Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Basiletti
Hi Jean, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been drawing and creating my whole life. As a child I think it was the only thing that I ever wanted to do, possibly the only thing that I felt fully comfortable with. Getting older it became more of an obsession, wanting to really know how good I can get, and pushing myself to draw as realistically as possible. This lead me to art school, which lead me to where I am now! I am still so much of my younger self. Offering my art when I feel like I am not worth anything else, or like I can’t ever explain my gratitude or feelings. Art is always so honest and can say it all without saying anything.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting here with my art has felt fairly easy, just like loving the right person is easy. I always felt like art was my first and forever love, and creating is how I tend to smooth out every other area in my life that feels like a struggle. This might differ from my answer with my previous interview, but maybe both are truths for me, haha.
There are always points when you compare yourself to others, and there have been many points where I got rejected from a job I wanted. Those times never feel good, but I see them as minor setbacks in the grand mission.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an artist, more specifically an illustrator! I feel that I am most proficient in illustrating books, greeting cards, and I love doing posters for events too. I don’t know that I really have something I can be very proud of yet- I feel a little bit proud every time someone uses my work for a higher purpose. In books I suppose that is when they use me to bring their story to life, in cards its when they allow me to be a part of a loving moment. I also had my first solo art show last June, “Bug Energy”, where I allowed my more spiritual work to be viewed by friends and strangers who all gave amazing feedback. Nuggets here and there make me proud, but I am still waiting for that huge proud moment, I suppose.
This is funny because I was recently thinking that when people work with me, I don’t think they expect me to be so business-minded? I churn out products like my own little factory, whereas I feel like the general standard for other artists is that they really take their time. People do comment that I work very fast. I also love making forms. Honest to god-I had to write a contract for someone recently and I actually really enjoyed it.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Covid actually came at a time when I really needed things to slow down for a second. I felt like my life was moving along way too fast and I didn’t have time to think. I was also at college and extremely homesick. So I pretty much got everything I wanted by being home for a long time where I got to spend massive amounts of time alone, and where I think I had a lot of creative breakthroughs. And its when I really realized- yes I want to keep doing this.
So I guess the lesson there is Covid or not, that time of quiet and stillness should be allowed at any point in life if I really need it. Taking a break is valid. I know everyone thinks Covid ruined my education, but I couldn’t have imagined it would have turned out as successful without it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jeanwolfgang.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfgangies124/
