I found Jettila Lewis’s work featured at a local Chicago curiosity shop, Sideshow Gallery, on Western Ave last year. She was making wicked cool bleach illustrations on black T’s, but I soon realized she makes all kinds of different work. She has a WIDE array of art talents, and I feel super lucky to have gotten to work with her over the past few months.
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For months I lingered on her Instagram until she announced her commissions were open then DM’d a request for a couple line-art images. She took that small request and single handedly made our project MUCH more ambitious through sheer skill, enthusiasm, and generosity.
Her craft and imagination have pushed me to do WAY more than I was planning on and working together been an intimidating and really rewarding experience. I’ve not done any artistic collaboration in a long time and it’s been nice to do again!
We live in the same neighborhood in Chicago IL, but spoke over email for this interview.
ColumbaryTTRPG: What does your mind’s eye see when you are drawing? Do images and characters leap into your thoughts pretty much fully formed or do you use a lot of research and references as you figure out what you want to do?
In collaboration with Liv Warfield for a November 2024 performance. by Jettila Lewis.
Jettila Lewis: It depends on what I’m drawing. When I’m pulling from my own imagination, characters and settings are somewhere between a blurry silhouette that gets clearer as I construct more of a story/vibe, and other times, it’s as clear as day, as if a fully formed character enters the room of my mind. When I’m collaborating, (like with [Knowledge Asymmetry]) It’s like my imagination is piecing together a puzzle. Some pieces fit perfectly together but you gotta work at it and not force pieces to fit. I also like to look at inspiration images that fit the timeline/vibe/aesthetic to help further develop the characters and world.
ColumbaryTTRPG: I’m definitely a dessert first sort of person when writing and drawing- I want to do the fun/easy things immediately and kinda dread the more difficult parts. Do you have any good tricks for pushing through when you get stuck on a creative project?
Jettila Lewis: I love doing all the hard stuff first! Haha! I look forward to the challenge that creating brings. The finishing touches are the easiest thing. It’s when the piece tells you it’s finished. I had to learn that through years and years of figuring out what my flow is. What helped me the most was giving the hard part a title or name. I call it, “the shit stage” where everything looks and feels like shit. But once I’m at the shit stage, I know it’s smooth sailing from there because everything is laid out in front of you like a wonky map.
“During creation everything tends to be chaotic and often messy” The Witnesses by Jettila Lewis.
During creation, everything tends to be chaotic and often messy, that’s when you’re able to see and feel what you’re doing and make adjustments you probably never thought of until you reached that stage in creation. It’s a wonderful rollercoaster. Just keep pushing through, because you’ve done it hundreds, perhaps thousands of times before. Trust in yourself! :)
ColumbaryTTRPG: You’ve been making art professionally for… I think you mentioned 22 years at some point? You’ve painted, drawn, done fashion design, danced (I think) and have made everything from event promo posters to huge murals. What are some of your favorite kinds of projects, and what makes for satisfying work for you?
Plaque Blague inspired Jettila Lewis after seeing a 2022 show at The Metro in Chicago
Jettila Lewis: My favorite kinds of projects are the ones in which I help a person bring their visions to life, but only if we have a flow and great communication. I like when someone knows what they want and through a series of questions (often questions that seemingly have nothing to do with said project) I am able to tap into their minds and see if I can make them something that feels like a birth. I love seeing a person’s reaction when I meet or exceed their expectations. I just like making people smile and feel seen with my art & creativity.
ColumbaryTTRPG: You are doing some illustrations for [our] Mothership module […] called Knowledge Asymmetry. One of the characters you wanted to put on the cover is the assassin, this young person who was experimented on by the company before she violently broke free and escaped. What do you like so much about the assassin and are there any other things in this collection of villains you are looking forward to illustrating?
Jettila Lewis: Where do I begin? I LOVE lone assassin characters! I’ve always felt a kind of kinship with characters who broke free and seeking retribution. I also have a soft spot in my heart for robot/cyborg/android characters gaining sentience who escape their binds. I wanted to put her on the cover as a way to lure the viewer in. A woman sitting alone in the vacuum of space; something intriguing, mysterious, and subtly dangerous. Like a panther in a tree. I’m also looking forward to drawing the race team! I got something special on store for their design. You’ll see! hehehe…
ColumbaryTTRPG: You find yourself face to face with the Assassin you just drew. She’s parasitized by a hyper intelligent mind controlling alien, is armed with a smart rifle, can survive up to 2 hours in space without a vac suit and probably has cool knives up her sleeves or something. What’s your move?
You’ve just been hull breached by Knowledge Asymmetry’s Lone Assassin by Jettila Lewis. Everybody dies in space…
Jettila Lewis: I would whisper “clever girl” then kneel before her, fully expecting to get my head popped off, hoping for a swift death.
If you are a TTRPG creator please do not hesitate to reach out to her for illustration commissions. She’s been a joy to work with! I’m bad with words about art, but I think her work speaks for itself. I’m sure I’ll be sharing more of her work here in the future!
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