Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jaime Lovejoy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jaime, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My dream has always been to pursue a creative path professionally, specifically my painting. When I graduated college, I was at a crossroads of pursuing my creative passion or following a traditional corporate path. I did some soul searching and chose (what I thought was) the safer choice for the position I was in. I could always paint on the side, but I needed to support myself. It was then that I made a promise to myself to return to my painting full time. Timing is everything. Fast forward 20 years later and the opportunity to pursue a new path was in sight. I had left my current job and was looking to break into a new industry. During a coffee date with a friend, she asked me — “if there were no constraints (time, salary needs, etc) what would I want to do everyday?” It was clear, my art.
It was eye opening to consider that an option, could I make this work? I redirected my energy into what it would take to make my art my full time career. I explored returning to school and how to build an art business. I approached my creative business in the same way I had my corporate marketing career and built a business plan, outlined my goals and what I wanted to achieve as an artist. While I wish I had been able to start my creative career earlier, the knowledge I acquired from my previous career (as well as life experience), helped me tremendously as I embarked on this new chapter.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an abstract artist based in California. My paintings are heavily influenced by the variegated shapes and colors found in nature and the drive to feel grounded amidst fragility and chaos. The work explores a story of the earth and interaction between humankind and the environment around us. My style explores heavily watered down acrylics poured across the canvas in thin veiled layers, manipulated by tilts, turns and uneven surfaces. Fluid with motion, each stroke and pour creates depth and builds on the understory, much like that of the forest ground outside my studio.

I see my work as statement pieces for a room, but one that feels familiar, bringing the peace and meditation of nature into the home.

I enjoy working with clients to find the right piece as they bring together a room. My mother was an interior designer, so I am always considering how completed or commissioned work compliments a space – bringing movement and color but also balancing comfort and calm. My work spans collaborating with interior designers, stores and private collectors in addition to gallery shows.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Go see art, experience art, share art, buy art! My work is currently in a show in San Francisco and we are so grateful to have many collectors and friends stop by. Beyond that, how can viewers amplify the love of art? When going to see your favorite artists, bring a group of friends, tell your coworkers about a great exhibit you have seen, share favorite artists on social media. A simple recommendation can go a long way with an emerging or mid-stage artist.

With the holidays around the corner, there are so many local, creative craft fairs that come up. Shopping local, supporting local artisans bolsters a thriving creative ecosystem and offers unique gifts for loved ones. My favorite fairs in the bay area include Headwest Marketplace, Marche and West Coast Craft, but I uncover so many more this time of year.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I have the same top line goal every year – to have the freedom to paint. It took me years to realize my artistic career and when I have lows, it’s good to come back to my goal and remind myself that I am able to do what I love. My mission remains to create art, to share my story and perspective, and essentially leave a part of my soul on the canvas. Painting is my meditative state and my style is intuitive and influenced by my daily life and the world around me. While my style is recognizable, each series elevates from the last, pushing new boundaries while staying true to what I aim to create.

I also remind myself that my art practice is for me, motivating me to explore new directions and experiment. When artists start to see some early success, it’s easy to get distracted by what sells or feedback you are hearing from collectors and/or the industry. When this happens, I come back to my goals and mission as a grounding point – why am I doing this? What am I trying to say with my art? What inspires me, feeds me, motivates me? Drowning out the outside world in order to focus on what you want to create is important. That might mean you may not sell a full collection right away – but the audience will eventually catch up. Don’t sacrifice your creativity for a sale. Tell your story and stay true to your art.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jaimelovejoy.com
• Instagram: @jaimelovejoyart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimelovejoy/

Image Credits
Adahlia Cole, Sarah Renee Photography, & Foxden Videography