Illustrated Tapes 152: I Wanna Be a Cowboy Baby Janie is an illustrator and paper engineer based in Bristol, UK.
Howdy Janie. Can you tell us a little bit about your tape and your song selections?
I am surrounded by sad cowboys, I grew up listening to country music and can't shake it to this day. I too, want to be a sad cowboy and celebrate a wider spectrum of country songs old and new. Whether you be zipping down the motorway in a grey polo or galloping across the open prairie on your trusted palomino, I want everyone to feel a thrill when they hear the familiar twangs of Glen Campbell's guitar.
What direction did you take with your cover art, and what was your process?
I would love to tell everyone I’m a super smooth worker, but really it's a lot of reluctance, Photoshop magic and happy accidents. I like fumbling with different ways of working and have recently wanted to try working digitally. Westerns always have such rich imagery and I wanted to incorporate some of that, sweeping prairie landscapes, cacti and a lone ranger (me).
What are your fave album covers, records with a great music and artwork combo, or musical projects with a visual component?
Port Of Morrow – The Shins
2012, Columbia / Sony
Artwork: Jacob Escobedo
I used to have a tiny print out of this album cover pinned to my desk at uni, the artist Jacob Escobedo is also a head designer at Cartoon Network and it always struck me how wide you can cast the net of your creative endeavours.
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes2008, Sub Pop
Artwork: Pieter The Elder Bruegel
(Also wanted an excuse to use the tremendous name Pieter Bruegel the Elder in a sentence)
What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World – The Decemberists
2015, Captiol Records
Artwork: Carson Ellis
2015, Captiol Records
Artwork: Carson Ellis
I have a great love for Carson Ellis’ art. It makes my heart melt a little thinking about the collaborations between her and her partner Collin Meloy (band member of The Decemberists).
So lovely, it just works.
What did you listen to growing up?
I was raised in a field by a sad cowboy and a reggae loving 90s dad. Torn between the musical influence gained from my parents, and secretly wanting to be goth. I had a lot of angst. A healthy blend of Pixies and Johnny Cash definitely got me through a lot of moping.
And what’s on heavy rotation for you at the moment?
Abba Gold, the only CD I need in my car. When I’m not on a car journey I usually fall into Whitney, Beach House, Mitski and (more recently) Elbow. Moody and woeful are the way to my heart.
What’s happening in your creative world at the moment?
I work full-time as a production assistant focusing on paper engineering. I have fun freelancing outside of that as well as dabbling in wonky ceramics. As long as I’m making, I feel quite content.
Where can we find you?
You can find me at @janieanders & janieandersonillustration.com
Catch you later down the trail, Janie 🤠