By Erica Schwanke © 2007

Rainbow Rumpus: When did you first start to consider yourself an artist, and how long have you been painting? What’s your favorite medium to work with?

Jo: I’ve been doodling since I could hold a pencil, but I think I started to draw in earnest around eleven or twelve. I really enjoy using Prismacolor pencils, as well as making digital art, but I like pretty much all media.

Rainbow Rumpus: Any other artists in the family?

Jo: My dad draws a lot, and my grandma is a pretty good artist.

Rainbow Rumpus: When do you, in your opinion, do your best work? And when is it hardest for you?

Jo: Being in high school and getting loads of homework, I don’t get a lot of time to actually create art. However, I do some of my best work while I’m listening to music. The art reflects the genre I’m currently listening to. I have to say that it’s never really hard for me to create art. If you were to see my school papers and stuff, you would see tiny dragons all over them.

Rainbow Rumpus: From where do you draw your inspiration?

Jo: I keep and breed reptiles, so they become many of my subjects. My dragons typically reflect a generally realistic reptilian air. Two of my best models are my blue-tongued skink named Bonaparte and my 8-foot-long red-tail boa constrictor named Jupiter. They both are very relaxed and are willing to sit still for long periods of time. I also get ideas when I watch my baby cornsnakes hatch each summer. They’re so tentative, and sometimes they stay in their eggs for two days after making the initial slit.

Rainbow Rumpus: Any other creative outlets?

Jo: I also create dragons out of beads and wire, and make little dragon things whenever I’m bored. I also write a lot of poetry. My other work can be seen at wyrmaster.deviantart.com.

Rainbow Rumpus: Do you use specific mediums for specific emotions or concepts?

Jo: Not really. I use whatever medium is convenient at the time. I’m an impulse artist.

Rainbow Rumpus: Why do you create art?

Jo: I feel very content when I indulge my creative side. Often I draw when I’m experiencing an extreme emotion, such as excitement or pride.

Rainbow Rumpus: What, to you, makes a good piece of art?

Jo: The piece has to convey some sense of emotion, or at least be interesting to look at. Thus, I don’t really like the Mona Lisa.

Rainbow Rumpus: Tell us about the process of creating your dragon!

Jo: I had done the line art for that particular design already, so when your contest called for a rainbow dragon, I thought, “Hey-o, that’s a good idea!” I scanned the image onto my computer and colored it using a knock-off version of Photoshop, called PhotoDeluxe. I added some textures and shading, and off it went to sit in the Rainbow Rumpus inbox!