We recently connected with Janessa Bookout and have shared our conversation below.
Janessa, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever heard any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
I spent years studying fine art, graduating with a BFA in 2004. I have managed my own career as an artist and worked just about every kind of day job along the way. Then I spent even more years learning about business and running my own small businesses in brick and mortar retail settings, custom fabrication shops and online websites. For all the creative endeavors and achievements I have made over the last two decades, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hit the wall a number of times with creative blocks.
Whether I was dealing with personal issues, financial stresses or just being overwhelmed by busyness in general, I often had to pull myself out of the trenches and prioritize my activities. Once the comfort and structure of school was over I had to become my own teacher. I had to keep learning new things and giving myself assignments. I had to seek out new opportunities for things like art shows, custom projects or creative clients.
I had to realize no one was coming to save me, “discover me” or make me rich. Day jobs often drained me of energy so I had to plan my creative endeavors around the daily schedules and other people’s needs but I always made myself a priority on days off. Sometimes that meant working in my studio like it was a job, clocking in and setting deadlines for myself. While other times that meant allowing myself days off for rest, recreation or rejuvenating my spirit in any number of ways so that my artist cup was full and I was able to overflow into my artwork, clients and personal life without burning out and giving up.
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 am currently working as a professional artist and multi-talented entrepreneur.
I do 3D renderings and project management for my main client, a custom awning fabrication shop you can learn about them at newportawning.com
I am also the office manager and art director for my surfboard company, DMZ Surfboards, which you can find at dmzsurfboards.com
I am the executive director for Operation Stoke. We are a 501(c)3 NonProfit offering recreational activities involving surfing, action sports, art and music, as well as needs based gifts like specialty equipment or custom surfboards for our recipients. We support people who have had to overcome terminal illnesses, physical handicaps, ongoing military deployments and natural disasters. The website for that is operationstoke.org
I run my own e-commerce website, fiftyskies.com that sells eco-friendly compostable paper pods and brewers for single serve coffee and tea.
I recently published my first book called “ARTworkaholic” which is available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRBCGLY) or through my artist website, along with my fine art gallery, blog and portfolio at janessabookout.com.
I am also working as an artist mentor and life coach offering one-on-one appointments to a select few VIP clients. I am currently preparing to launch an online course and live group calls for independent artists that will allow more access to more people online. There is more information available about those offerings at learn.janessabookout.com
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?
Learning to speak well in front of an audience began as early as middle school for me when I began participating in competitive speech and debate tournaments. I was also always very creative but learning to draw realistically from observation in high school drastically altered my life’s course. It was gaining the technical skills of drawing and painting that gave me the courage to attend art school. Although I had been a straight a student up to that point, the passion I felt toward art and all forms of creativity directed the most important decisions in my life. It was far from the easy road to take but it was certainly the most fulfilling.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is someone who dreams of being an independent professional artist but lacks the experience, skills or confidence to call themselves an “Artist”. I specialize in helping artists and creatives who have struggled to keep up with technology, business trends and other opportunities beyond the traditional art world system of galleries and online marketplaces. I teach artists to build their own brand based on their authentic self rather than creating a facade. These lessons include mindset adjustments, technical training and professional strategy sessions.
Contact Info:
- Website: janessabookout.com
- Instagram: @janessabookoutart
- Facebook: facebook.com/janessabookoutart
