Balancing the News & Creating Art to Help

Happy Friday!

I’ve been preparing for our next Paint Club later this month, by painting fashion couture pieces that I adore. And I can’t wait for this theme for class!

Things have been challenging in the news & world as of late. Despite all that, I am going to continue to paint, and host my monthly Paint Club to allow us to connect creatively together.

I’m trying to be more mindful of boundaries and how much time I spend on social media. It is always a tricky balance, because I use social media for work and also to spread positive messages. Especially to girls & women. But I’m human, and the news of young girls and women being abused with no justice at all is so hard for me to digest. It seems like we keep hitting new rock bottoms. And I am a true empath, which means when I hear a story of someone being hurt I can often feel the pain. As odd as that sounds to some, I think it’s also what has made me an artist. I feel things very deeply.

You’ll see some of the pieces I have created this week that I thought might inspire you all….to create things that bring you joy. I’m trying to find moments where I can turn off my phone, play some music and light some candles. So I encourage you do to the same if you’re feeling like me.

Join us for Paint Club on Feb. 25th at 3PM ET or Feb. 26th at 7PM ET. All classes are recorded, so if you can’t attend live you can always watch the playback.

Link for tickets are here:

https://jessicadurrant.com/new-shop?category=Paint+Club

Sending warm hugs to everyone.

Jess

Layover Savannah: A Week of Fashion Illustration Workshops to start off 2026 on a positive note!

Last week I had the extreme pleasure of partnering with Layover Events for a 3 day Workshop Retreat hosted in downtown historic Savanah, Georgia. I felt honored to teach 25 incredibly talented students from allover the US. I had 3 days of art workshops that included drawing the fashion figure, painting fabrications like lace, feathers and sequins. And our final day I taught artist’s tips on collaging both analog and digital effects.

Many of the artist’s came not only to get continued education & business ideas for live illustrating, but for the community and connection with other creatives.

The retreat included all the delicious meals for guests, and even an afternoon high tea at the famous Gryphon!

I loved seeing all the students work, as we all get inspired by one another!

I had so much fun coming up with lesson plans for these workshops. I wanted it to be a dream for them to create fashion illustrations using mixed media.

I had a few Paint Club students also attend, and that was truly touching for me. As I have spent the last 2 years creating an online community for artist’s to feel safe and connect together once a month.

Savannah is always a gem of a place to visit and spend time in!

Thank you to Chloe Campbell at Layover Events for making this dream a reality for so many of us.

Thank you to Hannah Rawlings for capturing all my content during the week. I could not have done it without you.

I’m still on cloud nine for being apart of such a positive, creative experience. I truly love to teach and inspire creatives. If you are interested in hosting workshops for creatives, please reach out at jessillustration@gmail.com and follow @layoverevents for the latest workshops they are hosting across the US! Including Maine in August ;)

Now go create beautiful things!

Jess

2025 Recap & Highlights

It may be January 2026…but I wanted to make a (never too late) blog post about 2025 highlights. I love looking back at things I have been able to do in my career. It always feels so good to be grateful and see the cup half full.

2025 was such an amazing year, in terms of live fashion illustration for me. I cannot believe I got the chance to work with so many brands and travel as much as I did as a live illustrator. From Burberry to Coach, to Dior and working for the WNBA Allstars weekend VIP After Party. Seeing Caitlin Clark and all the WNBA stars dancing in the room I was working was so cool.

This year I got to travel to France as well to work a private event in the South of France. It was an incredible moment in my career. Some the places my artwork has taken me in 2025 included Miami, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Eze France, Chicago and North Carolina.

I also had an amazing project where I got to license my artwork for Chelsea in Bloom in London for their very popular annual flower show in May. I was so pleased to see the result. It was one of those pinch me moments!

Another project I worked on the last couple of years, was rebranding fashion artwork for Simon Premium Outlet Malls across the US. The artwork has rolled out now, and I’ve had sweet followers on IG send me photos of them seeing the art at their local outlets. SO COOL!

And if you’ve been following my art career, you know how excited I get when Emily in Paris comes out. It is a show that not only I love, but has my artwork in Sylvie’s office! Oui Oui!

Another huge highlight for me was teaching art classes for Royal Caribbean on a transatlantic cruise in the Spring. The cruise crossed the Atlantic (yes! wow, right??) and we went to the Azores, Spain and ended in Italy. Not too shabby. I loved my students. It felt I had so many kind & grateful students.

Mary Anne from Australia was my favorite! She came everyday (waiting in line early to be sure to get in) to class!

Venturing off the cruise ship, to Barcelona! My dear friend Hannah Rawlings was my photographer and content creator helper on this cruise. We loved getting 25K plus steps in the beautiful city that day.

Teaching is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Because I know the effect it can have on people long after the class. I continued to host my online Paint Club this year and hosted 2 free workshops online to help offer something positive out in the world.

There was so much to take in in 2025, to reflect on. I am so grateful for the variety of things I get to do an artist. I’m thankful for live fashion illustration sketching, as it allows me to get out in the world and make people smile. So cheers to 2026 and we will see what fun we can have this New Year!

Live Fashion Illustrating for Burberry, Dior and More for the holiday season

December is always a busy month for everyone, and in particular for live illustrators it can be the most thrilling & busiest time of the year to create.

Just in the last few weeks I have been live fashion illustrating for Dior Parfums at Neiman Marcus, Burberry and holiday parties galore. It can be such a gift to realize I am making people smile & brightening their day by sharing with them my talents. Not gonna lie, it can be hard to go out and be that vulnerable, knowing that you only have a matter of minutes to capture each person who sits in front of you. But I have learned as they say “no risk, no reward.” And to focus on the fact most people are not going to be critical (like it is easy to do as an artist) and they will cherish these sketches for a long time to come.

Take a look at some of my highlights of these events. And thank you to Dior Parfums, Burberry & Absolute Entertainment for entrusted me to live sketch for you this holiday season here in Atlanta.

Live Illustrating & Fashion Sketching in Atlanta this holiday season!

I told this couple, they were my pick for Best Dressed of the night, at an Art Deco Old Hollywood themed holiday party!

Dior Parfums had me live illustrate clients, while they got their makeup done. Not a bad gig, right?

Next stop, illustrating for Burberry and they fitted me to wear a trench at their event!

A husband got his pregnant wife a Burberry diaper bag, and I illustrated her from a photo in an outfit she loved…the perfect gift! I think she will be so surprised in the best of ways this Christmas!

This woman was over the moon to get this illustration! These reactions are always the best!

Live Painting for Supergoop in Miami!

I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Miami for a live painting brand event with Supergoop! I had never been to Miami before, so I was elated to not only be able to create live illustration for a wonderful brand like Supergoop…but to get to see the inspiring city of Miami!

The event was held in a beautiful suite at the gorgeous Shelborne Hotel. I was asked to hand paint and customize bottles of their Play sunscreen. One of their hero products. I had so much fun using the brands yellow & blue color palette to make bespoke bottles for their guests at this PR event. My goal with the designs was to make them look as if they came that way already…seamlessly fitting into the brand’s aesthetic and our beachy and vibrant location.

What I love about illustrating and painting live is, it always keeps me on my toes. I have been able to travel so much this year because of event work…and I’m so grateful to see more of the US and Internationally because of the opportunities I’m granted.

If you want live illustration be it fashion, or custom painting on a product just fill out the contact form with your request, and thank you!

The event was an all day affair, and I had a lot of fun meeting so many people! Thank you Supergoop for having me out!

I hand painted in acrylics motifs like bikinis, waves, palm trees and monograms for guests.

Latest Fashion Illustration Event Work Recap & New Book: Preppy Style

The last few months I have been traveling and continuing to keep quite busy with live fashion illustration sketching.

Last month I even got to work a private event sketching in the South of France! All I can share and say is, it was a dream. I also traveled to North Carolina, and did many local fashion illustration events in Atlanta. Including working with one of my favorite clients over the years, Ferragamo.

I am grateful to continue to live sketch for clients in so many unique ways. Below are some photos over the last few months of happy customers with their sketches. If you’re interested in having live fashion illustration as an activation at your next event be it in Atlanta or beyond just send me an email at jessillustration@gmail.com

I also am excited to share with you all a new project I worked on, Preppy Style a book from Quarto Publishing now available to purchase on Barnes & Noble with link below. I got to illustrate the 7th book of my career and it’s full of iconic Preppy Fashion! It is so adorable and filled with over 30 original fashion illustrations. I’ll share some photos below and you can purchase the hardback with link below.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/preppy-style-rosalyn-gomersall/1146904066Thank you!

Jess

Sketching for Ferragamo Atlanta boutique grand opening party

Working at the stunning High Hyatt in North Carolina

One of the best parts of my job is making everyone feel beautiful and that I focus on small details that others might miss!

This couple was so appreciative of the sketch and remarked on how special it was to have it created in such a short amount of time.

Polka dots are always one of my favorite things to sketch. This was for Stewart Simmons kick off party for Fall clothing!

Flash Sale 2025 is Tuesday, October 7th!

My ever popular fan favorite, Flash Sale 2025 is just a few weeks away! Make sure you have your calendar’s set for Tuesday, October 7th for my one day only, once a year only 50% off everything in my shop sale!

The sale includes all artworks, educational content like my past Webinars & Yearly Paint Club subscriptions, Artist Coaching packages and more.

I will have some new artwork in time for the sale, like these Travel Art posters & postcards. So stay tuned for those to be uploaded.

Here is direct link to my shop:

https://jessicadurrant.com/new-shop

And as always, it will start at Midnight EST.

Thank you in advance for all your continued support of my art and small business.

Jessica

Live Illustrating for the 2025 WNBA Allstars Weekend in Indianapolis!

I am freshly back from a very exciting weekend of live illustrating for different events for the 2025 WNBA Allstars Weekend that was held in Indianapolis!

I worked 3 events in 3 days, and it was a whirlwind of fun. My first event I was so excited about…I was going to work with one of my favorite fellow illustrators (my friend Schin) for a VIP after party event for the WNBA Allstars at a swanky rooftop hotel. It was so beautiful. We got dressed up, as we were told this would be a fashion forward event. So I was GAME!

We got to meet many people who work for the Indy Fever basketball league, the Pacers, and of course…the WNBA. After we wrapped our gig, I was able to dance on the floor for a few (Mario was the guest singer and really lit the place up) and spotted all the leagues top talent on the floor having a great time. Yes, Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham! I loved seeing all the variety of fashion styles on these fabulous, hardworking, and strong women. It felt great to be in their company.

The following 2 days, I worked events with Coach. Coach was a sponsor for the weekend, and they really made me feel special to be apart of this weekend. I got to sport a beautiful leather vest & pinstriped pants they provided me…and I felt like a rockstar. It was such a treat to illustrate so many beautiful people all weekend.

I spent last year trying to envision working an event with professional athletes, so when I got this gig booked, it gave me goosebumps. So keep on dreaming big y’all!

Here are some of the photos from live illustrating at the WNBA Allstars weekend!

Jess

My art now apart of London's Chelsea in Bloom!

I am thrilled to share that my artwork is apart of London’s Iconic Chelsea in Bloom Flower show this week!

Earlier this year a design firm that works on the branding for this amazing flower festival reached out wanting to license some of my floral fashion illustrations. The theme for this year’s show is Flowers in Fashion, so I am truly honored to see my art be apart of this feast for the eyes. Chelsea is a chic neighborhood in London with lots of high end shopping, dining and makes for a gorgeous setting for the flower displays. If you’re in London be sure to check it out. The art is on information booths, large posters in the London tube, rickshaws, window decals, maps, their website and more.

Here are some snaps from my friend Laurence Gombeaud, who kindly got these for me yesterday. She’s the best.

Projects like these are a true testament to how important it is to being yourself as an artist. I didn’t apply for this commission. I just made the art that felt most me. Inspired by my travels (I was in London in 2023 for work and came home and painted so many things from that trip) and my love of painting fashion and florals. Make the best work you can make. Share it. Believe in it. You never know where it can go. Good art doesn’t have an expiration date. Remember that as you create.

Have a lovely week ahead and if you are in London, send me a pic if you see the art :)

Cheers!

Jess

Preparing for my next Transatlantic Royal Caribbean Cruise!

Happy Friday!

I am so excited to continue my partnership with Royal Caribbean and hop on another cruise to teach watercolor courses on for 2025! This cruise will be taking us across the Atlantic ocean, starting at Cape Liberty (a cruise port across from the statue of Liberty) as we sail onward to the Azores of Portugal, Spain and ending in Italy!

Back in 2023 I had the opportunity to go on my first cruise ever, with Royal, and taught painting classes on a trip to Spain, Portugal and The Canary Islands. Since then I have been fortunate enough to travel to far off places from Argentina, Antarctica, Denmark, and the Fjords of Norway. And I’ve even been able to meet many of my Instagram friends in these countries for tours of their native country. It has been truly a gift I will cherish the rest of my life.

Make sure to follow along our journey on my IG: @jessillustrator starting April 27th!

This cruise I will focus on teaching how to paint Marine life like my ever favorite Jellyfish! As well as some Octopus’, Starfish, Seahorse’s and more. For me the lead up to the cruise gets me very inspired. And just yesterday I painted an Octopus for the first time, and I would not have done that unless I was preparing for this cruise. I have found that before and after trips abroad my artworks are impacted so positively in ways they would not have been had I stayed home in my comfort zone.

The other benefit is I’m also able to teach smaller class sizes, to keep things feeling intimate and special. Its allowed me to feel I have inspired many guests & even employees to try their hand at watercolors. And they get to create a few keepsakes from the cruise that feel quite meaningful.

I love being able to teach watercolor workshops at sea. It has been such an unexpected experience I have been afforded these last couple of years. I meet people I would not have otherwise meet, and get to do what I love in a completely different capacity.

So until next time, keep on creating!

Jess