6 Questions with Visual Artist, Jaylynn Claudio

By Bridney C.

It is a pleasure to interview Jaylynn Claudio for the Sweet Scoop.

Jaylynn Claudio is a 19-year-old visual artist from New London, Connecticut. She is currently studying as an Illustration major at the University of New Haven in New Haven, Connecticut.

Coming from an artistic background, her family from both her mother and father's sides all have creative backgrounds, influencing Claudio to go down a similar path to pursuing her career in visual art. The first art piece she made was a picture book that was inspired by, and featured a children's story.

Claudio's goal as an artist is to share her personal experience so others can connect to her art, as well as inspire other fellow artists to follow their talents. In the future, Claudio is looking forward to creating a comic book that would relate to readers who have been through tough, yet inspiring life situations.

In this edition of Q&A, Claudio explained why she loves making art, elaborated on her watercolor painting Madre Naturaleza de Puerto Rico, and the inspiration behind her Instagram username.

"Untitled Woman" made with pastels and gouache, using paint in water and mixed with a glue-like substance.

Bridney C: How did you start making art? Why do you make art?

Jaylynn Claudio: I started making art when I was really little. It wasn’t until I was around 8 or 9 when I started to appreciate making art, I went through a lot of obstacles, and creating was a way to cope from those moments in my life. I love working with watercolors, color pencils and ink mostly, they are mediums that can emphasize certain aspects of my paintings and make them vibrant. I’ve also recently been getting into pastels for the same vibrant effects. I usually try my best to go for what I feel at that moment.

"Madre Naturaleza de Puerto Rico" made with watercolor and ink pen.

BC: What does your art represent? What is your favorite artwork you made so far?

JC: My art represents my personal life, my culture, human connections, and nature. My favorite artwork I’ve made so far is a piece called Madre Naturaleza de Puerto Rico because it helped with my growth as an artist and a Puerto Rican. When I went on vacation to Puerto Rico with my family recently, there was so much around me that inspired the overall environment of the painting. To finish a medium-sized art piece it takes about a week to finish. For a small art piece, it takes a couple of hours to a day.

BC: Where has your artwork been shown? What memorable responses or feedback have people told you about your art?

JC: Usually, my art is shown on my Instagram, Facebook, or The Hygienic Art Gallery in downtown New London. One memorable response I got was around late 2018. I was doing a painting for the Hygienic Art Gallery that represents inclusion and diversity in the art community, and to convey the message that anyone is welcomed. I wanted to make sure each individual was diverse, a girl came up to the painting and said “look, that girl looks like me,” I swear I almost cried. It was a very special memory.

"Chilla the Chinchilla," made on scratch board and ink. Chinchillas are Claudio's favorite animal.

BC: What are you currently working on? Where might that artwork be displayed? And if not, where can you work "fans" view that art piece?

JC: I am currently working on a watercolor self-portrait inspired by my dads' fish tank. I guess whenever there’s another event at the Hygienic I would display it there or probably at my university. But you will most likely find it on my Instagram Panda_Bunni_Revival.

BC: How did you come up with your art Instagram username, Panda Bunni Revival? So unique!

JC: I love both Pandas and Bunnies, funnily enough, it used to be the username for my account as Panda_Bunni_Dreamer. But I wanted to change the username back to the original name I had, so I decided to open an art account and switch the username over and instead of Dreamer I put Revival, it just kinda stuck. And also, there was this one moment that someone I know forgot my name so he just started calling me Panda Bunni, so that’s fun.

BC: If you could choose a theme song for your art, what would it be?

JC: Huh, I never really thought about a theme song for my art. It would probably be from this beautiful anime called Carole and Tuesday, and it is a song called "Message in the Wind." Or even "26" by Paramore. Songs like those inspire me to keep pushing to be the artist I want to be. And to not give up.

Claudio's canvas painting, "A Sweet Welcome"

Be sure to follow Jaylynn Claudio for updates on her art. Follow her on Instagram @panda_bunni_revival.