We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jocie Salveson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jocie below.

Jocie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents have always been supportive of my love for art and desire to make it my career. They encouraged me to pursue it without question. Beyond that, what they did right was give me a stable, loving foundation and strong Midwestern roots so that I had the confidence and courage to grow wings. Those wings have carried me into a fulfilling art career–as a graphic designer, fine artist and now a children’s book illustrator. With those same eager wings, I have also jetted around the world, traveling and living almost six years abroad in both Germany and Japan.

My life adventures, exposure to new people, places and cultures, and the inspiration I gather from breathtaking vistas all over the globe have influenced my art significantly. I’ll be forever grateful for all of this.

Jocie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

An art-making career can take many turns. Growing up I wanted to first be a Disney cartoonist and then later a painter. Yet graphic design is how I officially entered the creative industry (while keeping one paint-smeared hand producing commissions and other artwork on the side). Surprisingly, I didn’t venture down the path of book illustration until a few years ago. After a decade of surrounding myself with my kids’ picture books, I knew I needed to explore this treasured art form. It spoke to my heart. And I had stories to tell.

Several serendipitous connections and lots of fun but hard work later, and I have now illustrated two published children’s books (middle-grade book “Curious World of Dandy-Lion” by Lorraine Hawley and picture book “The Belly Button Express” by Amy Despain). I recently added a third book to my portfolio–one that I both illustrated and designed–called “Summer of the Fox.” It shares compiled memories of the Farmer Family and their true-life adventure with a fox that joined their family for a season. With each new illustration, I am one page closer to crafting my ultimate dream–creating children’s books of my own as author/illustrator/designer.

Every piece of art I work on–whether it be a portrait, logo, book illustration, etc.–is extremely important to me in its own right. I pour myself into each creation. That connection to the art results in something I can be proud of. But when asked what I’m most proud of, my answer is simple. It’s a book that I wrote, illustrated and designed called “I’m Gonna Pout Today.” I’ll be querying it soon with the end goal to make it widely accessible. We all have experienced (at least once!) being stuck in a pout, so this book truly is for everyone. The message of the book is both personal and universal, vulnerable and heartwarming.

I have plenty more stories and images in my head . . . spilling out, ready to be caught on paper with pen and color. I love the idea of being author, illustrator and designer all in one. Perhaps this creative combination–coupled with my various life experiences and perspectives–brings a uniqueness to my work. I’m very excited to see where my art life is heading!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Oftentimes we don’t know what we don’t know. And something I think non-creatives may struggle to understand about the journey as a creative is the reality of the creative process and what that actually looks like. What one likely sees (especially with social media nowadays) is an edited version of art-making. Not every idea, brushstroke or artistic mark will lead to progress. It can be messy with mistakes, trial and error, exploration and discovery. Also timing plays an important role in this. Sometimes the creative juices flow freely and sometimes they feel forced. Inspiration can appear at any time of day. It’s a process that requires patience, practice, problem-solving and persistence. If more people were aware of the struggles we all face at one time or another in the creative process, perhaps they would be less intimidated and more open to giving art-making a try.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having the means to express my observations and interpretations of the world around me and to share the stories and ideas inside my head. It’s immensely satisfying to visually communicate and connect with others through my art. And, likewise, I appreciate so deeply seeing the work of other artists–marveling at their talents, unique perspectives and inspiring creativity. Art celebrates the beauty around us and in us. It empowers us to find a voice and speak truths or imagine what could be. I feel honored to be in community with such creatives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jociesalveson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jociesalvesonstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jocie.salveson
• Other: email: jociesalvesonstudio@gmail.com