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

Michaela Jean , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Like most artists I was always creative and enjoyed making art for as long as I can remember. However, I never thought being an “artist” was a viable path for me. My first choice as a child was to be a marine biologist- as a millennial woman I am sure this is shocking. But as I grew older and actually explored the sciences (my weakest subject in school) I quickly tossed that dream aside. My next priority was wealth.

You see, my family did not have a lot of money while I was growing up but I always had a taste for the finer things in life. So I studied hard and figured I would find a way to make a lot of money and hopefully stay creative. You know own an art gallery or something? This is what my 17 year old self thought anyway. So once in college I settled for majoring in art history major, as I thought art practice would have been too risky. I hope you can sense the sarcasm because my choice was not exactly pre-med or business.

While in college (at UC Berkeley) I made the most of my time there and filled my electives with fine art classes, they were my absolute favorite. I told myself after graduation if I couldn’t make my own art at least I would be surrounded by it or do something creative. I though perhaps I’d work at an auction house, a museum or even give the movies a go. I heard production designers did well I did enjoy my film making classes. In the end, I tried all three. But finally at 25 while working at an art museum and on the cusp of a move I had a choice. Settle in at the museum world staring at other people’s art or go against everything I had ever believed was possible and make my own. Professionally.

Obviously I went with the later and haven’t looked back since!

Michaela Jean , 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?

As I mentioned before, art has always been a part of my life. But having majored in the History of Art I had a very traditional idea of how one could become a professional artist. In other words, I thought only those with at least a BFA from a prestigious art program, who then found gallery representation at again a prestigious location could become a “real” artist. Ironically, while I was working at a fine art Museum, instagram took off and it opened the doors for independent artists everywhere.

I watched women just like me build careers just by sharing their artwork online. This inspired me to make my own art more regularly and eventually build the courage to share it with the world. When I finally was ready to proclaim myself as an “artist” it was like jumping off a cliff. There was no turning back and no other career option for me in the future. I was an artist, then, now and forever.

Now after seven years I am still very much evolving. Because I did not have a full formal art education, a lot of my first few years making art full time was finding my visual voice. Although this shifts even today, there are aspects of my technical practice that remain truly ‘Michaela Jean’. Layers of lining, surprising colors and mildly off perspectives- these are elements of my own visual language that I am most proud of. In addition, nature, that past and beauty are subjects that remain integral to my artistic brand.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I find that people best understand and support the plight of others when they can imagine themselves in the other’s shoes, or better yet have had relatable experiences themselves. Therefore I believe that society as a whole needs to recognize the innate creativity in each individual and the collective. Every single person is creative in one way or another. If each person would not shame this aspect of themselves I think the arts as a whole would be better supported by humanity.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Two years after I began making art full time, just as my business started picking up and I had increased press exposure, I had my first child. Shortly thereafter my family and I moved across county and I then experienced severe postpartum depression, panic disorder and anxiety. So much that I ended up in the hospital. This was one of the most challenging times in my life as I had little support and no tools or reference points to deal with or process what I was experiencing. All the while taking care of a new baby. Even writing about this now brings tears to my eyes because at this time *trigger warning* I did not want to exist. Life was too stimulating, too exhausting, too painful.

However, with the help of family, doctors. therapy, medication and eventually moving back to the west coast I swam myself back to the surface and as cliché as it sounds came back stronger than ever. In the midst of all of this was my art. I look back at my sketchbook from this time and find rather dark images, but the first series I made after getting help was a portrait series of strong women I found inspiring. How perfect is that?

My creativity kept me connected to my body, to my soul, something that so many women feel disconnected from after having children. Motherhood is resilience. I know now that even in dark times beauty and love can always be found.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michaelajeanart.com
• Instagram: @michaelajeanart
• Facebook: @michaelajeanart
• Twitter: @michaelajeanart
• Other: TikTok- @michaelajeanupp