Meeting with Jenifer Prince, the artist who returns Sapphic colors to pop culture

Using vintage comic bubbles, Jenifer Prince brings together pop culture from yesterday and today and delivers an unprecedented representation of lesbian love on her Instagram account. Inspirational meeting.

Interview with lesbian comics illustrator, Jenifer Prince

To miss. For starters, can you introduce yourself?

Jennifer Prince. Certain ! I’m Jenifer, a lesbian artist and freelance illustrator from Brazil, who he loves the vintage aesthetic and draws women in love with each other.

How did you become an illustrator?

Drawing was my favorite activity as a child and I grew up being an introvert. Drawing and creating art in all its forms has always been a passion, but also a way to explore myself and communicate with the world. I then realized how art could be a powerful tool for social change and how it helped me personally to accept my feelings. When I realized I could make a living, I started practicing it professionally.

When you’ve found your style, these Sapphic and vintage pop art illustrations
distinctive?

As with most artists, my style has developed naturally over time, according to my practice, my references and my inspirations. I’ve always worked on a comic style drawing style. The retro side is more recent. Around 2017-2018, I started exploring the vintage aesthetic and incorporating it into my work.

Your sources of inspiration are very different. Where they come from?

Inspiration can come from anywhere, really. Sometimes it comes from my life experiences, a conversation or a moment I shared with my girlfriend, sometimes it comes from a medium that I consume. To give you some examples, for this recent work, entitled “gift” [« cadeau », ndlr]I was inspired by the novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (released 2017).

I imagined this other work, called “I got you” [« Je suis là pour toi », ndlr] as I went through the pain. I had just lost someone very special to me. My girlfriend held my hand the entire time, for days that turned into weeks. She has helped me tremendously and in so many different ways…

One day I thought about how it felt like it was raining constantly and she was there, shielding me from the storm I felt inside, and waiting patiently for me to heal. . That’s what this illustration represents to me. So yes, inspiration comes from everywhere!

Why is it important to bring queerness back into pop culture?

This is important because pop culture influences and reflects the values ​​of our society and the norm is the heterosexual (and often white) world. People queer they exist and have always existed. Showing this through pop culture is one way to combat heteronormative narrative. It’s important because we’re all looking for stories and characters to relate to. We want to feel part of this world. People queer they need to be able to see themselves represented and to have their stories told in a positive and joyful way.

Which series of drawings are you most proud of and why?

Oh, that’s a tough question! There is a specific illustration that I did
2022, “fugitives”, of which I am very proud. I love it because I see the fusion of it
my identity as an artist, if that makes sense. If you ask me to use a single
illustration to represent my work, I guess at the stage I’m in, this one
that would be it.

Can you comment on these drawings for Madmoizelle?

This illustration is part of an “accidental” series: I participated in a challenge
artistic event called “#Mermay”, which takes place on social networks during the
month of May, and where the artist has to create something on the theme of mermaids. In
2022, I wanted to show mermaids who love each other.

I created this bubble after the broadcast of the finale of Eve killing. The fans were very angry [attention spoiler : les scénaristes ont décidé de tuer le personnage de Villanelle dans la série, tombant ainsi dans le trope « Bury your gays », qui souligne la prévalence des récits mortifères dans les trajectoires des personnages LGBTQ+ de la pop culture, ndlr]. Being a fan myself, I wanted to pay homage to it and pretend the ending ends when the characters finally kiss (S04E08) after many seasons of spiteful. And the happy ending that the couple could have had.

This is the second part of what I call my “black” series. The idea is that the
the detective is a constant character in these series and aesthetically they are
in a black thriller style, with very strong lights and shadows, a look
1940s-50s and a sensual vibe that lingers among women. It was also
the second time I used animation in my personal work, which
it was really fun to do. I love looking at this illustration and wondering
whether the woman with the lit cigarette is the suspect, the victim or an ex
lover who might have a tip for the detective. What do you think ?

What was the most unexpected joy that your drawings brought you?

Undoubtedly the fact of receiving lovely messages from incoming people
from all over the world: sometimes it’s my work, sometimes it’s theirs-
themselves and their lesbian journey. It’s incredible ! I am still very moved
and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Front page photo credit: Instagram screenshot of Jenifer Prince.