Meet Jess Michetti

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

Hi Jess, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ve always loved to draw and make things, so architecture school seemed like a natural fit for me. But the greatest thing I learned there was not so much how to make a building, but how to approach a problem creatively. I carried that with me throughout the first decade of my career working as an architect and into my next adventure as a mom and freelance graphic designer and artist. Nature has always been close to my heart, but when I started drawing birds I began to understand just how deeply that connection runs. My work as an artist led me to working with local conservation organizations, and learning from those dedicated and intrepid folks is where I discovered that my purpose is to use my talents to celebrate, conserve and educate people about the natural world.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m an architect by training, but rediscovered my love for drawing when I had my first kid. I turned to drawing as “new parent therapy.” It’s easy to get so caught up in caring for a newborn that your identity gets a little murky along the way, so drawing quickly became my outlet and the thing in my life that was just for me.

My business began as an Etsy shop where I started selling my bird artwork once I had run out of friends and family members to give it to. I never would have thought that drawing birds could lead me to a world of wonderful graphic design projects, but I found my local community embraced me and my art once I worked up the courage to put it out there. From small art shows at coffee shops and retail stores, my business grew to include graphic and website design, branding, and even murals. Most of my clients are conservation-focused community groups and sustainable small businesses, and I love that my work with them is helping to make an impact on our local environment.

Seven years later, I’m still drawing birds alongside my graphic design work and participate in several juried art shows throughout the year to share and sell my art. I have shifted the focus of my artwork recently to highlight the relationships between birds and native plants, and love the challenge of adding botanical drawing to my compositions. I want my work to help support education about native plants and their importance to sustaining local ecosystems – especially the interconnectedness of plants, insects, animals, and us.

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

I’m not an extroverted person by any stretch, but the most important quality I’ve needed over the years is simply the willingness to put myself out there, talk to people, make connections and create lasting relationships. Part of this is being genuinely curious about other people, listening and remembering to just be a nice person. I consider most of my clients to also be my friends, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Design skills come with practice, so long as you are finding the process of learning fun and interesting. If I find I’m no longer curious about a medium, it might be time to let it go and try something else. Like anything, design skills and technical expertise with a medium will grow and blossom if they are nurtured, so be deliberate about practicing the things you really want to be great at, even when they get frustrating or difficult. But also try new things and learn new techniques…I find that this brings new perspective back to the core skills I’m constantly trying to develop. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to make things.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

First of all, take a deep breath. As a parent who started a creative business while caring for two very small children full-time, I had to process very quickly that there are only so many hours in a day, and that my kids are my first priority. But when I do get the time to work, I really try to make the best of it, even if it’s only for a short time. I work from home, so that means ignoring the laundry and the dirty dishes in the sink, hiding the email browser tab, putting on some music and buckling down.

Overwhelm is an almost-constant presence in the back of my mind, and I think that’s probably true for many small business owners who have to “do it all.” I ask for help when I need it, usually from my husband who has an entirely different skill set than me and the ability to cut through my anxiety and help me get to the root of a problem. I walk my dog, play the banjo, go for a run. Putting a little distance between me and the overwhelm is often the best way to get past it, even though it means not doing work for a bit. Coming back to a task with my lungs full of fresh air and a shifted perspective on the problem always helps move the day forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://goodgoosegraphics.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodgoosegraphics/

Image Credits

All images: Good Goose Graphics LLC