Check Out Jazmine Harrington’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazmine Harrington.

Hi Jazmine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
This journey all started when I was four or five years old. It all started with having an art class in kindergarten on the north side where I went to school at Kilmer elementary. One day our teacher decided to have us paint ourselves, and I swear to you, I never quite expressed it. However, it was one of my favorite classes! I remember being very interested in what to do with all the colors I could use. We didn’t use any photos, so I had to go off of memory and think, well, what does myself look like to myself loll. So I just quickly drew and started painting, and my teacher was amazed, and everybody was looking at me in the classroom, and she was like, for your age, oh my gosh, this is good! Have you ever taken any art classes? I shook my head no and she was like, I’m telling your parents. She was ecstatic, and I was worried then. I’m, like, uh, am I in trouble? I mean, whatever, and sure enough, she did just that. It was at a parent-teacher conference or an assembly, and my parents were so proud of me. The teacher said my parents should have me pursue this talent. I got my talent from my father. Since that day, he started teaching me how to draw. I kept asking him to teach me how to draw because I remember hearing he knew how. The second drawing I made was of wolverine from the X-men. He had me copy one of his wolverine drawings. He told me to take my time, but I quickly drew it. He had me trace over it first and then draw it side by side, using his wolverine drawing as a reference. After that, he gave me his whole book full of drawings of really awesome superheroes, villains, and OCS (original characters).

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My life always had ups and downs, especially in high school. Drama with friends, guys, school, at home, you name it, just like anyone else. But it was always primarily an intellectual and spiritual war within me. However, I always had something in life, whether it came through my dad, my art teachers, or whomever or whatever..something made sure I learned.. something made sure I never gave up..something pushed me to keep going, watching Naruto growing up one of my first anime’s when I was four or five. His slogan is “Never give up,” and being the ‘knuckle-headed ninja,’ backed up everything my father taught me, which was never to give up. So I have what I see today as a miracle that saved me when I became backed against the wall, and almost nothing could save me. Through those struggles, what motivates me to keep creating is that I have an unyielding will. I like art, and I want to do it, so I get whatever I need to that concerns it. I believe in this talent that God gave me, and I feel like its a purpose behind it. At four years old, I had dreams of saving the world loll. I see myself as a healer. I want to see everyone around the world grow and uplift more.

I especially want to see my black community aspire to do different and be different. I want to give good representations of themselves and what they could be. We are no one-dimensional people, and you don’t have to be. When I was younger, I got bullied for stupid reasons, such as guys liking me. However, I never let anyone run over me or tell me something I knew wasn’t true because my father & life had taught me so much at a young age, so I always stood up for myself. With knowledge, there becomes power. I was almost like a firecracker, ready and fun but reserved in certain situations and shy. But, when everyone saw my drawings, even my teachers. Everyone’s eyes were always on me, and I got a lot of praise. I still do with my family members. Everyone wanted me to draw their stuff. I was the one they asked for projects and stuff, but what I’m saying is that too many people in my life, and not even in my life anymore, have looked at me as that girl who will be something one day. There is no doubt about me. Even to this day because I have a steadily maintained realization of self. I was always really mature. So I have seen life very differently and still do.

My life experiences, intuitive insights, dreams, visions, heart, soul, and will keep me going. I thank God for my father because he inspired, uplifted, and talked to me consistently for hours if he had to. My father never became an artist because he had me at a young age, and I have all his drawings, so I’m not just carrying my weight. I see my family members go through a lot daily. But, if anything, my parents inspired me to be better than them at a young age, and my father enforced that in my everyday life. That’s what inspires me.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My artist name is Galaxyfi3nd for my digital artwork and VenusVirgo for my paintings. I do a range of different mediums! I am striving to be recognized worldwide for my creations! I LOVE to create pieces of art that fall under spirituality, fantasy, anime, and sci-fi! I’ve always been interested in that stuff, including anything gothic. I’ve always questioned things, like what other planets could be out there. I’m more profound than I seem, which inspires the themes of my drawings. I’ve always been interested in the otherworldly and the spiritual. I am always trying to connect with that higher power. So you see a lot of spiritual terms that may be relatable. My art is for everyone; therefore, I reach all types of each spectrum of different things. I have an ever-changing style that is a blend of anime, western pop culture, and comics. I like to shed light on something that only a few people discuss. I do much research. I’m like a mad scientist with my art. Higher knowledge is vital to me. That’s part of why my craft sticks out so much because people usually tell me that the nature in my art catches their eyes and the vibrancy of the colors I use. My highest goal is to create an animation studio with my bachelor’s degree in Animation and vfx. All while creating my highly anticipated series & comic books. My most proud accomplishment is that I majored in Animation with my associates so far to help pursue my longtime passion for creating stories.

My animation studio is called Galaxy Paradise Studios. It is an African American animation studio in the heart of Chicago. My studio will be best known for its animated series, web comics, and comic books of sci-fi, action, romance, and spirituality connecting to young adults worldwide. Its highly credible character diversity and high range of experiences in character stories will cause it to stand out prominently. I also sell art prints of my work on my Etsy shop, Stargateprints.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Nothing is surprising that people wouldn’t know by now. However, what would be surprising is that I didn’t take any drawing classes before my first drawing. Learning how to paint came naturally to me as well. When I graduated from middle school, I was in an art high school for four years that taught me so many different mediums like photography, sculpting, sequential arts, and more! It made me the well-rounded artist I am today! Then I went to art college right after with no hesitation to learn more about the digital side of art.

Pricing:

• My paintings are $500 and up
• My digital art commissions start at $85 at the moment but I’m slowly changing that as well
• My prints on my Etsy shop (stargateprints) start at $35 and up at all different sizes

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fi3ndcorp.wixsite.com/galaxyfi3nd
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galaxyfi3nd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flower.badu.5
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazmine-harrington-aaa6a5198/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/galaxyfi3nd
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Galaxyparadisestudios
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Stargateprints?ref=profile_header