Are you a science buff? History enthusiast? Illustration aficionado? Then Jodi Lynn’s Emporium of Doodles is going to be like heaven to you. Jodi Lynn Burton expertly captures the essence of some of the most important figures of our time in her home studio in Detroit, MI. But she’s not always so serious- anything that might tickle her fancy she captures in ink and line and adds it to her emporium. You’re sure to find something to appreciate in this magical, imaginary place.

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1| How do you describe your work to people who don’t know anything about crafting/art?

I am an illustrator that likes to catalog the things in the world.

2| Why do you make/design things?

I make things because as an artist it is my job to collect ideas, and it is my way of recording those ideas through my art.

3| Please describe your illustration style. Are your originals made in watercolor or some other medium?

I would describe my drawing style as simple, whimsical,  naive. I just like to draw. I use pen and ink and water color in my originals.

4| How do you choose who to feature on your laser cut magnets? Are you a science buff? Any other series on the horizon?

I love learning about people and history, so if I find someone that I want to learn more about sometime they get drawn. I like to know the stories of people and what they have done in History. I am always working on new ideas for series. I am currently really big into cross sections of animals, but I could see a lady scientist series happening in the near future…

5| What do you love about your job?

I love that I can wake up every day and am excited about creating something new.

6| Was being a working artist always your plan or was there an “aha” moment?

No, my family always told me I was going to be an artist. I wanted to go into psychology, so I ended up doing 3.5 years of psych in college and after taking photography classes flipped the switch completely. I had always made stuff, but never thought it was a career. I actually worked as a photographer before I started as an illustrator.

7| How do you work, and where?

I work out of a 300 square foot apartment in Detroit. I always carry a sketch book with me, and sometimes I go on walks around the city to become inspired.

8| If you could swap lives with another artist, who would that person be?

Honestly I wouldn’t want to swap lives with anyone, I feel so lucky to have been given the life I have.

9| What makes a handmade object valuable?

Handmade objects tell a story, they come from an individual, and you can talk to the artist about how they made the item.

10| Using that definition, what’s the most valuable object you own?

A quilt that my grandmother and I made as a child.

11| Tell us one true thing about yourself that people don’t believe when you tell them.

I host a podcast called Detroit Craft Academy.

12| Give us three more non-crafting-related details about you or your life.

I play banjo, I went to school for photography, I collect wire frame bikes.

13| I see you do custom pet portraits! That’s awesome. Would you ever consider doing human portraits?

I do people portraits all of the time. I do custom work for hire, recently I have been doing custom cake toppers for wedding cakes!

Wanna delve deeper into the emporium? Check out her website or Instagram as well as www.detroitcraftacademy.com. You can also check out her amazing work right here on Mass Ave.! Thanks Jodi Lynn!