Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Lievanos Jimenez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Jocelyn Lievanos-Jimenez and I’m a 25 year old digital and traditional artist. I’ve always loved drawing as a kid, but I didn’t consider myself an artist. That changed in the summer of 2013, when I suddenly became very sick. While other kids were out enjoying their summer, I was stuck indoors with nothing but my thoughts. With nowhere else to turn, I picked up a pencil and started drawing.
I still remember typing “how to draw an eye” into Youtube and finding an artist named Mark Crilley. I didn’t think much of it at first, but something ignited in me. Drawing quickly became more than a way to just pass the time; it gave me an escape from my reality. I discovered that art wasn’t just a pencil on paper, it was a way to immerse myself into another world I could create and control.
That year I collected every art supply I could: Prismacolor pencils, Canson mixed media paper, Derwent graphite, charcoal, etc. I still get nostalgic looking at those materials. I was ecstatic–maybe a little obsessed–my dad’s wallet definitely noticed. I’d spend entire days holed up in my room, drawing, following tutorials, and experimenting with all different kinds of mediums. Back then, I drew mostly in an anime and manga style, which is funny now because it’s one of my weakest areas.
A few years later in 2017, I ventured into digital art. The spark came largely from BTS, whose music and visuals inspired me greatly. The fandom also had this insane art, and I thought, I want to do that too! So I dug out my Wacom tablet from 2012 that I barely used because I didn’t understand it. I still didn’t understand it.. Digital art is hard. and whoever says it’s easy is lying–but despite the love-hate relationship, I grew to enjoy it.
My BTS bias, Taehyung–also known as V–became one of my biggest muses and role models. His artist name is Vante, and I loved it so much that I created something similar to that name. I replaced the “n” with an “r,” which in spanish spells arte, meaning ‘art.’ Thats how my art handle CocoVArte was born. ‘Coco’ is my longtime nickname, and when read in spanish the name reads “Coco sees art.” I loved that because my goal with my name was to allow people to see life through my eyes. The “V” is intentionally versatile- just like the layers that make up myself as a person. It can stand for visions, visualizes, or whatever someone wants it to represent.
As my confidence grew, I began accepting commissions. I had gotten several requests so I went for it. In the beginning, I was not fond of the idea of monetizing my art. I was afraid of burning out and converting my passion into a job did not interest me at all. Doing commissions taught me a lot-and I was not great at fulfilling all of them. Some of them were incomplete, a few I never sent because I was embarrassed; and a couple even broke up and tore the print to shreds! I didn’t enjoy the pressure of doing commissions and it started to burn me out. I love drawing people, yet prefer to choose my own subjects and how I depict them. My favorite commissions turned out to be the animal ones though!
Even with those early struggles, I eventually took a bigger step and attended art exposure events like Pancakes & Booze and Third Friday Durham. It was exciting and intimidating to showcase and sell my pieces in person! I printed my art in different formats–traditional prints, shirts, stickers, and keychains–which taught me how my work could live beyond the screen/page. Seeing people wear or display my art was incredibly rewarding and shifted my perspective on selling my work.
Right now I’m taking a short break from selling, but I plan to return to it and to participate in more events in the future. What began as a quiet refuge during a difficult time has become a lifelong passion and a source of connection–an evolving space where I can express, reflect, and invite others into the worlds I once created only for myself
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In my early experiences, I was deterred from enjoying art. When I was a freshman in high school, I proudly showed a close friend a black and white pointillism drawing of Louis Tomlinson from One Direction. They told me that I would never become an artist, that I should give up because I ‘sucked.’ I went home and cried that day.
Not long before that in middle school I struggled in art class. I took it seriously for the first time and actually failed terribly. I was painfully shy and hated drawing in front of people. I did not like art class and I realized that I preferred being alone with my art. I never took another art class after 7th grade.
As I kept creating, I learned comparison really is the thief of joy. There will always be artists who seem more skilled, and it’s easy to start questioning if your own efforts are worth it–especially when a piece doesn’t come out as envisioned. Even now, I struggle with that. That’s the hard truth about being a creative. We are our own worst critics, and it can feel as if you will never amount to others. I question if I am a ‘real’ artist sometimes as well. There are periods when inspiration is hard to find, and imposter syndrome can be very real.
What’s carries me through is the simple truth that I still love making art.. Even when self doubt gets loud, the euphoric feeling I get when creating is enough to remind me why I started in the first place. The love for the process is what keeps me moving forward, no matter how bumpy the road has been
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create portraits infused with surreal, dreamlike elements. I’m drawn to subjects whose expressions and poses evoke emotion beyond a simple smile—faces that carry depth and seriousness I can resonate with. In many ways, the people I paint reflect parts of myself; I feel what they feel, and this allows me to connect to my art on an intrapersonal level.
My process is intuitive rather than rigid. I let each piece unfold organically, embracing a bit of messiness instead of chasing perfection.I would say I’m known for being multifaceted as an artist. Whether I’m working in traditional or digital media, I’m always experimenting and challenging myself to grow with every piece. My earliest recognition came from my fanart, and while that’s what first attracted attention to me, I see all of my work as individual masterpieces.
People often recognize my style for the way it blends realism, with a luminous, other worldly atmosphere. Much of that comes from my usage of color and light: subtle glows, shifting textures, and a touch of shimmer that embody etherealness. I love to weave elements of nature into my compositions as well and tie the whole piece together.. Ultimately, I think I am known for creating work that feels both soft and powerful. My portraits invite viewers to linger, feel the atmosphere, and to perhaps glimpse a piece of their own story reflected back to them.
I am most proud of my growth–not only as an artist, but as a person. It’s simple to give up, hold yourself back from opportunities because they feel challenging, frustrating, or scary. I once disliked the attention that came with showing my art; as a shy person, being seen was uncomfortable. Yet I pushed through that discomfort, began attending art exposure events, and connected with people, sharing my work in person! Stepping out of my comfort zone to share my work face-to-face has been both inspiring and transformative.
What sets me apart is that I’m completely self taught! Aside from basic elementary and middle school art classes–which I don’t feel shaped my skills–the internet became my teacher. I learned by watching speed-paints, following specific tutorials, researching online, and reading books. Instead of repetitive practices, I apply what I learn directly in each piece I am working on. Practicing through the act of creating feels more natural to me than formal exercises. If my journey proves anything, it’s that you don’t need a formal path to be an artist. Art is accessible to everyone, all you need is passion, persistence, and perhaps the ability to stay calm when you realize you’ve been drawing on the wrong layer!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My passion is the quality I consider most important to my success. I am a firm believer that having passion is what gives one’s life its meaning and purpose. For me, art is that passion and what I turn to when life feels overwhelming and helps me to process my emotions in a healthy manner.
Of course, passion alone doesn’t mean every day is easy. Self doubt creeps in and so does imposter syndrome. There are moments when I experience art block that can last for months. These moments are exactly when my passion becomes most important. It keeps me grounded and eventually pulls me back to why I started in the first place.
I think that’s true for many people. Our passions are what give us direction and help us feel that our lives have purpose. They remind us why we’re here and why it’s worth pushing through hard days. In my own journey, that deep love for creating has been the constant that makes every challenge feel meaningful. Nurturing my passion is what fuels me to keep evolving both as an artist and as a person.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: cocovarte
- Twitter: cocovarte
