Illustrator brings her art to the masses with Jergens
After 100 years, we could all use a little bit of a facelift.
And that’s exactly what beauty and bodycare brand Jergens has done in order to celebrate its centennial in Canada. The brand’s team tapped Torontobased illustrator and live-sketch artist Stephanie Anne McKay to create pretty, limited-edition packaging for a selection of its most iconic moisturizers: the Ultra Care Extra Dry Skin; Vitamin E Moisturizer; Soothing Aloe; and Hydrating Coconut Moisturizer.
In advance of the release, McKay chatted with Postmedia News about the designs, her art — and whether or not she’ll be buying up the bottles in bulk herself.
Q How did the partnership with Jergens come about?
A I often sketch live at events, creating fashion portraits, and I was hired for a Kao dinner last year, and that’s where the brand was first introduced to my work. Q What does Jergens mean to you?
A Jergens to me is a classic brand. It is trusted by so many Canadians and the perfect go-to for radiant, glowing skin.
Q Was it surreal at all to be creating art for such a huge body care brand?
A It’s definitely surreal. It’s exciting to think so many people will soon have a piece of my work in their home. It’s difficult to have a career as a full-time artist, but it’s opportunities like these that show there is an appreciation and a need for creative work. I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity, especially so early in my career.
Q What was the inspiration for the designs?
A For me, it was taking my work, which is focused mainly on colour and fluidity and adapting it to this new canvas — a bottle — in a way that represents the brand and myself as an artist. This being my first experience with this sort of design, it was the challenge of taking the elements of my own work that I love and translating it onto a product. I like the idea that artwork can be more than just a framed piece on your wall. The process of making that happen I found very creatively stimulating.
Q Of the designs, do you have a favourite?
A My favourites are Jergens Vitamin E Moisturizer or Jergens Ultra Care Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer. It’s a subconscious choice, the colours that I used for the paintings are ones I usually gravitate toward. However, I love the full collection, both for the product and for the limitededition designs all together.
Q And, are you going to stockpile a few bottles to save?
A Absolutely! I’ll have them displayed on a shelf in my studio as inspiration for the future. When you are asked to create art on pieces that are out of your routine, you are reminded that everything can be a blank canvas. I really hope to not lose that perspective anytime soon.
The limited-edition packaged products for Jergens, which are priced from $7.49 to $10.99, are available at mass retailers beginning this month.