HC: What did you study at SCAD?
Jamal: “I graduated with a major in Sequential arts & minor in Storyboarding”
HC: What is Studio Merckurii? Where did it come from?
Jamal: “Studio Merkurii is the name of my animation studio I seek to create. I wanted to create a name that best reflected me plus I was listening to A LOT of KiD CuDi, Janelle Monaé & B.o.B. at the time so I wanted it to be something that was space influenced. I pulled from my sign (Virgo) and found that mercury governs that sign so I decided to call the studio “mercury”. The idea is that my mind alone is its own galaxy full of stories and since Mercury governs my sign I call it “Merkurii”.”
HC: What is Ame? Tell me about it
Jamal: “Ame is an adventure fable about a young koala (Ame) who travels around the world after being inspired by the birds that would eventually fly away from his island. While traveling he meets a girl in search of legendary golden tower and the two travel together, feeling that their paths are similar all the while being pursued by a collective of wizards who seek to prevent them from finding the tower. It’s a story with a lot of different layers to it but the overall message is about finding God within ourselves and not through others. “Love Yours” if you will.”
HC: Who is the Audience?
Jamal: “It’s the kind of story that is for everyone, like a “G” rated movie something anyone can enjoy. It’s got some teeth to it naturally but no profanity or explicit content, just adventure, love, humor & wisdom.”
HC: What do you want others to take away from your current projects?
Jamal: “Well for me I want people to see that we are all Gods. I feel like the biggest problem we have as human beings is that we don’t truly see God in ourselves, because it’s often said that it’s a sin to associate yourself as “God”. But if it says in the bible that man is made in his image and likeness and the two are his “children” then the question most be asked “What does he look like?” and most of all if we are his children.”
HC: Tell me about the characters, what goes in to turning humans into animals, basically? What do you take in to consideration?
Jamal: “Umm a lot of it is based on what I see really, whatever feels right. I try to capture the essence of people and the animals and merge it together. I try to nail certain characteristics by using shapes that best reflect the person and the animal. I try not to think about it too much.”
HC: Where’d you get the idea to do it?
Jamal: “I’ve had several people ask me to do it but I didn’t have a desire to honestly. Then my friend Dubbski (Patrick) asked me to a do a design and I said ok sure why not. Then my friend Christian Noble (i always say his fully name cause it’s epic) asked me to draw him and was like sure and afterwards I was like “I wonder who else I can draw” then people just kept on asking for one.”
HC: What have you done so far that you’re the proudest of?
Jamal: Definitely when my friend Tia created an animated piece for Ame to keep me inspired. It blew my mid because I didn’t ask her to do it, she said she did because she wanted me to stay inspired and driven to work on Ame which showed me how blessed I was.”
HC: What is one word you’d use to describe your work?
Jamal: “Imaginative.”
HC: What inspires you when you don’t feel motivated as an artist?
Jamal: “Music. All day every day.”
HC: Where’s your favorite place to create?
Jamal: “Old antique stores, coffee shops, and bookstores.”
HC: Who in your life inspires you the most?
Jamal: “My mother. She is strongest most ambitious person I know. She inspires me to take risks and walk on faith.”
HC: Who inspires you the most over all?
Jamal: “The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Muhammad Ali, Tony Muhammad, Akira Toryiama, Shinichiro Watanabe, André 3000, Tupac and so much more that I can’t remember at this current moment.”
HC: You seem to be the perfect balance between maturity while still exposing a bit of your inner child, how does that play apart in your art? If at all.
Jamal: “Yes, it definitely plays part in my work because that’s just me you know? Like I just never wanted to grownup to be boring miserable like the adults I’d see around me (no shade of course), but found God and earned that he’s not a mystery and there is no greater joy then that.”
HC: So, sometimes you call yourself Crowjones, is Crowjones like an alter ego?
Jamal: “Yes. Crowjones is the narrator of all of my stories…he is a traveling storyteller who observes all walks of life throughout the galaxy.”
HC: What’s a word your closest friends would use to describe you?
Jamal: “Enlightened.”
HC: What are some of our goals?
Jamal: “My goal right now is to complete the Ame novel that way I move forward to the next novel and become an independent artist traveling wherever I please. The long term goal is for my stories to become feature length animated films, pretty much going the same route as Marvel.”
HC: Best feedback you’ve ever gotten about your work?
Jamal: “I remember LeSean Thomas telling me not to wait and tell my story and most of all not try to make it perfect but get it done rather.”
HC: Any advice you’d give to illustration majors/ those wanting to do work similar to the path of your own?
Jamal: “Stick to your convictions, keep drawing, study the people you admire, really look at what they are doing in their art. And imply to your own work. Do what you love and things will just come to you in the best ways possible.”