Meet Jaylene Cabrera

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

Jaylene, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

By nature, connecting with others in group settings is sincerely overwhelming. But when it comes to my art, I’ll push past overwhelm and insecurity to promote my artistic pursuits. The art scene is a much older crowd in Jacksonville, there’s not a lot of artists in their 20s. The framework of my confidence was built from years of winning contests, selling work, exploring my art practice, teaching, publications, gallery representation and art critiques. In spring 2024 at the University of North Florida my professor, Jason John, told me if I wanted gallery representation I had to be present in the art scene. No one was going to discover the work if I’m not showing up. From then on out, I made it a goal at each opening to talk to the artist and the director of the gallery. To this day, I still go to every one because its the artists that make up the art scene. Sometimes I dread going out, but I never regret it.

Now I’m in a routine of going out to see local art and talk to my artist friends. It all happened so fast, within three months I’ve shown my art in galleries with the top artists in Jacksonville and have a contact list of gallery directors, creatives, and artists. Before going to a show I get anxious, I focus on the art first then I look for the artist to ask about their series. To make sure I meet everyone I need to, I stay for about two hours or until the event is over. In that time I’ll have a drink and talk to the other guests and ask their options on the work or if they know the artist. I make sure to let other people know that I’m an oil painter/print-maker by showing a photo of my art and I’ll share my contact.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

To me, life is aimless without creating. Oil painting is the creative momentum cycling between guitar, photography, and writing. Each medium informs the next by directing me to trust my intuition by prevent stagnation, and deepen my perspectives to keep creativity in constant evolution. At this point in time, my work is an admiration of life’s overlooked moments and fleeting emotions. I’ve been driven by words- quotes people tell me, advertisements, writings and music. I hold onto that initial feeling, and let it unfold through me.

I earned my BFA from the University of North Florida, where I dedicated countless hours to service-learning initiatives on and off campus. One of my most meaningful experiences was my internship at Art with a Heart in Healthcare, where I created artwork for children in the hospital. Throughout my undergrad, I challenged myself by breaking boundaries, often deviating from direct instructions. Assignment parameters created uninspired work with empty purpose. My grades suffered but I didn’t need to be an excellent student to create meaningful work. This pattern repeated itself in painting / drawing courses, except for printmaking. Printmaking offers immediacy, layering and versatility that allowed me to explore alternative artistic approaches intuitively. I excelled in printmaking classes and found solace in monotypes. Using monotypes, I layered lithography, chine-collé, screen and intaglio for expressive works with spontaneity and depth. For my figure drawing class, I created an oil painting titled “Maverick”, which received a low grade. Nonetheless, I submitted it to a juied competition, and won Best Overall. Since then, “Maverick” has been exhibited in multiple galleries, solidifying its place in my artistic journey.

Beyond my studies, I taught as a drawing instructor at The Art Garage and orchestrated my own printmaking workshops. I served as the Painting Guild President in Spring 2024, participated in the Printmaking Guild, which took me to Art Basel, and was part of the pioneering team of Dream Promoters, a year-long service program focused on kindergarten readiness for under served children in Westside Jacksonville. Until May 2025, I will continue working as a Volunteer Coordinator/Graphic Designer at UNF, a Gallery Assistant at Southlight Gallery, a MOCA Ambassador, and a Freelance Artist. Recently, I’ve also begun volunteering at LaVilla School of the Arts to gain experience for leading my own classroom.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Persistence, dedication, and reflection are the most impactful qualities for artistic pursuits. You won’t go anywhere from shyness, believe in your work and show it, you can always do more than you think you can. Support your network by persistently attending to local events and volunteering. Dedicate time to grow yourself through experiences, exploring your craft, and focus on what truly matters through personal reflection.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Before graduating with with my BFA I took six months off from university to gain work experience. During that time, I moved, interned at Art with a Heart, MOSH, volunteered alot and focused on getting my work into exhibitions. This has been the biggest period of growth for me so far. While living on campus, I was stuck in my own world of class, work, and art. I was disconnected from everyone, and felt like an outsider.

I was shy and closed-minded, but I learned how to hold conversations with strangers, take care of my mind and body, and be there for others when they needed support. Stepping out of my comfort zone by attending events, curating exhibitions, teaching art, and supporting other artists gave real meaning to everything I had been working toward. I realized no one is going to magically discover me and buy all my work. I have to put in the effort to sell my art, make connections, and build relationships. The curators, directors, and artists in my network aren’t in competition with each other, we want to see each other succeed. Being apart of the art community takes persistence, but it’s also given me a sense of belonging I never expected to find but always wanted.

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