Meet Jodi Sun

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jodi Sun. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jodi, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

My love of drawing and painting began before I was old enough to remember, and I was a very creative child, but I’ll be completely honest – keeping that creativity alive has been a challenge for me over the years and often still is. Even as an artist, I’ve found that it’s something that really needs to be practiced and nurtured with intention. For me, what that looks like is spending time in nature, surrounding myself with other creatives, and diversifying my creative outlets.

Nature has always been a major source of inspiration and mental grounding. It’s what I turn towards to quiet my mind, find perspective, and expand the pool of experiences and observations that I try to channel into my art.

It’s been so important for me to nurture relationships with others for whom creative curiosity and experimentation is a lifestyle. I’m so grateful for the friends who spark my creativity through their own practices, collaborate in ways that shape new projects and ideas, and encourage me to try other art forms.

As an artist, I draw and paint, but I also engage the right side of my brain by doing things like dancing, taking a pottery class, trying out eco printing, and playing the piano. Even drawing or painting something outside of my usual style is effective. It’s like cross training in creativity and helps to prevent creative blocks, and making things for yourself that no one else has to see removes the barrier of wanting to impress other people.

I currently feel even more committed to keeping my creative practice alive, as it’s something I’ll now be modeling for my daughter, born just a couple of weeks ago. I’m looking forward to seeing the ways in which that evolves in this time of transition to motherhood, as I want to foster an environment that encourages her own individual and hopefully lifelong creativity.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m an artist in the Seattle area with a focus in pencil and watercolor. I grew up drawing and painting, but changed my plan to pursue a degree in art to go to nursing school, though the prospect of a career in art had always remained a big “what if?” in the background. Like many others, the pandemic and the encouragement of friends and family prompted me to take the step of turning an art hobby into a business, and I began selling my work as prints and postcards on the side. This past year, I quit my thirteen year career as a surgical nurse to focus full time on my art, a decision also driven by the desire for a more flexible work life balance so that I can be available for my baby girl and still pursue my own professional and personal goals.

My art is inspired by my love of the outdoors and the human journey of finding connectedness in the world. Working with pencil and watercolor allows me to explore the balance between controlled detail and the simplicity of surrendering to the medium. I’m constantly experimenting and exploring different styles, but the influence of nature’s beauty is a running theme in my work. In particular, I’m intrigued by the way it shapes the human healing process and its role in the diverse phases of life that we experience. I hope that my art offers a creative lens through which others might reflect on their lives and their connection with nature and find a bit of peace and beauty in a chaotic world.

I’m currently focusing on life with a newborn, but my work is available for purchase on my website, and I’m looking forward to participating in local art and market events and in-person community engagement later on this summer.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think I would say that the qualities that really got me to where I’m at are conscientiousness, attention to detail, and the ability to find beauty in things.

I was always described as being conscientious, which honestly has been both a strength and a barrier. I put a lot of time and effort into my work, and while it’s important to carry out a task to the best of your ability, it can often be difficult to know when to stop trying to improve on a project or a painting! I think the motivation for consistently doing your best comes from believing that what you do matters. Don’t underestimate the value of your effort and contribution.

I have also been very meticulous in my work. Whether it be surgery or art, the smallest details have great impact. A single detail could affect the success of a surgery or a patient outcome. A single line or splash of color could change the story you’re trying to tell with an art piece. The power of observation has helped to keep my patients safe and taught me to draw. I would encourage everyone to find ways to slow down and pay attention to the little things. This type of mindfulness practice is so impactful, not just in creating art, but in living well.

I think I have an appreciation for things that many would find uninspiring, depressing, or a bit macabre, and it has helped to shape my perception of the world and the way I respond to difficult circumstances. Finding beauty in situations in which it may not be immediately apparent is something that I found particularly valuable in the medical field. It has enabled me to bridge my identities as a nurse and an artist and added depth and breadth to the stories I’m able to tell through my art. I think my advice on this goes back to mindfulness and observation. The seemingly dull or inconsequential might have deep meaning to share with us. I am constantly reminded that there is always color to be found in a seemingly grey landscape.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

This may seem like too easy an answer, but the biggest challenge I’m facing at the moment is doing life with a new baby and keeping this phase in perspective. It’s been easy in these past couple of weeks to feel the pressure of all the things I’d prioritized prior to motherhood on top of taking care of a newborn. Right now, however, my baby girl is my number one priority, and I’ll work on slowly incorporating more of my other activities as she grows.

For now, I’m trying to focus on enjoying this short and precious time with my daughter while learning the ins and outs of parenthood. I’ve been going on walks outside for my mental health and fitting in art-related activities in small chunks of time as they’re available, and I rely so much on the support of my amazing husband to keep from feeling overwhelmed and to make time for myself here and there. Patience is not always my strongest point, but I know that life has its fluctuations and that my creative practice will continually have its ebbs and flows. I just try to remember that, even though I’ve slowed down in my creative projects and outdoor adventures for the time being, I’ll soon be able to pursue these things alongside a small human, and I can’t think of a better way of sharing the beauty of creativity and mother nature!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jodisun.com
• Instagram: jodisunart
• Facebook: Jodi Sun Art