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

Jessica , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I wish that I had pushed myself to paint more as young adult. I always felt pulled to create artwork, but was afraid of putting myself out there, and never really considered that it could be part of my career path. By the time I really got started selling and showing my work, I had lots of other adult responsibilities that would often pull my attention away from creating. Now that I’m a mother (and expecting a second!), networking and creating business opportunities is harder than ever. I’m lucky to create a new piece each month! But I’ll still keep trying, and in a few more years, when the kids need me slightly less, it’ll be time for me to focus on my art goals once again.

Jessica , 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 first started painting as an adult after going to a sudden and unexpected life change. I needed an outlet for my pain, and painting brought me such joy that when I realized that it could bring joy to others as well, my passion for creating grew into something more than I ever expected it could. All I want, is for my art to make people happy. There is so much to worry about in the world, and so many things to be fighting for, I don’t forget that or pretend that the worlds issues don’t matter to me, but I also feel that sometimes it’s nice to escape from the heavy side of life and lose yourself in something beautiful, colorful, even child-like. My artwork hopefully represents that. I want people who own it to be able to stare at the work for a while and relax, feel happy, and simply just enjoy a moment or two of feeling the lighter side of life. I know, and respect, that my art is not for everyone. It’s bright, and sometimes crazy looking, and often people say “it’s really cool! But it doesn’t go anywhere in my home!” And that’s fine! Connecting with the right clients can be a challenge, but when we do fine each other it feels that much more rewarding.

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

I love creating and teaching my daughter to be freely creative. She tends to be a perfectionist, which she gets from me. However, once I explained to her that often times, I’ll set out to create a painting thinking it’ll look one certain way, only to end up with something that took on a life of its own and ended up looking completely different from what I imagined. The important thing is to enjoy the journey that art provides! She has started being less critical of her own work and having more fun and that has been beyond rewarding to see.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Honesty, I didn’t start my social media pages soon enough. I was too scared of rejection to put myself out there right away. I also didn’t realize how much work it was to manage social media and make good connections. I wish I had worked harder at all of that back when I had more time to commit to it. Now I have a family pulling my attention away (even though they are the MOST supportive family!) and it’s just not easy to find the time.

I also wish I had connected with more artist groups in my area sooner. There was a learning curve once I started showing my work, and I could have been a lot busier had I known where to spend more of my energy.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.awakenartistry.com
• Instagram: @awakenartistry
• Facebook: Awaken Artistry by Jessica Sawyers

Image Credits
Jessica Sawyers Cohen of Awaken Artistry