We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jen Gray a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jen, 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 not caring what anyone else thinks. I just do what makes me happy. If people like what I do, sweet! If they don’t, then I don’t have time for them.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Music is the sound of the soul. I wasn’t gifted with the talent to express myself with a musical instrument.
But I can translate audio art into visual art. I am an artist and music photographer.
I am autistic and have synesthesia, specifically chromesthesia. When I hear music, I see colors. I experience music beyond sound. The world I experience is a kaleidoscope of complex layers composed of vivid colors, passionate music, and vivacious emotional energies. My works are an extension of my hyper-aware senses. I recognize my fortune in this gift and feel inspired to share it with others. It would be impossible to capture the intricate tapestries of my experiences using a single medium. I present those experiences to people through the mediums of photography, traditional art, and digital art.
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?
I can’t think of anything in particular. I fly by the seat of my pants. I’m certainly not in a position to advise anyone.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
As an autistic person, I am most challenged by the social aspect of my life, and therefore I find networking quite difficult. Until I’m extremely comfortable with someone, I mask my true self in order to appear neurotypical. It isn’t the healthiest thing to do, but that’s how it is.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/jengray11
Image Credits
Jen Gray
