We recently connected with Jessica Singerman and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
Growing up as an artist, I didn’t see a lot of positive role models who took care of themselves. A little over 20 years ago, when I was in graduate school getting my MFA, I decided that I needed to make some changes, and I started riding bikes pretty seriously. I like to say that riding bikes saved me because it helped me work through some disordered eating, got me to quit smoking, and helped me navigate some tricky periods of mental health. It also ended up influencing my painting – I shifted from working representationally to working abstractly. I think that all the time I was spending outside on the bike observing and feeling the environment contributed to this shift in subject matter.
Now for self-care and to keep my creative juices stoked I spend some time moving my body, getting outside as often as possible. Whether it’s yoga, a bike ride with friends, a solo run in the woods, a hike with my family, or rock climbing in the gym, the time I spend taking care of my body supports my emotional and mental well-being. I learned years ago that taking the time to move my body is always worth it and actually makes me more productive. I will not get more done if I don’t take the time to move.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I love that my work can inspire people and bring a sense of wonder to their lives. Everything is fast-paced now, so to be able to bring a moment of calm or wonder to people feels special.
I am a multidisciplinary artist and I teach college students at an arts conservatory. I make drawings, paintings, sculpture, video, and sound work inspired by my time exploring and moving through nature. Spending time in the outdoors is a kind of meditation and helps me to get centered. In my work, I think about nature and the changing environment – how we perceive it visually, and also through our other senses. By making artwork I get to explore the ideas I’m interested in for a particular project through color, form, texture, and the myriad other elements we get to play with as artists.
As an educator, I get to pass on knowledge and skills, and to give back to the creative community. Personally I also get a lot out of teaching. It forces me to keep my skills sharp for demonstrations, to refine the way that I think and speak about concepts so they are clear for students, and to figure out how to adjust my teaching so that people with different learning styles and ways of communicating can all grow as artists. In between semesters and during the summer I coach other artists, and really enjoy the mentoring process.
I also run my business exhibiting and selling my artwork. One of the best feelings I know is when someone connects with an artwork I made and that artwork finds a home out in the world.
I’m grateful that I answered the call to be an artist and that I get to do this work.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Determination is a big one for me. For instance applying for opportunities is a normal part of being an artist. Unfortunately so is getting a lot of “No’s.” But I keep on making my work and getting it out in the world, and applying for new opportunities because I am determined to keep at it. Getting a “Yes” feels great! I know that I can’t rely on the “Yes’s” for validation, but it sure helps.
Wanting to keep growing as an artist is another one. A lot of what spurs me to continue to make my work is trying to get better at my craft. So whether it’s working on color mixing, or drawing and painting skills, I spend a part of each year going back to basics. Usually in the winter, I’ll take a short course, or work through a book, or assign myself a project to work on a skill I think needs growth.
Curiosity! Some of my projects have come out of just being curious about the world around me: close observation, research, asking questions, and wanting to learn more. I’ve found that making things has always been the best way that I can process what I observe and share it with others.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
I would say my number one challenge is coming to terms with how up and down art sales can be. I believe that when you make artwork, an important part of its “life cycle” is to be out in the world seen by other people. Of course the making of the work is important (I am all about the process after all.) but seeing work sitting in my painting rack can be depressing. Artwork needs to be lived with and interacted with. Growing awareness of my work so that I can sell it more consistently has been tricky. So I guess getting my work out of North Carolina and out of my region is part of the challenge. I’m up for it though!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessicasingerman.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicasingermanfineart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicasingermanfineart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-singerman-12719715/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessicasingerman
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Daniel White On the bike photo: Rebecca Falls Laughing at exhibit photo: Gary Simon
