| Home |
| Unusual & Unexplained |
| Art & Expression |
| Health & Longevity |
| Sustainable Living |
| Environmental News |
| Science & Technology |
Monthly Publication NEWS FOR THE CONSCIOUS MIND January 2007
|
|
|
 In
2006, Jessica sat down with her show manager, Jen Suttorp
of A Starry Grove Gallery for a candid question and answer
interview...
Q: Over the past year or so,
you've seen a big jump in success with your art. How has that changed
how you do things?
A: First and foremost, it's been very
exciting...especially seeing my art in stores on all kinds of neat
products. The only challenge with that is the pressure of coming up
with more commercially attractive pieces for the various companies I
work for. It changes my initial working process slightly, and means I
must consider what the buying public will like more than what I may
feel like painting at that moment. I am not complaining about that
one bit though, I enjoy creating "pretty pictures" as much as I enjoy
the deeper-meaning spiritual paintings I've done. It's a nice
balance...and I would be lying if I said I wasn't over the moon about
how much my work has gotten out there lately.
Q: We noticed a big increase in
fan interest this year at the Michigan Renaissance Festival...how does
that make you feel?
 A:
I'll admit I was a bit daunted at times with the line of people
waiting to see me. I kept thinking...what's the big deal, it's just
me?! I also can be a bit shy at times, so I have to force myself to
be outgoing when I'm feeling just the opposite. But all in all, it's
a huge thrill to meet people who enjoy my art, especially since I do
most of my sales through the internet and don't meet fans on a daily
basis. Getting out and doing shows is a great way to do just that.
Q: How did you really get your
start in this business...give us a "behind the scenes" timeline.
A: Good question....okay, here it is:
Gradeschool years: Had a big interest in
metaphysical things already believe it or not. Frequented a local new
age shop called the Electric Rainbow and collected all kinds of
fantasy images. Also read lots of books on occult type topics, and
began drawing a lot. My early works were faeries, unicorns, and
mysterious women in woodland backdrops.
 Highschool
years: Hated math, loved art. Would actually get out of math class
and hang out in Mrs. Davis' art class. When we painted with oils for
the first time, I painted an old, twisted tree beneath a moon and won
an award for it.
College: Attended the University of
Toledo for three years in their fine arts department. Took design
classes, art classes of all kinds. Though I didn't graduate, I took
pretty much every art class there was to take.
After College: My situation at the time
required me to quit college after three years and start working full
time. Like most, I intended to go back and finish my last few courses
to get my degree, but never made it back. What I did then was work a
series of office jobs where I learned invaluable information about
running a business, marketing, advertising, etc. But alas...I was
miserable working a mundane job.
 One
Day in a Bookstore: I was shopping, and across the way, on the top
shelf facing out was a copy of Brian Froud's Good Faeries/Bad Faeries
book. I made a bee-line for it...like a supernatural force was
pulling me straight to it. I bought the book and went home and read
it over and over and over...savoring every picture.
Painting Fantasy Again: I hadn't
painted a fantasy themed painting in years...but I began again. I
started using charcoals and pencil first. Soon, thanks to late nights
drawing since my days were dedicated to those boring jobs...I had a
little collection of faeries and goddesses.
Gettting Them Seen: I went to my local
new age shops...and they welcomed my art with open arms thankfully.
Sometimes I think an artist just starting off needs but a tiny spark
of acceptance to really get going. Also, my boyfriend at the time
dabbled in web sites. He said we should put my art up...so we did, in
a modest little gallery on my free aol page. Much to my utter
surprise, I started getting inquiries on how people could buy prints.
 The
Rest is History: It sure didn't happen overnight, and it didn't happen
easily, but eventually I was able to quit my boring day job to do this
fantasy art thing full time. It is something I NEVER take for
granted. With each painting, I try to improve something, and am never
satisfied...I always think I could have done better. I also need to
thank everyone, especially the other artists I talked to and were
inspired by, for helping me along the way...on this crazy wild fun
journey!
Q: You paint goddesses and
mythological works in addition to your elegant faeries. Do you have a
favorite subject matter?
A: I will admit that I love to paint
goddesses and mythological subjects the most. However, these
paintings aren't always what my licensors want from me...most of them
prefer my lighter, more elegant winged women. I try to keep a balance
between these and what I truly love to paint, which is my more
mysterious, haunting images.
Q: How do you work, do you use
models, photographs, etc.?
 A:
My paintings are a combination of photographic reference and my own
imagination. Unfortunately, I don't have the photographic memory to
paint a figure from memory or imagination, I need help with this. In
college, I painted from live models constantly, and quite honestly, I
don't enjoy this. I like to be alone when I work. So, I utilize
photographs for help with my poses. Fashion magazines are a great
source for beautiful people in beautiful poses and many professional
fantasy artists use them. Early in my career, I relied heavily on
magazine photos, too much so, but I now use more photographs of myself
so I can get the exact pose I envision for a painting. I also use a
gorgeous model named Vinetta, the wife of my friend Jeff. She could
be straight from the faery realm herself, and is the perfect model for
my art. Another great source for female models is:
http://www.female-anatomy-for-artist.com
Q: You have a close relationship
with two of your peers, Nene Thomas and Amy Brown. Can you tell us
more about that?
 A:
Amy, Nene and I are very close. We've been through a lot
together...some of it not so pleasant, and that has forged a tight
bond. All three of us have achieved a certain amount of notariety
with our art, and with that has come a lot of positive things, and
unfortunately, a few negatives too. We keep eachother sane at times,
I think. We also work together now with our Ceramic Sensations
tiles. My husband and I produce these decorative tiles for the three
of us. It's a big honor for me to work with their beautiful art in
this way.
Aside from Nene and Amy, I have count
several other artists as good friends...Sherry Forrester-Baldy, Renee
Biertempfle, Jacqueline Collen-Tarolly and Wendy Kathleen to name but
a few. This business is so wonderful in that the majority of the
artists support eachother.
Q: What would you tell an artist
just starting out in this field?
A: I would tell them to be prepared to
have tough skin and never give up on their dream. It is not easy for
any of us to get there, and even more of a challenge to stay there.
Be prepared to knock on a lot of doors, some of which will be promptly
slammed in your face. If you don't have a good sense of business and
marketing, align yourself with someone who does...you'll need it as
much as you need your artistic talent.
 When
the business gets you down, hold onto your successes. Be kind to
others, and treat them how you'd like to be treated. Help other
artists along the way...make friends with them. Never try to tear
other artists down who are more successful than you - don't let the
ugly side of envy get to you in this way or you will doom your own
career with a serious case of bad karma. Spend your energy on
positive things like creating your art.
Develop your own style and stay true to
your visions...however, be prepared to paint what are sometimes just
"pretty pictures" if you want to do this seriously for a living.
Always try to improve on your art, never get stagnant if you can help
it.
If you begin licensing your art to
companies, be very very careful. Though most of them are wonderful
and will have your best interest at heart, some won't and it's your
job to protect yourself and your art.
Most of all, enjoy it. Don't let
anything get you down as you follow your dreams.
Q: You are very hands on in your
own business aren't you?
 A:
Oh yes, I wish I had more time to paint actually and am working on
that. But with my web site sales booming and our wholesale company
flourishing, I have to do a lot of mundane tasks too. Again though, I
don't take it for granted and am careful NEVER to complain about being
busy! You never know how long this thing will last, so you just have
to make the most of it in the "now".
Q: Your husband runs the
wholesale side of your business right?
A: Yes, my husband Josh is truly my
right hand man. Don't know what I'd do without him. We are so busy
these days, it's a wild ride around here, especially with our two
little ones and the company doing as much as it does.
Q: How have your kids changed
you and your art?
 A:
Believe it or not, they brought out the softer side of me in my art.
In fact, I've even been doing some baby fairies lately! I love being
home with them, even though it means lots of interruptions during the
work day, I feel very lucky to be here for them every step of the way.
Q: What's on the horizon for
you Jess?
A: Well, lots of things actually. I
have so many ideas mulling around in this head of mine. I am in the
middle of a series of mermaids at the moment. I also want to do a
series of images representing the Celtic/Pagan holidays for a set of
greeting cards. I want to continue on with my Goddess Project. I
want to keep thinking up great new product ideas...a few of which are
already in the works *wink, wink*.
To view more of Jessica's fantastic artwork, please visit her website: http://www.enchanted-art.com.
All works are copyright. Permission to use these images in any way must be obtained from the artist. |
|
|