We recently had the chance to connect with Jess Peoples and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jess, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
I always get taken aback when customers are moved by viewing my work. I have already spent so much time with it that I don’t always realize how emotive a piece is to be viewed in person. Thankful to see the power it has and also the connections and lovely stories I receive from the collaborations.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jess Peoples and I reside in Nashville and paint out of my home as well as onsite at many parks/outdoor areas around town. I have found an appreciation to painting from life whenever possible and translating the energy around me into a painting. My work is often painted within the same day or, with larger work, in a series of several days, and reflects an appreciation and joy for the subject. I’m currently working on a 31-day painting from life challenge (called the Strada Easel Challenge) where I paint from life every day in January. Some of these early paintings will be at Spotlight on Art in Atlanta Jan 26-31, while some others will be available through my website. My intention is to intentionally meditate everyday to find and share joy with others. I’ve even added some sourdough bread as an extra token for patrons. So much of what we do today is heavy on technology and lessens our grip on humanity. My painting and sourdough is an effort to bring back some human connection.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
In 2009, I went to a small town outside of Nairobi, Africa with my mom. She administered immediate medical attention to people in this community while I was in a group watching the kids and helping triage where needed. I had never traveled that far or seen a population more different than the one where I grew up. The people lived so differently, never fully knowing where their next meal would be, yet carried such a joy and appreciation about the world. And they saw everything in such a connected appreciative way. The whole encounter altered how I thought about life as well as structured my own approach to living.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
In 2019, I had started working on my own fully in freelance. I didn’t have a lot of clients immediately, but was building and trying some new things and found myself stirring a lot about some things that were simply out of my control. I was able to train myself to transition my anxiety into producing art, and it seemed people started noticing. I also started investing in learning more about art, attending seminars, workshops and open studios all over Nashville. I reached out to artists I admired and asked them questions about themselves. My whole body lit up as I went deeper, and I was pretty obsessed with painting whenever possible. Something about it just made me the best me and everyone who knew me knew that too. Then, 2020 happened, my mom received some scary health news, and my freelance business was placed on hold until the businesses could figure out what was happening. My kids were small and needy and my husband also worked for himself and was gone additional hours to figure out sustainability. Somehow, through all the confusion, art was this superpower that just made sense to me and gave me connection to myself and others. It also gave me more courage to be ok with ambiguity and sit with others who also had ambiguity. And a lot of people started following me, even buying the art I was sharing because they saw the journey and also identified with it. I heard from people that my art gave them strength. I watched several people cry when they saw some art that I made. And so, the journey continued. And still does today.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I hope so. I try to be as authentically me as possible. Maybe that’s why I am an artist. Kind of unapologetic about being honest about most things when I need to say them and also pretty open to letting people know when I don’t fully understand something or know enough to truly respond.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Most people go through their days without really understanding small joys. And somedays I’m just like “them”, on autopilot, not really thinking or appreciating. But for a good amount of days, I’m curious about simple things that connect to other things and create beauty or joy. And I seem to sense what’s fleeting. I am thankful to be aware and appreciate the day that’s given to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jesspeoples.com
- Instagram: jesspeoplesart
Image Credits
Meg Miller
