the contrast between two colours is clear. It's probably a matter of feeling.

What career would you have pursued if you weren’t an illustrator?

This is a difficult question since I already did my first internships in agencies and with a photographer. Maybe I would work in the concept, as an interior designer or as a coach.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?

You have to believe in yourself and have to have fun at work. Then, you have to practice practice practice. You should try everything that appeals to you and don't give up if a certain person doesn't like it. You should always hold on to your dreams.

What’s the future looking like? Anything big on the horizon?

I always go from one project to the next. I am currently working on so many great things in parallel. I am so grateful for everything I can do and look forward to future projects.

A big dream is to publish a book that I'm already working on. Let's see when I'm done with it.