We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jess Peoples. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jess below.
Hi Jess, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?
The most specific time I can remember developing self-discipline was when I was a student-athlete in college. The constant preparation and practice, the dedication to get through the day effectively seemed to always be on my mind. Our team was not even very good my freshman year. We lost nearly every game and I recall getting teased from the seniors, having to pick up their things and collect the equipment at the end of practice, often wondering if I should just quit. Getting through a losing season and continuing to have hope, left me with a lot more perseverance that I could apply to other aspects of life. We ended up shaping up the team and had a winning record my last two years. The stories and great friendships developed from those years are deeply ingrained in my memory.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I continue to study, learn and create new art. There’s always something to dive deeper on, and I’m excited to share more work with the world.
I added new prints and reproductions to my offerings and have a few collaborations and announcements slated later this year.
I’ve also been tinkering with inviting groups into my studio to learn and connect. I have had a few different ones and continue to explore what that looks like for myself and my brand. Check out my website at jesspeoples.com for the full list of upcoming events in 2025.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three skills that have been impactful for me are perseverance, a curiosity with the unknown, and some technical understanding of marketing and business. And my forever thoughts on what can be possible. (I cheated, that’s 4.) It’s funny and so foreign to read about doctors or teachers and see how streamline and clear their journey is from the start to the finish. There’s no real blueprint for the artist or creative. The journey takes a lot of turns, rejection is just part of the process…and then the breakthroughs come. I’ve realized continuing onward with the foundations I know, doing something consistently every day to build upon that knowledge, and just being truthful to myself has helped the most.
If I were to encourage someone starting out on their creative entrepreneurial life, I would encourage them to dig deep, know your strengths and keep going. Be humble enough to ask the questions and tell people you don’t know how best to help them with “x”, but at the same time confident enough to jump in and synthesize ideas and offerings with what you do know and are willing to learn.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
I recently just read Ann Patchett’s “This is the Story of a Happy Marriage” and so much of what she talks about with writing directly applies to making art. I also enjoy reading not just this book, but many of her books because she is also a local Nashvillian. One who delightfully opened a bookstore right when all of them were closing. I really look up to her unique sense of herself and ability to make a mark on the world in her own right.
I could also ramble on and on about so many books. I loved meeting Jeff Goins, another local, and welcomed him into our artist discussion after reading “Real Artists Don’t Starve”. His takes on owning your craft and also having significant patrons as part of your growth plan stood out to me.
“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield reminds me to just keep doing the work. Conquer the fear and keep going.
Lastly, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron is an all-time favorite. If you truly want to be a creative in any way, journaling every day helps you let go of the fear and do just that. I have gifted this book to multiple people. An oldie but goodie that challenges us to remove the obstacles in our head and just do the work, even if it’s just small 5 minute journal exercises each day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jesspeoples.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesspeoplesart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jesspeoplesart
Image Credits
Kymberlee Stanley, Richard Peoples
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
