Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Pierce.
Hi Jessica, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am Jessica and am originally from Rocky Mount, North Carolina but have called Raleigh home for the past ten years. Upon graduating from college, I moved to Seville, Spain, where I spent two exciting and passion-filled years teaching, traveling, exploring and meeting new people. I moved back to the states and found myself settling into a career in the corporate world. Although blessed with wonderful friends and family, I began to feel restless and longed to live a life worth more than the sum of my daily duties and responsibilities (work, gym, dinner, sleep, repeat) I had always felt called to create, even at a young age and was the happiest when I was making art or doing any type of craft. A few years ago, I decided to make a change and pursue my passion of art.
I tend to be a more reserved person and it takes a while for me to open up and become vulnerable and art has been a way for me to easily express myself and my feelings. 2019 and 2020 were both hard years for me personally and I suffered great losses and art was my saving grace. It allowed me to process my feelings and share my story with the world so I did not internalize everything.
I love being wild and being able to paint without restriction and go where the painting takes me. It allows me to show my unique personality and gifts to the world.
Art for me is my way of refusing to become stagnant in this life but purposefully growing and stretching. I believe that everyone has a unique gift to offer and those gifts are not simply requested but required. My hope is that by being vulnerable enough to share my art this will inspire others to share their talents to make the world a better place.
My goal is to paint pieces that brighten every room and bring joy to their owners. I truly believe that art is an experience and that the physical world is a powerful link to create happier lives. Art transforms any environment into a haven. I create because I believe art helps people live lives of abundance, luxury, and meaning. I really do believe that original art can change lives. The process of creating something beautiful from nothing is magical for me. I pour so much emotion into every one-of-a-kind piece I create, it’s as if the art is a part of me. Sending little pieces of me out into the world is so rewarding.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I began painting because I was searching for more meaning in my life. When I started selling my art, I was so naive. I thought because I grew up appreciating art that everyone else did too… boy was I wrong! So many people just don’t get it; they equate original artwork with space fillers you can find at TJ Maxx. Don’t get me wrong, I love TJ Maxx as much as the next gal but there is nothing in that store as magical as a piece of original artwork that truly speaks to you. Art is one of the hardest things to sell because it is completely non-utilitarian. It can be expensive because it is so unique, made by hand and expresses the heart and soul of its maker. Unless you grew up with original art or have experienced it, it can be easy to forgo the expense and buy a print or basket to hang on your wall. I have had to overcome so many objections when it comes to selling art and getting people to see the value in it.
I have spent weeks and countless hours getting ready for an art show, brought all my stuff out and stayed all day at the show only sell nothing. This used to really get me down but over the years, I have grown much more confident in my work. I know my worth and my identity as an artist is not tied to any sale. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many cool people along the way that are actually fans of my work and it is so humbling. I don’t think it will ever get an old hearing that someone wants to take up valuable real estate on their walls with something I created. I used to look at other artists with similar styles and get so frustrated because they were having such success. I was comparing my day one with their year five… I realized that it wasn’t the quality of my work or that it wasn’t “good”; it was just that selling is hard and it takes time to build a following that trusts you enough to spend several hundred dollars on a painting they have never seen. Over the past several years, I have worked hard to develop my own style and my own unique voice.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an acrylic painter. I enjoy painting wild abstracts and florals with lots of bold colors, texture, and messy movements. I tend to stick to an unapologetically colorful palette. I see inspiration everywhere, especially in nature. I am constantly seeing painting compositions in leaves and branches of trees or rows of flowers. I am most known for my bright, colorful paintings. When it comes to art, more is absolutely more! One thing that sets me apart from other artists is that I am more approachable. I want art to be accessible to all because I truly believe in the magic of it. So many artists and galleries are so stuffy and make you think you need a fine arts degree just to walk in the door. Yes, art is a way of expressing deep emotions but sometimes it’s just something pretty to look at. It’s ok if it doesn’t have some deep meaning. I think people can relate to me because I am a real, flawed human just trying to do my best. And I am pretty good about making fun of myself!
I am most proud of taking this leap to become an artist. It isn’t easy. People tell me all the time how therapeutic art must be- ha! It can be therapeutic but when you are trying to make a career out of it, it’s really hard! My feelings and emotions don’t just pour out onto the canvas to make a perfect painting every time. There is so much trial and error and way more terrible paintings than good ones. It takes so much time and it’s really hard work. I am not complaining because I love it. Every time I post a painting online or go to an art show, I feel as if I’m baring my soul for the whole world to see. Every time I launch a new collection, I am so nervous that everyone will hate it. Being brave enough to go for it anyway makes me really proud. People can criticize me or my work if they want but at least I am going for my dreams. One of the favorite comments I hear people say is “I could paint that” and I always think “but you didn’t. You weren’t brave enough to get out here and do the work and share it with the world. but I am.” And that makes me proud.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t necessarily believe in luck. I think in life, sometimes you’re in the right place at the right time and opportunities can seem to fall in your lap occasionally but you have to put in the work and prepare for when those opportunities do come along. I also believe that it may seem like an opportunity comes out of thin air but the reality is that I have been working hard all along and building momentum and growing the whole time. You just don’t always see the fruits of your labor initially. It’s sort of like losing weight, you have to put the work in for weeks or months with no visible results and then all of a sudden you start to see changes. The changes and growth were happening all along you just couldn’t see them.
Contact Info:
- Email: jpiercepaints@gmail.com
- Website: www.piercepaints.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/pierce_paints
Image Credits
Jennifer Wilson Photography
