Ann Jasperson
Graphic Designer
Project Manager
Illustrator
The New Age Artist Expressing Her Deep Feelings
Mira Felicia Malhotra: Honestly, it was because I liked cartoons growing up and I still do. Some of my favorite cartoons that I still enjoy watching are “Betty Boop” and “Bugs Bunny”. My parents were encouraging and said I had an “artistic temperament”. My favorite thing was to copy cartoon characters and create my characters. I always drew on anything I could find including my own body hahaha.
Mira Felicia Malhotra: It always feels great to see your ideas out there in the real world. Sometimes if I’m being hypocritical, I’ll see all the flaws in my work and imagine how I could do better. But seeing people buy and use products that bear my work is very satisfying.
Mira Felicia Malhotra: With collectives and studios, we usually have more structure and predictability and break it down into more steps. Whereas with independent artists, there is more exploration, freedom, and space for aha moments.
Mira Felicia Malhotra: Many people create artwork or illustrations as self-expression or display of skill. Whereas my focus is on narration, storytelling, or communication. Specifically, for me, being able to express an idea through a social good cause elevates what I do. And for those who think illustration is frivolous as often is the case in India, being able to do this shows just how much weight an illustration can carry.
Mira Felicia Malhotra: My advice would be to form support groups with other like-minded women and find ways to channel your own experiences in your work. If you work with an author, first establish an understanding of context, why the work matters and to whom, before you even start sketching.
Mira Felicia Malhotra: As my former faculty she is amazing. Mainly, her wealth of experience lends the story so much weight. As someone who deeply understands and has researched disability and mental health, her story was so liberating and genuine. The experience of collaborating with her is one of extreme ease. She gave me a movie script-style story which I translated into a wordless comic.
Mira Malhotra: I have always hoped to lend a helping hand visually through illustrations that represent interesting and different points of view of reality as well as the perspective of women. Mainly, because not enough emphasis is put on what women’s voices can do. I am happy to offer a creative medium to articulate those voices.
Mira Felicia Malhotra: Mainly, the depth and quality of their message combined with the content. Along with a unique visual style that they hope to channel.
Mira Malhotra: I hope to be able to draw and illustrate experiences that have never been seen before in the mainstream diaspora. And the experiences we all know but to be experienced from a different vantage point. I believe very much in alternative and DIY (Do It Yourself) cultures that offer a different angle to the world. As opposed to what the mainstream generally offers.