We chat with Topps sketch card artist Jenna McGrath about her work, her hobbies and her love for a galaxy far, far away.
FT: What inspired you to become an artist?
JM: I began to create art in elementary school. I’m from a small town with not much to do so it was something that kept me entertained. I continued to create through my teen years and began to fall in love with it! In high school
I began to take every art class I possibly could and spent most of my time in the art room. My art teacher Lori was such an inspiration and always pushed me to keep creating.
FT: What historical artists, if any, influence your art?
JM: Historically there are so many artists that pushed the boundaries of art, people like Picasso and Van Gogh. Van Gogh is someone I really admire as he used his art to get through all the hard parts of his life and had a style that was so distinct. Although I don’t often attempt historical styles, I really enjoy the way these people pushed boundaries and defied the social norms in art.
FT: Are there any trading card artists you look up to?
JM: There are so many that I really admire! First is Veronica Louro, she is so speedy when it comes to cards and they are such quality for how fast she creates them. Cyrus Sherkat is someone who has such an amazing grasp on realism, he is for sure my favorite realism artist for Topps! Lastly is Dan Lawler, he is such a kind human and has such a wonderful style, I love the poses he picks and the colors that his cards have are beautiful!
FT: Did you take any art classes? If so, which ones and where?
JM: I have taken many art classes in my life! In high school I took drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and took an art independent study. In college so far, I have taken ceramics, painting, drawing, and sculpture. I do plan to take more college courses as I further my degree!
FT: What are your favorite and least favorite mediums to work with and why?
JM: My least favorite mediums would be oil paint and pastels, they are mediums that are very movable and I don’t feel I work with them well. My favorites would be colored pencils and alcohol markers for cards. My favorites for other projects that aren’t cards are watercolor and acrylic paint.
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FT: Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?
JM: Just go for it! Art is not something you’re going to be perfect at, it takes so much time and practice to create art. I always encourage people to try and continue to go back to creating. It took me a while to figure out how to draw so small on cards but as I practiced it became easier and easier.
FT: What was the process like in becoming an artist for Topps?
JM: My boyfriend and I began to collect cards and he suggested for me to reach out to Topps. I emailed them once a week for about 2 months and they added me to their email list for set sign ups! It’s even easier now as they are looking for more artists all the time.
FT: How long have you been sketching cards for Topps?
JM: I have been sketching for them since April of 2022! I have worked on every set since then except for Kenobi.
FT: What sets have you worked on that you are most proud to have been a part of?
JM: Like most artists I was so excited to be a part of masterwork! It’s the big set that everyone looks forward to and I created a large amount of cards for that set. It was also the first set that I got to work with the card books. I also really enjoy the Mandalorian sets, there are always super cool die cuts for those sets as well.
FT: How many sketch cards do you usually make for each Topps set?
JM: I began creating about 100 for the first few sets but had to pull back. With work, college, and other art sales Topps cards can get a little overwhelming. I have been sticking to 50 per set and usually agree to more if they reach out later.
FT: On average how long does it take you to sketch a card?
JM: If I am using markers that take about 35-45 minutes per card. If working with colored pencils it can take from 1-3 hours depending on the image I am drawing.
FT: Do you have a favorite Star Wars subject to sketch?
JM: I love drawing the ladies of Star Wars;Â Ahsoka, Leia, and Padme are ones I draw a lot. Droids are my favorite subject to make though, I am constantly making droid cards. Lastly, I really enjoy Mandalorian helmet drawing, they are pretty simple but the metallics are fun to mimic.
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FT: What do you like to sketch besides Star Wars?
JM: I make a lot of dog portraits when I’m not creating Star Wars cards. I also paint watercolor portraits, and I also create lots of other personal cards for a local comic book shop.
FT: What advice can you give to those who want to start sketching for Topps?
JM: Get personal sketch cards to start out, either order custom ones or you can cut paper to sketch card size. Work on them before and get comfortable with the size you’ll have to be drawing. It’s really good practice before doing the real deal.
FT: What do you feel is the biggest challenge sketching cards for a trading card company?
JM: There are many stipulations with Topps, we have a list of things we’re not allowed to draw from the Star Wars universe. Also, we must not create unlicensed Star Wars art for sale, the rule is that it can be used for personal portfolio use but not for sale. Our art media is also checked by Lucasfilm and must be to their standards.
FT: What are your favorite sketch cards you’ve drawn?
JM: These are some of my absolute favorites!
FT: What would be your dream art project to work on?
JM: I would absolutely love to be asked by Topps to work on the living set, it does seem like a large amount of work. But outside of Topps I’ve done a large amount of local murals I dream to eventually create a Star Wars mural!
FT: Outside of art, what are your interests/hobbies?
JM: I have a LARGE collection of Star Wars toys, books, and cards. My favorite Star Wars items are helmets, I am constantly bringing home more helmets and we are running out of room for all of them. My other hobby is vinyl collecting. I love hunting for older records to add to my collection.
FT: If you weren’t sketching cards, what career would you pursue?
JM: I am currently going to college for art education, my dream is to be an art teacher. My art teacher really inspired me to create art and I want to do the same for future generations of artists.
FT: What is your favorite Star Wars movie or show and character?
JM: My favorite movie is The Empire Strikes Back, it’s so well made and has a really solid story line and with that an incredible soundtrack. For shows, I really enjoyed Andor, it was so different from what we normally see in Star Wars and I loved seeing Cassian’s story. My favorite character is Salacious Crumb, I have a large collection of toys and cards of him. I enjoy the hunt as he’s a character you don’t see often in merchandising.
FT: Anything you’d like to share about yourself, your art, or working with Topps that may be obscure or a fun fact?
JM: Working for Topps is hard work, it takes a lot of time and effort to find time for cards when it’s not your only job. I will say that while it is so much fun it can be super frustrating. But otherwise, I’m so grateful to be a part of it and I have made friends with so many wonderful artists! Something fun that I find with being an artist is never really having to buy Christmas gifts, people enjoy getting art as a gift and sometimes it’s more work than getting them something plain. But I always love seeing people’s faces when they open it (especially my Dad).
FT: Last question, can you tell us a joke? (bonus points if it’s Star Wars related)
JM: What’s the internal temperature of a Tauntaun? Luke warm!
FT: List of social media where people can see your work and follow you?
JM: My instagram is where I post everything! It is @jennasuearts
Interview by Philip Harrison Vazquez. You can find Philip on Facebook at Saix13
- Hardcover Book
- DK (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 144 Pages - 12/05/2023 (Publication Date) - DK (Publisher)
