Beyond Writing Code

Art

Once upon a time, in 2023, I was planning my trip to what was then called DevOps Enterprise Summit in Vegas. I was looking at the map of the conference hotel when I saw something called Art-o-Mat. What the…

I looked it up. Art-o-Mat. Old style cigarette vending machines (the kind that used to be in bars, where you pull a knob and it goes ka-chunk and a cigarette box lands in the slot) converted to sell art. How cool is that?

I had an idea for something I might be able to draw, so I applied, and they accepted me as an artist. Since then, I’ve drawn several hundred Mysterious Creatures for Art-o-Mat machines around the US.

A tiny drawing of a colorful watercolor creature with a calm expression.
A tiny drawing of a colorful watercolor creature with a long sort of beak.
A tiny drawing of a colorful watercolor creature, resting on a cloud of color.

They are 2″ x 3″ watercolor paper cards, mounted on wooden blocks, with creature shapes drawn in black ink on top of colorful splashes of watercolor paint. I have fun experimenting with acrylic paints on the sides of the blocks, and I name each piece on the back.

Two 2" by 3" blocks standing on end. Each has the ends painted and a business card attached. The business card says: "mysterious creatures 6, art by Jessica Roy, leaf@bouncingleaf.com, www.bouncingleaf.com. Listen closely and this creature may tell you their story, or your own." The cards are numbered #11/50 and #12/50. Behind these blocks, a few more rows of similar blocks. Each block has a name; the ones most clearly visible in the photo are "walking in shadows," "pendulum," and "bringing flame."

I’m having fun drawing them, and they bring a little joy to a world that definitely needs more joy right now.

A tiny drawing of a colorful watercolor creature with a bit of an eyeroll and three tiny orange dots floating above.
A tiny drawing of a colorful watercolor creature, eyes closed, gesturing to something looking like a trail of smoke arising from its hand.
A tiny drawing of a colorful watercolor creature, eyes closed, mouth open, pointing at a heart shape.

You can see more friendly creatures, as well as other artistic projects, on my art website: bouncingleaf.com.

A tiny drawing of a colorful watercolor creature, holding something curved and golden.
A tiny drawing of a colorful watercolor creature, holding what might be a slip of paper.