JR Eisma
…on drawing, reddit fame & eldritch Teletubbies.
Written by Alex Bamforth
The work of artist JR Eisma is often found scattered throughout the world of social media, regularly making the rounds on the art pages of Instagram being reshared by numerous accounts to tens of thousands of followers. There’s a good reason for it too. It’s rare to find an artist with such a wide-range of ability to the point it’s a shock to learn that two pieces of art, so unalike, came from the same hand. One looking like it belongs in a pixar film and the other like it’s been dragged from the psyche of H.R. Giger. But it was from the depths of reddit page r/imsorryjon, a page dedicated to dark Garfield visuals, that JR began to accumulate a following.
JR’s ability to create is truly perplexing. He works as a mechanical engineer and says ‘overall I use art to express my creative side, since my day job is mostly technical and I need a break from it or else I'll go crazy’. It is evident from his work that the willingness to dedicate time and effort to his cause is high. The painstaking detail in each individual piece is something to be admired, there are stories that emerge from the tiniest of details, details that even those who pay close attention will spend time delicately picking out and sifting through. If you visit his instagram or website there’s a myriad of these tiny details consistent throughout all of his work, subtle stories left for the viewer to uncover and enjoy.
JR’s output is so large that he spreads his eclectic works across several Instagram accounts. ‘My primary art focus is my account; jars.arts where I draw commissions for couples and families.’ It is easy to see why JR’s work is so in demand, through his commissioned work he creates scenes that radiate love and comfort. It is a window into the cosiest corners of imagination emitting a sense of fantastical warmth that you might find in the living room, bedroom or apartment belonging to a ghibli or pixar character, in which we’re invited to make ourselves at home. The scenes which JR depicts are worlds of their own. They are the minds of the characters that inhabit them, spilling into every aspect of the scene with a TV and film reference or a calendar with a random date marked on it. Even the worlds beyond are often just as prominent as the rooms themselves. Each of JR’s drawings beckon you to explore and become acquainted with their unique personalities.
‘My darker style of art; jars.drawings are more personal pieces for fun.’ JR explains that his darker style has no real method and that the concepts behind each piece are unique. ‘Maybe I have an idea of a character to "corrupt", or I follow a drawing prompt challenge like drawtober, and I have to think of a character to fit that theme.’ It’s an interesting ideology to follow and has led to the creation of some of his most noticeable works such as The Council of the Eldertubbies which is an eldritch style take on the beloved children's show Teletubbies. Despite the dark and grittiness, JR maintains an underlying sense of fun throughout all of his work, just one of many features that make his art so compelling.
JR explains that he has always been encouraged to create, especially by his older brother who gave him his first tablet. Since then he has tried his hand at different art styles as well as story writing and poetry. ‘Before I had a larger following, I just created art for fun and not that regularly. Now that I have a following, there's some level of pressure to create since I want to share my art with people who enjoy it. It's nice to have that motivation.’ Although JR admits he sometimes wishes the pressure from social media to create, gain followers and likes wasn’t always there, he praises the importance of networking. ‘I also have met some really cool artists as I grew, and they also motivate me to draw since we sometimes collaborate, or compete with each other for some positive, productive motivation, a la "as iron sharpens iron, so one friend sharpens another".
As for many artists the mode of production is expression and for JR it has never faltered, he’s made do with what’s available in order to produce his work. ‘My first iPad was a really old, second hand iPad 9.7", and I've been able to create the same level of art on that, as I am on my current setup. It just took a little bit longer since I had fewer layers to work with and I had to work a bit smarter.’ For his current set up he uses an iPad pro 12.9" with procreate and an iPad mini 6 for portable sketches. It is a luxury that he doesn’t take for granted and one that allows him to create whenever inspiration hits, wherever that may be. He goes on to say, ‘My suggestion to any artists interested in getting procreate but is on the fence - just get something simple - and if you like it then upgrade in the future. Spoilers: You're probably going to like it.’
JR has plenty planned for the future. ‘I want to make an art book, filled with lore, concept sketches, and unreleased art. Then one day I'd also like to create creatures for a video game, like dark souls or Bloodborne, or design for a short film.’ Be sure to keep up to date with JR’s latest work on his main Instagram account; @jars.arts where he uploads his commissioned work along with time lapses of his drawings and through which you can access all his other accounts. If you’re interested in commissions, check out his website; www.jarsarts.com for more information.
