Antarctica Cruise with Royal Caribbean

2024 has been off to a refreshingly surprising start! For those who don’t follow me on Instagram, I had the opportunity to teach watercolor classes on board Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise for a couple weeks in January. And wow…what a treat it was. We boarded on January 4th in Buenos Aires, Argentina and left on the 5th. That meant we had a couple of days in Summer weather in a beautiful city before heading to the South Pole and with it, the major shifts in temperatures. I will do a full post on BA and the other excursions…but I want to focus on Antarctica for this post, she deserves our full attention.

I am lucky enough to have been able to work with Royal Caribbean, and I was asked to be apart of this cruise segment back in September 2023. I was thrilled to say yes, but I also knew that the trip to Antarctica was going to be long and comes with its own set of challenges…namely, the Drake Passage. (You can google and watch video clips if you dare!)

This cruise also went viral on Tiktok & many news media outlets before I got on board. It went viral for the fact that it is The Ultimate World Cruise and around 600 passengers on board will stay on the Serenade of the Seas ship until September, making their voyage to all 7 continents 9 months in total. When we boarded it had already been about a month departed from their starting point of Miami. It was so cool to talk to guests about why they chose to do a 9 month cruise. Can you imagine??

If you’ve never been on a cruise, you have “sea days” meaning not every day brings you to a port. Sea Days are full of activities! So a day at sea can be whatever you want to make it. As I tell people about cruising, “You can do everything or nothing.” You can super social or anti-social and stay in your cozy room and read all day.

My job on board is to teach painting classes on those sea days. And on longer cruises like this one, I can maximize the amount of classes I can teach, and therefore have a greater reach. What I love about teaching classes on cruises is that I get to teach people and meet people I probably would have never crossed paths with. I get to teach people while we are visiting some of the most beautiful and inspiring spots around the world. I get to enjoy the ports and excursions, just like the passengers which gives me a hybrid experience. I get to see the ship from both the customers perspective, and an employees. And I also get to adapt to the constant changes at sea. I have always felt that one of my greatest strengths in life is I am highly adaptable. It’s a Sagittarius thing haha. Or perhaps since it’s because I have spent the first 3 decades of my life moving across the country and always feeling a wave of constant change. But my art has always brought to me new friends and experiences, and has always given me a sense of security.

All that to say….the entire experience was an A+! It is very very hard to put into words what Antarctica is like. After crossing the Drake Passage (and yes…we got the Drake Shake with over 20ft waves!!!!) and the adventure that that was, we arrived to the South Pole! Now close your eyes and pretend you’ve gone to another universe…filled with icebergs, hump back whales, penguins and lands that no human inhabits…and you’ll start to feel it. I will be forever grateful that Brandon and I were able to see this part of the world. The moment when we saw a humpback whale jump out of the water, I teared up. One of the best moments was when we sailed to Paradise Bay Antarctica and sat there watching families of whales make their cute noises, wave their tales while we were surrounded by 360 views of majestic mountains. It is all so surreal.

Some of the students after Day 1 of painting classes!

When I taught classes the next day, I showed them how to use watercolors to paint icebergs and penguins. I loved that we had this shared experience. I told them, “We will all live the rest of our lives with the gift of what we saw yesterday….and how lucky are we.” To share that joy and paint with everyone was the cherry on top.

I hope you will enjoy some photos from the trip. And sending you best wishes as we start 2024! xo

Jess

Eating hot miso soup at the Sushi spot on the ship….with this view outside our window!

South Pole Chills! It was in the 30’s but it’s typical to have a lot of wind in this region…so it feels a little cooler than that. We also got snow the first morning which was so magical!

Our ship had 2 Ice Captains from Chile, to keep us safe and monitor all the ice bergs we navigate through. They along with our Captain said they had never seen an iceberg like this before-and we all marveled over it. He spun the ship around it a few times, and it was the first start to our day in Antarctica after a wild ride thru Drake Passage.

Julie was super talented, and is on the ship for 9 months-and brought her own supplies for the trip.

Painting at the pub!

Carolyn was another 9 month cruiser with her Mom-and she also is a budding artist and a joy to have in class!

The bluer the iceberg, the older it is. The water is more purer when it’s blue, and also makes it a more dangerous iceberg because it would be like colliding with steel. Luckily the ship has radars to know the location and depth of each piece of ice.

Our final port…the Southern most town in the world, Ushuaia!!! What I love about cruising….you wake up and you’re in a new location. I love getting a cup of coffee, going up to the top deck and taking in the amazing vantage, one that you would not get from land. When you travel by sea…it is an entirely different feeling.

So many wonderful students, making their own post card watercolor momentos!

Did you know Antarctica is home to 90% of all the worlds ice??

Drake Passage…I’m lucky I don’t get sea sick!

Brandee & Shannon are from ATL! how cool, right? And were wonderful students. Cheers to another adventure in the books!

Artwork for The Gates Foundation

I am so pleased to share that I was commissioned by The Gates Foundation recently to create numerous artworks to go alongside their childcare dividend in partnership with The Economist. These stories are fascinating and deeply emotive. I was able to be 100% true to my artistic self and work with an amazing art director, Mari Danzi on this project. These are the types of projects illustrators dream about. Below is the artwork and here is the link to the blog posts and initiative:

https://impact.economist.com/new-globalisation/childcare-dividend

Sail to the Canary Islands & paint with me on Royal Caribbean this June!

I’m taking my studio to the sea, and I would love for you to join me!

I am partnering with Royal Caribbean and setting sail on June 4th for a 12 night cruise to the Canary Islands, Vigo, Spain, as well as Madeira & Lisbon Portugal!

As many of you know I have taught in-person workshops here in Atlanta where I live for the last few years and I love them so much. Yet, I have so many who support my work who do not live close. I am taking this opportunity to combine my love of travel, with teaching watercolor to new heights. I will be teaching 3 watercolor courses on board inspired by the ports we visit. As well as a fashion illustration class. All my courses will be complimentary if you join us for the cruise. And you don’t even need to pack your art supplies, we will have them covered for you! So just pack your swim suits, and sunscreen :) We take off from Southhampton, England on June 4th, and here is the link to the cruise & itinerary details.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/itinerary/12-night-discover-the-canaries-from-southampton-on-anthem/AN12STH-4076907368#step=0

This will be a once in a lifetime trip and I hope you can join me! It will be AMAZING!!

If you book, please email me at jessillustration@gmail.com so I can be sure to bring you a little extra art surprise. Thank you so much for all the love and support!

xo

Jess

Group & One-on-One Mentorships Coming Winter/Spring 2022!

Happy New Year! I hope you & your loved ones are well.

I’m so excited to be offering creative mentorships in one-on-one slots as well as virtual group mentorships soon. I am hoping for late February to kick things off. Fingers crossed! I hope it inspires you and gives you a sense of empowerment for the New Year.

Back in 2009 my life turned upside down. I was 27, working a retail job for minimum wage. And I wasn’t utilizing my degree in illustration. I hadn’t created any artwork for years. That year I found out my marriage was not what I thought it was. I felt devastated, lonely and hopeless. It was a wake up call for me. I took feelings of betrayal, pain and suffering and began creating again. I had no lofty goals at the time, but to just keep getting out of bed every morning and paint. I needed to find a way out of the situation I was in. I wanted to follow my real dreams of being an artist, and I knew if I didn’t do it then I would likely never do it.

Fast-forward a few years later and I began making enough money selling my art to see I could get out of that relationship and take care of myself financially. Not just take care of myself, but flourish doing the thing I was born to do. Create art. It was the single most empowering moment in my life. I was liberated. I was working on illustration projects for some of the biggest brands in the world like: Target, Sephora, Starbucks, Spanx, Saks Fifth Avenue, Jimmy Choo and more. My illustrations were in books, magazines and hit television shows. And on top of all that, I was meeting amazing people and manifesting wonderful relationships. All because I changed how I thought about myself and what I believe I deserved. I was living my dream life when only a few years earlier I was living in a nightmare. 

It is wild to to think it all started from a very humble place. My story was not over nor is. And your story is not over. You can start over at anytime, and be whoever and whatever you want to be. I have received thousands of messages over the years of people telling me they can relate to my story and message. And it brings me so much joy to help others.

I will never forget the feelings I carried from the past. The low self-esteem, and thoughts of unworthiness. It takes a lot to re-wire those thoughts that are apart of our mental hard drive. I would love to help you on your path. I want to empower you and show you the possibilities of what you can do and be. It is not easy, and takes constant practice. But once you put certain positive habits into place you will see miracles happen in your life. 

My mentoring philosophy is if you change your thoughts, you will change your life. Your mindset is your greatest asset. I would be honored to help you on your journey. Wherever you may be at in it. My mentoring will focus on the mental barriers we put on ourselves, and using exercises and prompts to push past them.

I will be offering One-on-One customized mentoring packages. I also will offer Group Mentoring Sessions. Which will be a super positive forum that I’m so excited about! These group sessions will be perfect to pick and choose from and attend based on your own needs. Some topics we will cover: Selling your art online, Social Media marketing tips, How I book work with global brands, Pricing your art, Licensing your art, and many more. These will be an affordable option, as well as a great support system with other creatives. 

We will record all Group Mentoring Sessions, that will be available to download if you cannot make them.

I will have a scholarship for 1 mentee, and will send more information on that soon. 

I would love to know what other specific topics you are interested in learning more about. So please send us a message back with any suggestions. 

Stay tuned for the launch of my Mentoring Programs 2022! 

Best Wishes & have a wonderful Holiday season & Happy New Year!

Jessica Durrant

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.