We had the good fortune of connecting with Jialu (Calo) An and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jialu (Calo), what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
As a marriage present earlier this year, I received a gift card for one-hundred dollars. With this unexpected bounty, I indulged in something whimsical, something not entirely essential, for art. But what did I purchase? A material I had long yearned to experiment with, none other than shrink plastic. Alongside it, I purchased a set of colored pencils, a drill, and a heat gun. As many creative journeys start, it did not go smoothly at first. Yet over time, I began to unlock the secrets of shrink plastic. Using my dog as inspirational subject matter, with three or four attempts, the results became increasingly polished. Holding this tiny creation in my hand, a magical idea began to form. This delightful little product could be the start of something wonderful.

It all started with a singular thought, shrink plastic, but quickly grew into so much more. This business endeavor has opened my eyes to how one can connect the dots between the craft of illustration and tangible, takeaway items. It brings validity to my artistic pursuits. These items bring joy, they can symbolize significance, and they help inspire as the arts do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Challenges along the way have been the greatest opportunities in navigating an artistic career. Honing a personal style might be one of most humbling interactions with one’s self. Between an overwhelming influx of new ideas, research exploration, and a dash of conflicting internal dialogue, an artist weaves between confidence and self doubt.

If any specific moment can be accredited to ending this cycle, it’s the day that I shifted my attention to experimenting with shrink plastic. Engaging this unique material revitalized my passion for conveying narratives and evoking emotions rather than always wanting to find something different. I came to appreciate the inherent appeal and artistic merit of embracing emotions through playful illustrations.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This scenario is actually happening soon! One of my best friends is coming into town to visit! In catering to her interests, a humanities-based journey is in order. We would start by visiting Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, exploring the exhibits, and learning about the influential civil rights leader. Next on the agenda might be a visit to the Atlanta BeltLine and Ponce City Market for a quick bite, sightseeing, and a bit of shopping. We might even wander down to Little Five Points to see how the city transforms as you move from one neighborhood to the next. Should time allow, a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden would be a great balance to offset the hustle and bustle of the Beltline. Here we could relax, be inspired, and enjoy the stillness. Wrapping up the experience, it would be important to share that which is personal to me, a tour of SCAD Atlanta, where I live, where I work, where I walk my dog, where to get the best groceries, and my favorite shops. If after all that adventuring there was still time available, I believe a scavenger hunt to find the tiny doors of Atlanta would be the perfect way to wrap up her visit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have been incredibly I have been incredibly fortunate to always have a strong support system of uplighting people around me. To my friends, they always gave me generous encouragement. To my professors, their mentorship has been an invaluable resource in developing the foundation of my practice. To my amazing family, they provided access to the road that led me to the artist world and gave me endless love and support along the way. To my husband, he is always by my side. Not only has he helped prepare things like exhibition materials and been a big supporter in my company development, but he is a rock when it comes to emotional support and daily reassurance in my capabilities. It is this robust support system that fuels my artistic endeavors and sustains me.

Website: calooartist.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calooan13/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jialu-an-237a7b201/

Other: Business ig: https://www.instagram.com/onethirdcalo/

Image Credits
Personal Photo by Victoria Ballard; dog tag product image by Shunzhi Yao; products photo by Jialu (Calo) An.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.