We recently connected with J Y and have shared our conversation below.

J, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

At the beginning of 2023, I decided to leave Los Angeles for a year to develop a more solid plan. I felt that I was moving way too fast in life and at the same time it felt like no time had passed at all. I think Los Angeles has a funny way of being like that sometimes. I was organizing my art shows, handling bills, and running asmoothiecompany events single-handedly, from production to selling. I hadn’t seen my family for more than a few days in years and I was hitting the brink of exhaustion. I even fainted in my kitchen once from not having enough of anything. I was a single woman living in a hectic environment and I knew something had to change There was a bit of fear in taking the risk to stop everything I had been doing and working towards for the past 4 years. There is the thought of not knowing what could happen in the future. What if I came back and everyone I knew had gone or what if I wasn’t able to find a good place to live? What if I hated my life once I left and felt too overwhelmed to start over again? I was going home to live with my family for a year, the same family I hadn’t seen for more than 3 days in years. I had a plan to come home and focus on building a brand. No parties or dating or being insanely high for no reason. I wanted time to plan without distractions. So I drove my 1993 pickup truck across America and here we are a year later. I have gained some insight into the business of beverage selling. Overall, I have seen the most growth in my art career. I had been most successful with art from the beginning. I applied for residencies and ended up at an awesome program in Upstate NY. I have developed and enhanced my artistic abilities immensely this year as well as my exhibition numbers and presence. Most importantly my mental and physical health are at a personal high. I will return to LA nearly a year to date since I left, for an art show with a popular emerging gallery. I couldn’t be more thankful for my awareness to take the risk of leaving and create time to regain my composure.

J, 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?

“ I remember staying up late to trace pictures on my light desk”. As a kid in school, I won this book-making competition, like every year in grade school. We were given a blank book and you write a story and make the illustrations. For as far back as I can remember I have been intrigued by art, the logos, and colors of things. As an adult in NYC, I gained a curiosity in design, gallery curation, and fine art. I moved to Miami to study independently and focus on development. In 2018, I sought out opportunities to showcase my work in Los Angeles, California by participating in as many group shows as possible and networking with notable figures in the art industry. I started with basic materials. Cardboard, spray paint, acrylic, marker. Once I gained skill and acquired funds I was able to create works with oil paint on canvas. I study artists from all periods and soak in as much of the process behind finished pieces as possible. Today I create works by fusing mixed mediums into cohesive forms and textures and am focused on developing a signature style and trademark for myself. I get inspiration for the pieces from my personal experiences. I am excited to indulge more in other creative outlets such as sculpting, music composition, poetry, and film.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A big lesson I have learned is that you simply cannot do everything alone. I still struggle at times to remember that it is ok to ask for help. It is so important to develop good communication and team-building skills to be successful in any creative business endeavor. There will always be someone who knows more information than you or can lead you to people who will help you grow. Not only have I learned from the knowledge of others I have learned most valuable lessons from the mistakes of choosing the wrong people to include in my endeavors. It’s inevitable to make mistakes and it is very important to ask for help. Burnout is real. No one can do everything and it may not turn out exactly the way you envisioned but it could lead you to something greater if you maintain a desire to grow.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

The best thing society can do for artists is show up for them. Go to their shows and absorb their work. Give them opportunities to showcase their talents. Share your resources. Give encouraging feedback and buy what you can afford when something catches your eye. It could be as simple as a smile and a compliment. An artist’s greatest desire is to be seen.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janae.online/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM64cv_BZvoN_LMegj2VIdw

Image Credits
bridget rodgriguez zewei peng