We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jacky Petters a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jacky, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

One of my earliest childhood memories involves my grandpa teaching me how to draw little pigs when I was 4 or 5 years old. As I got older I took a variety of art classes, from painting classes at the local theater offered for the community, to every class under the sun that art school had to offer. I was always learning, while applying my own artistic instinct and ability to anything I was working on.

I don’t know if there was anything I would have changed to speed up the learning process. With how subjective art is, I think it’s great for your skills to grow with you at different ages and different stages of life you’re in.

The biggest obstacle that stood in my way of learning more was myself. I won’t sugar coat it, my mental health fluctuates often, which causes different shifts in moods and motivation. I’m always eager to create and learn more, but there are definitely times where I just need to put the pencil or paintbrush down and step away for a while.

Jacky, 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 am a full time Graphic Designer and freelance artist and illustrator. My primary focus lately has been digital illustrations, where I illustrate anything from family portraits, pets, to random objects I’m inspired by. Clients will request artwork that resembles their loved ones and send me photos for me to depict into digital drawings. It can be somewhat challenging to capture someone’s true essence in a quirky illustrative style, especially if I don’t know them personally, but it also allows for my own interpretation and pushes me as an artist.

I also get commissions to alter Magic the Gathering cards – where I paint on 2.5” X 3.5” playing cards. I love the challenges and possibilities that such a small canvas has to offer. Clients either know exactly what image they want painted on their cards or they ask for custom artwork. This allows me to tap into various styles of art within the paintings, and as somebody who struggles with my artist identity and also having ADHD, it’s nice to be able to do multiple things.

My love for art is broader than one style or one medium. If I could, I would have 37 different job titles. But that’s what makes it so appealing for me – just having the ability to create without boundaries. Sometimes I get to be expressive and fantastical, and other times I get to tap into realism.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I was laid off from my first Graphic Design role, it gutted me. I felt very self conscious on my ability as a creator. It forced me to focus on my art while I was job hunting. My Magic the Gathering alter business, Wolf Alters, started ramping up. Since I had more free time, I was able to produce a lot more work, thus getting a lot more commissions. I also started working on other mediums like acrylic and gouache. It was a difficult time for me professionally, however it really forced me to focus on my art and I realized that I could make incremental income doing more of what I love. So even after I landed my next design job, I continued to nurture my freelance work that I had fallen in love with all over again.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing my finished product, whether it was what I had envisioned or not. I’m notorious for starting many projects and ideas but never seeing them to completion. So anything finished is a big win in my book and it makes me pretty damn proud that I did that with my own hands. I’ve never been the smartest or most mature person, but I’m happy with being creative and unique. I’m usually always fueled and inspired by something every day, and my mind is thinking “what should I make next?”

It’s also rewarding when a client loves the work I do for them. I’m beyond flattered when someone asks me to bring an idea of theirs to life and to be trusted with that. Art adds an extra layer of specialness, so it’s nice when clients acknowledge that by commissioning any artwork.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jackpett.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacpett
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wolfalters9631
• Other: Magic the Gathering alters: https://www.instagram.com/wolf_alters