On the Record with JoAnn Kofoed

Recent Northern Illinois University graduate JoAnn Kofoed said the biggest setbacks she’s had in life were a catalyst to help her pursue her true passion: art.

The Mendota resident was born with a rare genetic disability called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and a hip injury in high school left her bed-bound requiring multiple surgeries.

Having always loved creating art, Kofoed, 23, realized after being bed-bound that art was her passion, and that she wanted to make it her career.

In 2021, Kofoed earned a bachelor’s degree in illustration from NIU and illustrated her first book, “What Your Clothes Would Say.”

The book, written by Doug Fischer, can be purchased on Amazon.

MidWeek reporter Katrina Milton interviewed Kofoed about the book, its illustrations and her artwork.

Milton: What is the book about?

Kofoed: The story is a delightful tale from the perspective of the clothes a child is wearing. It explores the idea of what the clothes may be thinking throughout the day.

Milton: How did you get involved in the project?

Kofoed: I was connected through one of my illustration professors at NIU. … It was a big step to take on a project this big, but I loved the challenge.

Milton: What medium are the illustrations?

Kofoed: The images are digital paintings I created in Photoshop. Many people aren’t aware of this, but Photoshop isn’t just for photo editing. It caters to artists who paint digitally, too. You start with a blank white canvas, and use digital brushes to paint the images. I usually create art digitally, but I also love painting with acrylics.

Milton: What was the experience of illustrating a book like?

Kofoed: The process was very time consuming, but very rewarding. It took a lot of planning to get all the details sorted out. It started with Doug [Fischer] sending me a copy of what he wrote. We talked about what kind of things he wanted for the book, and he gave me lots of creative control to accomplish what we discussed. It was wonderful working with him. I’d share sketches and ideas, and he would let me know what he liked. It was fun to watch the development of the project as it progressed and evolved.

Milton: Do you have plans on illustrating more books?

Kofoed: I don’t have any more books currently lined up, but I’m always open to new creative experiences.

Milton: Why are you an artist, and why is creating art important to you?

Kofoed: I’ve always loved creating, but it wasn’t until I took an art class in high school that I realized I had a passion for drawing. My sophomore year of high school, I had something horrible happen. I had a hip injury that left me bed-bound, unable to sit up or move without spasms of pain. At the time, it was the most devastating thing that ever happened to me. Funny thing about that, I’m thankful nowadays that that injury happened when it did. I wasn’t able to get up and do anything, but I realized I could lay down and draw.

Milton: How did art help you heal?

Kofoed: For several months, I spent countless hours practicing my skills, and getting better. It kept me sane. There was always something cathartic about creating. Unfortunately, a little over a year after my first surgery I had to get a second hip surgery. I missed a lot of high school, but again I had another large period of time where I just was constantly drawing. By the time I graduated high school, I knew art was my true passion, and that I needed to pursue the topic in college. Over the years, art slowly turned into a form of journaling for me. Many images I created helped me process what was happening around me.

Milton: What would you say to aspiring artists?

Kofoed: Don’t feel like you need to put yourself in a box with one art style. This book was the first time I made illustrations specifically targeted toward kids. Most of my artwork is fantasy-based. It was intimidating to develop a new art style, but I’m so happy I did. You learn a lot more when you create things that are unfamiliar. That growth is important.