We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessie Reyna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessie, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
When I was younger, I used to live in a very walk-friendly neighborhood, so my childhood past time would be to go walking. I would sometimes take a quick fifteen minute walk, or I’d be gone for an hour or more. That sort of self-care followed me through college and into my twenties. It was how I collected my thoughts and organized my ideas for future projects. I always felt less stressed after a good long walk with some music.
Now that I live in South Carolina, I don’t live in a well-lit area and with the heat, it’s not exactly the right conditions to go for a walk! So I have found other ways to release stress. Depending on the day, I will go to my studio and paint for a few hours. I feel like I have more control over my emotions when I can just turn my brain off for a bit and paint with some music. I also enjoy taking baths while listening to true crime podcasts, or watch the latest true crime documentary.
I try to incorporate my son into my self-care routines and we are starting a little tradition of going to the library together. We have our own library card and we will go on Saturdays together to play with puzzles and look through books. He will get his own book while I pick out a couple for myself. Carving out time to read everyday has been very fulfilling and I’d like for him to grow up with a positive attitude towards reading. Devoting my time to other activities to relieve stress has worked positively in my creative process.
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?
I’m an acrylic painter and digital illustrator, and lately my muse has been novelty items. My full-time job consists of educating children ages 3-5, so I’m constantly around kids who have a lot to say, they have many interests, and they are constantly sharing it with me. Creatively, my job has given me a wonderful outlet and I’ve been able to look at things with a new perspective. I’ve been able to reach into my inner child and find joy in items I’ve long forgotten about, such as Cosmic Brownies, Twinkies, Ring Pops, Pop Tarts, etc. I’m currently working on a body of work that highlights this topic in hopes that I find the right space to share it with everyone else.
I’m also collaborating with my aunt, Dyan Brisson, and we have come up with new products together using my designs and fabric, and she does the sewing! It’s very hard to keep costs down while also making sure you have quality items and you know exactly where they are coming from, especially if you’re wanting them to be locally made. Since the passing of my grandmother, who was a sewing master, Dyan has followed in her footsteps and has been putting her energy into creating bags, children’s clothes, stuffed animals, and more! I’m really excited to be in business with her now so that we can both lean on each other to expand our ideas.
Over the last few months, I’ve been focusing on branching out my small business, and I’m happy to announce that I’m currently in several stores across the Charleston area. I’m still at The Station Park Circle, but you can now find me at Local Love CHS, Two Cumberland, Paper Canopy, and soon, Southern Ruetz opening up on Meeting Street. You will also be able to find a couple of my pieces in the upcoming Pop Art Exhibition at Charlotte Art League from September 8th to October 6th.
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?
1. Make friends! Don’t look at fellow artists and creators as competition. Instead, they are your colleagues. Follow their career because you might learn a thing or two from them.
2. Create whatever you want. Stop focusing on what you think the world wants you to create or what’s “trending” right now. Test your clientele and create what interests you, and you alone. Pay attention to the feedback that is given to you, and keep working on it. There is an audience for you out there and they are going to love your work. You’ll never find them if you don’t try.
3. Mixed Media! Test out your skills in other mediums to find what works for you and your vision. Familiarize yourself with these other mediums, practice using them and expand! I’m now a huge fan of acrylic markers and soon figured out they were the missing link to my pieces.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
I think my biggest improvement over the last year has been removing the “job” aspect from my small business every once in a while. I do my best to look at things as the “glass is half full”. When I come across opportunities, I no longer focus on how it’s going to serve me career-wise.
For example, I recently participated in Patch Whisky’s Drink-N-Draw at Firefly Distillery. I had never done an event like this before, I had no idea what to expect, or if I would actually sell my pieces at the end of the night during the auction. Instead, I viewed it as a lovely Friday night with fellow artists, drinking cocktails and drawing whatever the heck I wanted. It sounded fun and relaxing, and that was what was most important to me. I was pleasantly surprised that both of my drawings sold at the auction, and I got to meet some amazing artists that night!
I also come across a market here and there that doesn’t do well, and that’s okay! As someone who works full-time and is a mother, it’s still a nice day out where I can mingle, maybe have a beer and some good food, and catch up on some reading. I try to base my decisions when it comes to my business by asking myself “Is this going to bring me joy, even if I don’t make any money?” If the answer is yes, then I’ll go ahead and do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jessiereyna.com
- Instagram: @jessiereyna_art
Image Credits
Christina Percario
