Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jess McKenzie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jess, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I am mostly self-taught in all areas of my creativity. I do have some college courses under my belt, but I have spent the majority of my creative career learning outside of a formal education. Some would classify me as a digital artist because I have a background in web and graphic design, but I also have a knack for photography, acrylic painting, music, and writing. A lot of my skill has been learned from experimenting with different mediums to see what fits me best. The most effective way for me to learn is by being hands on, so I typically watch tutorial videos on the subjects I’m interested in and just go from there.

If I could go back in time and speed up my learning process, I would do so by finding a creative mentor early on. YouTube and Google were not around when I was just starting out, so if I came across information I didn’t understand I just did my best to figure it out. I would also ask other artists for help more often. I spent way too many years working in isolation and not reaching out for assistance when I desperately needed it. Unfortunately, I misunderstood the value of surrounding myself with people who were smarter than me because I was so used to doing everything on my own. I am proud to be a self- taught artist that can produce amazing work, but one lesson I’ve learned is having the courage to ask for help is a skill in itself. At this point in my life the only obstacle that can stop me from moving forward is me. My goal is to always be open to learn because I love being a student that much.

Jess, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started drawing in elementary school and it quickly became my favorite hobby. It gave me a way to flex my imagination and get lost in art. In my early twenties, I found myself intrigued by the way web pages functioned, so I purchased a few books and began studying front end development. After a ton of practice I went on to start my first company, Black Velvet Media, where I have worked as a freelance web designer for small business owners and non profit organizations since 2015. It’s been rewarding to help my clients gain a presence on the web, but earlier this year I decided to transition away from the field and into brand identity design. That is where my true passion lies.

My second company, The Creative Armory, was founded in 2017. It is a growing hub for design resources, music, and interviews with local artists. The idea to start The Creative Armory came to me while I was sitting in my apartment one night. I had just moved Downtown Detroit and felt out of touch with my art and the creative scene. I had been pouring myself into my 9 to 5 and felt like the fun, colorful side of me was almost non-existent. I wanted to meet other artists but didn’t want networking events to be my only connection to them. After tossing some ideas around in my head, I pulled out a notebook and started to draft the initial layout and content for the blog.

I wanted The Creative Armory to be a platform where artists who felt like me could share their stories, gain more visibility, and be inspired to pursue their creative passions in spite of facing challenges. In 2021, I added an online shop to the platform as a way to sell my custom artwork and apparel. I struggled with imposter syndrome pretty bad, so the shop gave me a way to get over the fear of putting my art into the public. I figured if I could lead by example, maybe others would find the courage to do the same. There are still days where I question my abilities and procrastinate a bit, but I force myself to keep going because I know that my work is helping someone out there.

How did you build your audience on social media?

If you are looking to grow your audience on social media, my advice would be to show up as your authentic self and let people get to know you. I started The Creative Armory in 2017, but spent almost 3 years posting content without ever showing my face. In addition to that, I wanted to appear bigger than what I was and said things like “we” this and “we” that when it was just me running things. When you are building an audience people need to see who you are and be able to form a connection with you. As much as I am comfortable working behind the scenes, I know that being in front of the camera is something I have to do in order for my community to grow. It was a struggle at first, but it has gotten easier over time.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I want to use my creative gifts to be a blessing to others. It’s never been about me. I founded these businesses in particular because they are all about service and helping people get to the next level in their own journey. The Creative Armory does more than provide inspiration; it helps artists realize their potential and gives them a place to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Black Velvet Media has provided high quality, professional web and graphic design services to clients at an affordable rate, which helped them look their best as they were just starting out.

When I think about my creative journey and life in general, I believe that we rise by lifting others. I know that I will get to where I need to be in the future, so for now I’m just doing the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: thecreativearmory.com
• Instagram: @thecreativearmory
• Other: creativearmory.shop