Janja is a digital artist based in Slovenia, better know as Janjap2 on miPic. You’ll see she often operates in triptych series, allowing her to experiment with various styles whilst she explores her own graphic identity. In this interview, we find out how she came up with her artist name, where she finds her inspiration amongst other intriguing insights into the artist. Enjoy!
Janja in her studio with her cat Zlatan
miPic: How did you find miPic?
Janja: It’s all Instagram’s fault! Fellow MiPic artist Kerry_fin recommended it to me on Instagram.
m: How did you come up with your artist name?
J: Haha about this… I really should change it. It sounds like I’m a bot. It happened years ago when I created my Instagram account, I didn’t know how important it’s going to be for me in the future. Janjap2: It’s my first name ‘Janja’ + first letter of my last name ‘p’ + but I don’t know where ‘2’ came from.
I started my Instagram profile just for myself. You know the usual, selfies, nature and pet photos. After that I discovered all the amazing artists and a whole new world I didn’t know about. I had to try it and soon my boring profile became the showcase of my work. And as much as I’m having trouble choosing one particular style, I also have trouble choosing the perfect artist name.
m: Who are your artistic references/influences?
J: Since I didn’t study arts and I’m more or less self-taught graphic designer, my biggest influence is what I see daily. This probably explains the variety of my work. I experiment with different styles a lot but I’m mostly inspired by digital collage, typography and 80s/90s era.
m: Where do you feel most inspired to create your work?
J: As a devoted introvert who loves peace and having time to myself without interruptions, I must say cozy home where I can create as much as I want and whatever I feel like, with a nice warm cup of tea and some inspiring music.
m: What is your favourite social platform?
J: Without a doubt Instagram. It’s a very nice platform for art inspiration, connecting with creatives, fans and a great marketing tool.
m: Which of your pieces is most meaningful to you and what’s the story behind it?
J: The most enjoyable project was the ‘Nostalgia’ series. At the time I wasn’t satisfied with my productivity (the usual) so I set myself a one day challenge. The goal was to create 3 different artworks with the same style. In the morning I came up with the idea and finished the project at the end of the day. Meanwhile I was posting the process on my Instagram story. I liked the final result so much that I made 3 extra pieces the day after.
m: Who do you dream to collaborate with?
J: I think every designer’s dream is to collaborate with the Adobe. This would be above anything I can imagine.
m: Is creating art / taking photos your full time job? If not, what do you do 9 till 5?
J: Hmm yes and no. Right after high school I started working as a prepress technician and a graphic designer, spent around 4 years setting the foundation for successful printing production but now I’m putting all my energy into launching my own freelance career.
m: Who else do you admire on miPic?
J: Leftfield_corn, BCPhillips, Nate Hill and my utmost respect goes to the miPic team for making this happen!
m: What music are you listening too right now?
J: I enjoy wide range of genres. From Retro-Electro, Synthpop, Dreamwave, Latin, EDM, Melodic/Industrial Metal to Classical and Orchestral music. But to answer your question, right now I’m feeling like 80’s chill, so I’m listening to Bart Graft – The Modern Life.
m: What are your top 3 favorite films?
J: Split (2016), Melancholia (2011), 127 Hours (2010)
Check out Janja’s full miPic profile at www.mipic.co/janjap2
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