Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jackie Sanders. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jackie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My company, J Sanders Studio, is on a mission to transform life’s mundane moments into memorable experiences. Through original acrylic paintings, art products, creative experiences, and art business education, my mission is to slow people down and make them more aware of the moment they are in.
It may be through meeting a new friend, reading a thought provoking quote, hearing a light-bulb clicking idea that shifts their perspective, seeing a dynamic shadow that catches their eye, or experiencing the rich texture of bold color in a painting. All of these elements have the potential to make a seemingly mundane moment memorable for days or years to come.
As a society that is built on the go-go-go mindset, so having the privilege to slow others down, even just for a few minutes, is my mission. Recognizing the need to slow down is universal but truly being able to experience it and sit with it, is a gift.
For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc, what type of products/services/creative works you provide, what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others. What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.
Absolutely! I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and have always been drawn toward geometric shapes and bold colors. On a mission to further explore this attraction and curiosity, I studied at Virginia Tech where I earned my BA in Studio Art, B.F.A in Art History and M.F.A in Material Culture and Public Humanities.
From there I moved to Raleigh and I continued to create artwork in my second bedroom. Trying to create a connection with the local Raleigh art scene I began visiting galleries, exhibition openings, and art critique groups in order to get a “lay of the land” and build connections with other career minded artists in the area.
Since then my creative practice has moved out of my living space and into a community facing studio at Artspace in downtown Raleigh.
Today, my art business is based on 5 core elements – Original Artwork, Art Products, Creative Experiences, Education, & Mentorship
[ Original Art ]
The foundation of my business is creating original (one-of-a-kind) paintings that are displayed throughout the south east and are sold directly to individual collectors. I recognize that rather than finding artwork “just to fill wall space”, working professionals often crave a deeper connection to their community and want pieces in their home or office that become conversation starters.
That is why a big differentiator that set’s my business apart from mass-produced artwork that you can find at Target, HomeGoods, or Amazon is that my art fosters a strong relationship between the artist (myself) and the collector. This, from the beginning, has been a huge focus of my company as I intentionally demystify my creative process and share the stories, influences, and concepts explored through my many art collections. I do this in several ways including through my active social media presence, consistent updates on my blog, website, blog, and online shop, as well as my growing email newsletter sent weekly to current and future collectors.
[ Art Products ]
Since original art can have the stigma of being “out of the budget” for many people, I also intentionally created my art product line to make it more affordable to a wider range of community members. I vividly remember the feeling of not having the wiggle room in my tight budget as a young artist to purchase work from others and it was very isolating. That’s why an affordable range of art is a big priority. With pieces starting at just $5, there is something for everyone to enjoy including stickers, inspiration cards, and colorful color catchers that hang in your window!
[ Creative Experiences ]
With a Community facing art studio located in downtown Raleigh, visitors are able to not only see and purchase completed artwork, but also explore the art studio space in which these pieces were created!
In addition to weekly open hours, I host free monthly First Friday events for the general public and free monthly Co-Create sessions for local artists to gather, network, and share resources together. I am a firm believer of community over competition and that together we can all rise together as culture creators in our community.
[ Education & Mentorship ]
Wanting to share forward the advice and business lessons I have learned on my creative journey in 2021 I launched the Level Up Artists Podcast with fellow artist Adriana Ameigh. In these conversations we demystify the creative process and exchange ideas with fellow career minded artists. New episodes are released every Tuesday for free on all streaming platforms including youtube!
Ultimately, at J Sanders Studio I am a firm believer of community over competition and that together we can all rise together as culture creators in our community & transform life’s mundane moments into memorable experiences one piece of original artwork at a time.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Social media is a tool for connecting and sharing your creative journey with others. Although follower count is a big conversation in the social media world, for me I see that as simply a vanity metric. Personally I would rather have 1,000 true fans of my work than 5,000 passive viewers.
That is why on social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok) I focus on documenting my journey rather then trying to “beat the algorhythm” (that is a game that very few are able to thrive off of). By focusing on sharing your journey with others you are able to demystify your creative process, build familiarity and trust with your future collectors, and set yourself apart as a small business/independent artist. That is the voice that large corporate companies can’t beat!
It also then becomes a wonderful time capsule for your future self to look back on as your creative career grows!
What’s a lesson that you had to unlearn and what is the backstory?
There have been so many lessons that I had to unlearn over the last few years however the biggest was the overarching concept of “competition”. In the art world this was a mindset shift that I had to reconcile with and replace with my new mindset of “community over competition”. You see, Growing up as a year round athlete, sports have always been a part of my core identity. I played competitive AAU basketball, competed in National Championships, and traveled to new states every weekend with the sole purpose of competing.
To this day I still prioritize daily movement, colorful nutrition, and volleyball into my schedule as a way to stay strong, healthy, and energize. However, as an athlete and an artist, juggling these two large priorities in my life has not always been easy, especially when you bring the sports mindset of competition into your creative practice.
You see, there are many overlaps between sports and one’s creative practice.
It requires consistently showing up, pushing your limits, developing a skill, experimenting, problem solving, and pushing through the uncomfortable moments. It
requires dedication to your commitment and constantly asking yourself, “how can I be better?”
However there are also some core differences.
Artists are not like athletes. There is no gold trophy, or first place award, or ‘beating’ other creatives. In athletics in order for you to win ultimately someone else has to lose – and that is not the case in the arts. Sports are objective and art is subjective which can be both frustrating and liberating! As an artist who is trained as an athlete I soon realized that creating ‘to be the best’ was a waste of energy and ultimately my mission became celebrating community over competition and using my art to connect with others who need it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jaclynsanders.com/bio
- Instagram: @JSandersStudio | https://www.instagram.com/jsandersstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jsandersstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandersjaclyn/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEfWvmFXZZ6Z_SW2lMSwCg
- Other: Google Business Profile: https://g.page/r/CTv4hqbD1hgIEB0/review TikTok: @JSandersStudio
Image Credits
Photos taken by Jackie Sanders.