The Art of Getting Over Rejection for Creatives

Sharing a recent post on Instagram :) For more Motivational Messages see my @jessillustrator Instagram

Shape Magazine Artwork

I’m so happy to share some artwork I recently created for Shape Magazine. I could not have asked for a better client and end result. The article is so fitting for what I preach on my channel on Instagram. Self Compassion is something we all need to be reminded to be better at.

It feels so fitting. And I’m so grateful to do projects that feel so align with me as a person. Thank you to the Shape Team and Alan, their amazing art director for this opportunity I had to create for their October 2021 issue.

I create my best, when I am not too literal in my approach. I love using symbolism and layers in my work to evoke feelings.

I love how I can bring out more emotions in an illustration, by posing the subject looking off in a thoughtful way. It’s one of my favorite poses.

My SPANX Illuminate-Her Collection!!!

As many of you know by now, I was honored to win the Spanx Illuminate-Her Art Contest back in 2019.

When I found out I won back in December 2019, I was surprised and stunned. I knew how much it would mean to have my art be put onto Spanx products. I have been wearing Spanx since they debuted, and on my wedding day in Italy in 2018!

Sara Blakely, the CEO, founder and inventor behind Spanx is one of my personal idols. (Listen to her on the podcast, How I Built This, with Guy Raz…it’s so good!!) She is constantly reminding her audience where she came from, and encouraging and empowering women every step of the way. Something I aspire to do. And I was THRILLED to have her interview me for IGTV. I cannot even wrap my head around the fact that Sara & I got to talk about the power of positive thinking, manifestation and Dreaming Specific! So go to my Instagram @jessillustrator click on the IGTV and watch the 3 part interview to get inspired and find out more about the Spanx collection.

Because of COVID, the collection got a little delayed but I do think the timing was perfect when we were able to launch the limited edition activewear collection in late January 2021. I was floored by the detail and care that was put into making this collection as special as it could be. You can now shop the entire look at:

https://www.spanx.com/active-collection/now-trending/booty-boost-illuminate-her-active-leggings-jessica-durrant-art

So many beautiful women wearing the Spanx collection, has really made me feel so humbled.

I am still processing how amazing of an opportunity this has been. AND for all female artist’s out there, stay tuned over at Spanx for their next Illuminate Her contest. They focus on bringing light to female artist’s. And it truly is such a wonderful program. They allowed me to pay it forward by gifting women owned small businesses a cash surprise! That was the icing on top.

The inspiration behind this artwork, was in 2019 I suffered a life threatening tumor that had to be removed from my small intestines. When I was in the hospital (and since I have returned home) I tried to use visual meditation to help me from having panic attacks and from thinking very dark thoughts. I would imagine butterflies, flowers and light entering my body and allowing me to heal. So I love that the collection seems to honor that sentiment, that we can find beauty in the darkness. A dark floral has always represented that to me when I paint that way. And I just love that there is a very deep meaning embedded in this. Please let me know what you think of the collection if you snap one up. And as always, I hope this inspires you to KEEP DREAMING BIG & SPECIFIC!! xo Jess

I snapped a few selfies of me in the collection. What I love about it is, it does make me feel strong and feminine at the same time.

Visit Spanx.com to shop the limited edition collection. And THANK YOU for your support.

They created these Swell water-bottles for PR kits, and I was so excited to get mine.

Etsy Shop Closing Sale Final Notes & 5 TIPS to Running a Successful Online Shop

Thank you for all the sweet, thoughtful feedback you left.

I teared up a little when I saw my Dad leave the review above.

Thank you to everyone who has ever left a review over the years. You do not know how much it helps small business owners create a strong rapport online.

2020 ended so much faster than I anticipated. As many of you know, I had my Etsy Shop closing sale. See my previous blog post about the details of why I closed my shop. I cannot thank everyone enough for the fantastic support and positive energy you sent my way. I had amazing help from 2 bright, wildly talented women Elizabeth Tortorici & Hannah Channing. We shipped thousands of prints during the most chaotic shipping season I have ever encountered to date. And some people are still receiving their orders to the farther parts of the world! Over the last decade I have learned so much about shipping globally, selling art online and customer service that I feel I could teach a masters program in it, haha. But truly, what a joy it was to close out the Etsy shop with such amazing, bright energy with you! I received so many messages and well wishes, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

One of things I worked hardest at in my Etsy shop over the years was the customer service end, and working hard to achieve 5 star reviews. In fact, for over a decade my shop has been nearly 4-5 star reviews. A lot of it has been because I have always had a mantra, “Treat every customer like my first customer.” I think that is an important detail anyone who is thinking about opening an online shop or is running one now, should remember. When you buy something from the maker online, you are usually very excited about the level of personal connection you could possibly receive. You aren’t going to get the same experience from buying off Amazon, or any big box store, right? But it also makes it tricky when your order arrives damaged, wrong, or the customer is not satisfied. Be the shop owner you would want to support over and over again. You are completely in charge of how you run your shop, and handle any customer service issues. But if you it make it a goal to make your customers feel very respected and happy about their purchase-your shop will grow and flourish. People want to see humans doing the right thing. And online shopping platforms in a small way, can reestablish people’s faith in human connection. That’s just my opinion ;)

I always like put out an inspirational and positive note, as you know. So here are:

5 TIPS to running a successful online shop, no matter what you are selling!

1. Never forget why you started. There will be slow times. There will be issues you never expected that might leave you deflated. When I started my shop, I had no idea if I would sell even 1 item. And of course, my 1st sale was probably the most important one. When the chips are down, it’s really important to reconnect to the basics of why you do what you do. And of course, if your heart is not in it-take inventory and a serious look at why. In my opinion, if you are not passionate about what you are selling, your customers will know that. So be sure you really stay true to why you started. And keep that close to you.

2. Focus on making what you are selling important and exciting to you. Don’t make it just because you think it will sell. This is so easy to do, and to not even realize you are doing it. But I honestly think it’s so valuable to remind yourself of this often. When I started painting again for myself (long before I thought about selling) and doing so for the joy of it, I was able to make art that really pleased me and brought me joy. Art that I was less critical of. And that is always a win. When I can look at something I made and am able to see the magic in it, I know now-others will see it too. But If I make something because someone told me to, or because it’s in some trend-forecasted brief I have seen from a higher up corporation telling me I need to have more of “x, y, an z” in my portfolio it 99% of the time means I’ll make FLAT, STATIC art that is not being true to myself and my aesthetic. Stick to what energizes you. Stick to what keeps you curious. You need to feel like a mad scientist when you’re in the studio. Being instinctual, playing, and allowing mistakes to happen. That is when good art is made.

3. Treat every customer like your 1st customer. I am reiterating that statement here. Remember that people can shop in millions of ways. And they chose to shop with you for a reason. Respect that. Strive to make them happy they shopped with you. Not only will you likely get a great review (which will make it easier for new customers coming into your shop to trust buying from you) but they likely will share your shop with their friends/family. So for every 1 happy customer, it is likely to trickle out to so many more new customers!

4. Be willing to take negative feedback or a critical review or just even suggestions. Be open minded when someone tells you a way they think you can improve or do something better. They just might be right. Which is such a blow to your ego, right!? But when are any of us right all the time?? TRUST ME, if you start selling art it takes a while to grow a thick skin, the more you are able to stay humble and let go of your ego-you will improve and grow in unexpected ways. I have had multiple times as an artist when I do something wrong. I fail miserably. But it’s because I try my best to get back up, adjust and learn from it-that is why I am successful. Not just because the art and talent. Your resiliency and humility will take you farther than you can imagine.

5. Ask for Help. This is something I am not good at. And I am SO glad I asked for help more last year than ever. Whether it means, contacting a successful shop owner and asking them for any tips/tricks or hiring out help when things get busy or just asking friends/family for their honest opinions about what you could improve on. We constantly need to be in a state to say, “I’m not weak when I ask for help. I can’t do this all on my own all the time.” The inclination is to do it all yourself. But you can’t sustain a business, and surely one you want to grow, but doing it all yourself. Now in days there are platforms that can even print/ship for you. We can outsource so much more now, then when online platforms 1st debuted. So always be open to doing a little research and knowing that more often, the help you need is always out there just waiting for you to ask.

I hope this spreads some positive inspiration to you today. I hope to be able to have more time this year to post on my blog as a continued resource to bring happy, inspiring and thoughtful messages to you.

Happy New Year! xo

Jess

Why I'm closing my Etsy shop after a decade of success

When I opened my Etsy shop back in 2009…I thought it was my last chance. My last shot at taking my artwork seriously and seeing if I could ever sell my creations. I remember clearly thinking, “I can try this…and if I don’t sell a thing at least I know I tried.” Opening the shop gave me hope. Maybe things could change in my life. Maybe I was allowed to create, and be curious. Maybe I was allowed to believe in myself. Believing in myself, was something I had not really done after 27 years of living and I knew I needed to start changing my life and thinking.

One of my 1st best selling artworks, Trees as Veins. It was one of the first of a series of paintings that felt symbolic of my life and helped me process the pain I was living with at the time.

I had been going through a painful summer in 2009 in my personal life-and happened to come across a website called Etsy that allowed creatives to sell their goods online. It seemed so exciting that you could build your own virtual marketplace. It seemed to bridge the gap of trying to sell on Ebay…and be a more nuanced way to sell. For many, I have no doubt it changed their life just like it changed mine.

In a few short years I was selling full time, shipping multiple orders daily and getting brands like Target, Lancôme and many others seeking me out to commission artwork. It blew my mind. It allowed me to see, that I was always in the driver seat. One empowering change after the other I was able to see that I was the creator of my life. I didn’t have to be passive, or let things happen to me. I didn’t need anyone to define what I was creating, because I knew what it meant to me deeply and how much creating changed how I viewed myself. And that was something bigger than me. Something I felt deeply I needed to help others learn to along the way. For me, my gift will always be that I can create but secondly that I can help others know of their own self-worth and the power they have to change their lives.

Like many people who start their own company, you become a bit of a control freak. You know that mistakes cost you, and are there to teach you. And letting go of control and allowing others to help you takes faith and trust. For many years during my Etsy shop I was so afraid that my dreams would be taken from me, that I needed to do it all myself and outsourcing was not the right decision for me at the time. I was ready to hustle, and work hard. I realized quickly how gritty I was. Nothing was stopping me, even when the chips were down I still knew I was going to succeed. That type of mentality has gotten me through the highs and lows of being an artist. Yet, doing it all yourself all the time is not sustainable. I have grown tremendously since that decade ago. In ways I can hardly fathom. And as I have grown, my work has progressed tremendously. And I realize that my Etsy shop, no longer reflects the growth I have seen personally and professionally. I know what my art is worth, and I know where I am going. Change is inevitable. And I want a shop that reflects my taste, and sophisticated sensibility.

I keep telling those close to me, “Everything I have now, is because I thought about it happening. So if I change my thoughts to reflect what is next…they are already on their way to me.”

My world map series from 2011/12 became a huge best selling series in my shop for years.

I want to create less. I want to slow down. I will be charging more. Because I am worth it. I will create large artworks, and things that you have not seen me do. It will be amazing and be the breath of fresh air I need with my work. I will have a new shop, in 2021 that will be an elevated way to shop with me. When I do offer prints, they will be in limited edition signed/numbered. Originals will be larger and more high end. This is my dream for what I see next in my career.

I am working hard to be able to offer as much of a savings to my loyal customers for my Etsy Shop Closing sale. I want this to be a special time for all of us. To really honor the work I have been able to create and share with you all. Each series…is and has always been a true reflection of my life. And I have been honored to have you all support me and build me up. Each small sale has built this incredible life for me. And I cannot wait to grow and share with you the next chapter. Most of my prints in my shop I will be retiring, and they will be 40% off. There will be door prizes and 75% off originals. The originals will be posted throughout November and the sale will officially go live at 10am EST November 27th at www.jessicaillustration.etsy.com. The Etsy shop closing sale will run until December 4th. But it may change on how it all goes. I obviously have never had a sale like this, and I’m looking to hire out a lot of help for the fulfillment of the orders. It will be one of the more exciting moments of my career and a very emotional time for me. I really look forward to sharing this with you all next month.

My shop contains old and new pieces. And I am so thankful for all your support of my art over the years.

The World is Your Runway Challenge so far

We are at day 15 of the 30 day challenge I opened up to anyone on Instagram who wanted to participate in creating their own fashion collection! It has been so fun so far. I love knowing that this challenge will help so many unlock hidden potential, new ideas and creating something they can be proud of.

I shared a little insight earlier this month that I thought might help those who are doing the challenge or want to do one in the future for themselves. Georgia O’Keeffe’s art school teacher urged her to paint a picture a day, an exercise to encourage her to attach more importance to the working process than to the final result. I hope the challenge will allow you to see that creativity should always be about loving the process. Getting into a headspace of using your imagination like you did as a child. Don’t be hard on yourself if you create something that you don’t like. Or if you create something you love and you don’t get a lot likes/comments on it. The process is about getting into the habit of working, sharing and letting go of what you made. As long as you love what you are doing or where it is taking you…the crowd’s point of view really doesn’t matter. At the end of the day creativity should be FUN. Put on a fashion show, sip a good drink, make a fun mood board…get into the spirit of creating the world you want! That’s what I am doing, and I hope my daily posts help you stay inspired. Because what I wasn’t expecting was to feel this project is more for you than me.

I can’t wait to see what you all continue to create. I am impressed with your willingness to do the work and joyfulness to share it. Here are some of the looks I created so far. They would be a dream to see come to life one day. And I know….just by thinking about it could happen means I am one step closer to manifesting it ;)

xo

Jess

A B side creation from today. The further along, the more exciting it is to create more dramatic designs. Think about creating a few “show stoppers.”

I created a color theme for my collection, which has helped a lot for me to keep things unified.

Facing My Fears

I have been taking a break from social media the last couple of weeks, in order to face my fears.

I think if I’m honest with myself, I use social media way more to numb out and block one of my greatest fears I live with today. That fear is from my medical past. My medical past that included being in the hospital last year with internal bleeding so massive, I received 3 blood transfusions in 24 hours. Once I found out I had a tumor blocking my small intestines and it had to be removed ASAP, I don’t think I have ever fully mentally recovered from this trauma. Awaiting for a month to find out if I had cancer or not, was an experience hard to explain to anyone. And at times it overwhelms me that I have had 2 near death experiences in the hospital now, and leaves me feeling so helpless and alone. Saying that I know I am so lucky to have dodged the cancer bullet. And I have had a wonderful recovery and healing process. But it’s like those little cracks of anxiety that sneak up on you…that can really just throw a wrench in your day, week or even year.

Release Your Fears, watercolor on canvas paper.

Although I do a lot of things to really positively go about my day-from journaling, meditating, praying in the morning, to walking 45 minutes-hour outside everyday, eating healthy and doing what I love day in and day out, I still am human. And the trauma can easily be triggered-just from simple everyday things like going to the bathroom. Or a small feeling in my stomach that makes me feel like I want to spiral out and have a full blown panic attack. And I think for the last 6 plus months of COVID, I literally numbed out the quiet feeling that can often terrify me. Because, I do love quiet oddly enough. I love taking breaks to do what I love, and not have anything to prove to anyone. To work on a new body of work uninterrupted. To really remember what life is like before the smart phone days! But I know I get a bit of both now because of my past….sometimes those fears come through and somedays I just have a peaceful, good day.

Not only was I trying to face these fears…my commercial work was also getting to be super defeating. I first didn’t get a job I was vetted for with a brand that I love. Then I was faced with what felt like a punch in my gut….one of my hugest career setbacks to date happened over the course of many months during COVID. I am working hard to learn from my mistake. Legally I cannot talk about it. But let’s just say that it was for a huge client, and it’s made me rethink how to create. And that’s why you saw me create differently a few months back, because I know I am going to take this PIVOT the universe has extended me and be the BADASS ARTIST I AM FOR LIFE!!

Overcoming Defeat, ink on paper.

I will always, ALWAYS be the first person to want others to learn from me, and If I did something wrong I work my butt off to fix things. (Just take a look at my Etsy shop customer service for over a decade…only 1 negative review of over 2k reviews and 12k sale. And that is due to my respect and love for my customers) My blood boiled for a moment there. I felt so many things…and knew I needed the break from social media to really face a lot fears. Instead of just blocking it all out. I also wanted to create a new body of work…and really build myself back up using my positive thinking and manifesting abundance as much as possible. Because if there is anything I know…when life throws me a curve ball, I might strike out but I guarantee you I’ll be back at that base hitting a home run! I know being an artist means I will have career highs and lows. I know art will always be a controversial subject. But I am dedicated to helping others learn from me, and know that I can have huge successes but that doesn’t mean I won’t fail or make mistakes, or have people make me question my worth or talent.

My IG break is about over, and I hope that the new work can inspire you. I did a series of figure studies that I love. Here are a couple that I created that really capture the feelings of fear and overcoming them. When the world knocks me down, I will always be true to this gift that has allowed me to overcome every road block I have encountered in life. So I know now, that this is apart of my story moving forward.

Facing my fears head on, is the only way I can move ahead. And anyone who is facing your fears right now, know you are not alone. And you are brave and I am proud of you. I hope my blog can be a letter to you during your time of need. Pass on love and hope always!

xo

Jess

#theworldisyourunway2020

So 2020….let’s just say some days I feel like “I’ve got this” and other days I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. And I know EVERYONE can relate. I’ve been taking a break from social media for the rest of the month to really quiet the noise, work on a new body of work uninterrupted, and reset intentions as well as my internal thinking to bring my vibration UP and UP.

I’ve gone through some major changes this year internally with how I see my art and career moving forward. Many of you know I’ll be closing my Etsy shop and reopening a newer, more elevated way to shop with me in 2021 right here on my website. So don’t miss out on my Etsy Shop Closing Sale coming November 27th-December 4th. I’ll be selling originals at 75% off and retiring the prints you see in my collection. There will be door prizes, and all sorts of BLOWOUT deals. Just thinking about the end of this era it makes me misty eyed. But I know it’s the change I need to make to GROW and evolve to the next chapter of my creative life.

Stepping into September like a BOSS. This design I created to get me thinking about the challenge is a silk, chartreuse shirt dress with black suede boots, and gold buttons.

2020 started off busier than ever and seemed to continue moving forward (even during COVID) like a speeding train. I don’t always know how to slow down, as I love to create and the work I do. I finally found an analogy that describes me…I love fashion illustration & creating like I love chocolate. What you see on my Instagram is true, authentic passion and a drive to become better daily. That disposition coupled with the strong empath that I am got me through many months of COVID. As you know I care so much about helping others become more creative and positive in their lives and I felt a strong duty to create free art workshops on my IG (which is one of the things I know looking back I’ll always be so grateful I got to do) All that being said, the burn out is real. So taking breaks from social media really helps me. As well as taking the time to just slow down and reconnect to WHY I STARTED. So I’m grateful that even having a week or so to really build my mental strength and self-love back up is so vital for me. Getting through COVID has got me thinking more and more creatively.

A month or so ago I kept thinking how fun would it be to do a creative initiative of original fashion designs for the month of September? I always love September as it marks the start of the foray into Autumn. All the fashion shows and The September Issue, pumpkin space lattes, putting on a pair of boots….you know all that stuff ;) And of course, this year it will be a little different. But I wanted to create a challenge for me and anyone else who wants to participate via Instagram using the hashtag #theworldisyourrunway2020 and posting your own dream collection, one look a day. So that by the end of September you have 30 looks! It’s a personal challenge for me, because I want to push myself to come up with original looks that I’m excited about and allow me to DREAM. Dream about the day where we will once again go on date nights, cocktail hour with my girls and painting at live events again! All while wearing things that make me feel confident and beautiful. Not gonna lie though, I am still wearing dresses and heels during this quarantine. I did about 3 solid months in sweats and then hit my breaking point bought a bunch of dresses and fancy shoes to say, “enough with these gray sweats…I need to feel like ME again.” Because dressing up for me, allows me to feel like I have a say in my confidence for the day, a tool of self-expression as well as happiness even during COVID.

I hope you’ll have fun if you do participate in this challenge. I will be so happy to share them in my stories and we can all encourage one another and bring some positivity and beauty into the world. And remember…don’t wait to wear that fancy dress. Do it tonight. Put on your favorite Pop songs and dance around. Remind yourself that if you can make the most of your life and time during COVID WE CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

xo

Jess

How Self Affirmations changed my life and how they can change yours too!

This morning as I was writing in my journal it dawned on me that I needed to share with you all how important self-affirmations are.

I am often asked how I lead such a positive life, and how I manifest amazing experiences into my experience. And for me it always, always, always comes down to 2 things. 1. Self-Belief/love and 2. Self-affirmations. They seem to be antidote to a lot of negative thinking I have worked years to overcome. If you met me when I was a young woman, and even in my 20s I wasn’t this person born with natural confidence or self-belief that I could do anything I dreamt of. In fact, it was quite the opposite. And I think that’s why I feel it is important for me to share these continued messages that I was able to change my life and live the life that was only a pipe dream for me, because I choose to believe in myself, and speak loudly words of affirmation. Once I read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, I was able to really implement changes into my daily routine that allowed me to make affirmations a part of my life. That is when I can say without a doubt my life changed. It opened news doors and a new way of seeing my life.

It is important to take the time to look at how you were raised. What were the examples your parents gave you? How did your teachers, friends and others you had relationships with treat you? You are trained at the earliest of ages to know your worth. And we teach people how to treat us. As I did the work in The Artist’s Way I was able to confront ghosts of my past, write them down and tell them they didn’t have the same power over me anymore. I also finally had the courage to leave a relationship where I was continually cheated on and lied to for almost a decade. The moment I left him at 31, I felt for the first time I was truly taking the power back in my life to say, “I AM WORTHY.”

If you are wondering how self-affirmations work they are at the core, very simple. They are just phrases of positive things you want to feel and do in your life, said out loud. The trick is to say them daily, and once you say them enough they become an actual belief. And it’s a form of the law of attraction. If you believe you are worthy of something and can have what you want in life, it makes it that much easier for the universe to bring it to you. Here’s a simple example. I’m sure we can all think of the friends we have that A. Always get exactly what they want in life. Whether it be the raise at work, an amazing relationship, etc. and B. The friend who hangs their head low and always has another story of how someone took advantage of them or their heart is broken yet again. Pay attention the energy your friends typically emit. We all have that energy, and it’s natural for it to be low and high at times. But what is your baseline? Are you usually thinking of what could go wrong? Are you usually thinking that you won’t be paid enough? That people will let you down? Or do you expect things to be more positive for you? These are all things we need to be more aware of.

As the wise words of Oprah I have on my mood board, “You become what you believe.” And just think about Oprah, she got pregnant as a teenager and had to overcome shame and child abuse. She overcame a series of terrible relationships filled with men physically and emotionally hurting her in 20s. And then something happened…she knew she couldn’t live that way and saw better things for her. She chose to change her thinking. And imagine if she stayed in that low place….we would not have the wisdom and inspiration from one of the world’s most powerful and uplifting empaths we have. Her story is one we all can learn from. We can OVERCOME our past. We can LEAD beautiful lives. It’s all up to us.

So here are some affirmations that you can use, and also try to think of specific ones. Write them down in a list. And each morning before you start you day, say them out loud with your shoulders back and your posture strong. Proclaim what is rightfully yours. I got these ones out of the book, The Secret and thought they are really lovely. These are good for everyday. They are general and powerful and will bring your energy up.

1. The Universe is Conspiring for me in all things.

2. The Universe is supporting everything I do.

3. The Universe meets my needs immediately.

4. I am the creator of my life.

5. I draw everything good into my life. Be it, people, jobs, circumstances, wealth, health. I am a magnet for what I think about most and I will CHOOSE to think about good things.

6. I am worthy of love, respect and the dreams I desire.

7. I will give respect to others and I will receive it back.

8. I have unfathomable power to in my mind to create an amazing life for myself and those around me!

9. I will help others and they will help me.

10. My good thoughts are POWERFUL and my negative thoughts are WEAK.

Now I also think it’s important to have specific ones you say. Every time I focus on being specific I am AMAZED at how quickly they work. (I had ones like, “I will work with Chanel. I will work with Target. I will be published in Vogue & Harper’s Bazaar.” AND THEY ALL CAME TRUE!!! But I also have ones non-work related like “I will find a man who respects me and I will respect him”. THAT CAME TRUE TOO!!! So make sure you really think of things that you see as your dream and then spend a few minutes every day believing that they are going to come to you. Be it big or small, you are allowed to have all the things you want. Don’t be shy.

So take the time to make a list of affirmations. Do it now. We all have the time. So no excuses. Practice them every morning. And I can’t wait to hear how they work for you.

xo

Jess

The Final Flash Sale!!!

When I started my Etsy shop back in 2009, I had hopes of it becoming a successful platform to sell my artwork on. It sounded like a pipe dream…to sell what I love making to customers around the world. The first year and a half I didn’t really know much of what to do. Sales were slow but at that time, I wasn’t really putting pressure on myself to sell. I was putting pressure on myself to create meaningful things. I focused more on making artwork that allowed me to grow, express myself and have something to look forward to and dream about. The first 100 sales in my shop, which probably took over a year and a half to hit…all felt amazing. I knew my progress was slower than what others might think, but for me, I was finally taking the time to create what I needed and wanted to.

Blue Girl, one of my favorite pieces, which is now being sold at IKEA stores globally. If you would have told me that when I started my shop….that my artwork would later be sold to one of the largest retailers in the world, I would have not believed you!

The early stages of my Etsy shop were giving me hope and allowing me to heal from a crumbling decade long relationship. I threw myself into my art, when I found out my husband at the time had been unfaithful for more than half our marriage. I was moving all over the country to support his career, so I often was left alone (self-isolated which everyone can relate to more now) and creating was a huge way to get me out of bed in the morning and take the reigns of my own life and mental headspace. So, it’s no surprise that I am always encouraging anyone who asks about how I made my artistic dreams come to fruition, that you must use your own life experiences and story to help you express yourself and heal. What is art for, if it’s not for healing?

It wasn’t long after that first chunk of time, that my work got better. The more I created from my heart and the strong need to, the work got profoundly greater. People were connected to it. It became more and more emotive. I kept mentally thinking, “If you build it, they will come.” From Field of Dreams. And slowly, but surely…they did. And people began sharing the work online and in publications. Brands were contacting me to paint for them. It was all so surreal. There was a huge shift in momentum. And it all came from my heart, my work and God granting me grace to keep me going.

All That Glitters, from the early days of my shop.

My first Flash Sale, I did it on a whim and didn’t really have a platform to share about it on at the time. No Instagram audience at all yet. I just had my Etsy shop banner to advertise and made a few announcements about it. I wasn’t really sure if I would get many sales. When the sale happened, I was so surprised that I had hundreds of prints sold in one day!! I had an audience that was engaged in what I was making, and excited about it. I was texting my best friend who lives back in m hometown of Las Vegas and she was asking me how the sale went and if I needed help. Minutes later she booked a plane ticket to come help me. Ashleigh and I grew so much as friends by then making it a tradition every year since to have her fly out every year and help me for the sale. This year, because of COVID, she won’t be able to join. But luckily we will have other excuses to spend time together, since we are BFFFFFF! And I will have hired help for the fulfilling of orders to make sure we get out the art to you all as swiftly as possible!!

So make sure to mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 23rd for my Final Flash Sale in my Etsy shop!!! Here are some FAQ’s about the sale and why I am closing my Etsy shop after 2020:

1. My Etsy shop has long served me as the platform for my direct-to-customer sales. It also is the place I have been able to create personal work and have your PROFOUND support on! However, as I am growing as an artist and where I am at in my career I feel it is time to let go of my Etsy shop and embrace change to move forward. I have outgrown the platform, and I need to respect myself and honor the new change I am making. I will have a new shop built into my website, where my goal is to slow down and create larger, original works of art and only offer limited edition, signed/numbered prints. Elevating how I create and sell. The way I have been selling will no longer serve me and my energy. So that’s it in a nutshell!

2. The Flash Sale will include the new original paintings you have seen on Instagram, as well as prints and digital downloads at 50% off! At MIDNIGHT EST on June 23rd the coupon code goes into effect, which I will also announce on my Instagram to start the sale. So be sure if you want any of the originals to put a reminder on your phone. The first hour of the sale is always the busiest and originals go fast!

3. The sale ends in 24 hours. So grab what you love. As I will be retiring most of my prints after 2020. Yes, that’s also a huge thing for me to do. Change is not easy…but I believe it’s all serving me in my next step forward with new dreams and hopes.

Porch Party, one of the new original paintings for next weeks’ Flash Sale!

4. I want to thank each and everyone of you who have supported me in my Etsy shop over the years. It is hard to express in words and to fully even process what this has done for my life. I always hope that through what I do, that I can INSPIRE you to go for your dreams. Remember this when you start comparing your start to someone’s decade long successes….I AM JUST LIKE YOU. I knew NO ONE. I was not highly connected. I had about $100 to spend on art supplies when I started making work for my shop. I had rejections, failures and still do. Just remember to stick with it because art is a form of healing, self-love and self-belief and that you have the power to change your life. Don’t wait for someone to tell you you’re good enough, or talented or worthy enough. You are. And once you figure that out without anyone telling you so…YOU WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

I love you all, and can’t wait for Tuesday!!! xoxo

Jess