We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jaime Reed. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jaime below.

Jaime, appreciate you joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

For as long as I can remember, I have been an artist or been labeled as artistic. Along with being blonde, I was often labeled unintelligent, especially when Math and Science became more difficult for me as a visual learner. I learned early on, as early as elementary school, that I was different compared to my peers. Even today, I am immediately categorized when I tell people I’m an artist. Thanks to art history, artists have often been portrayed as mysterious figures who suffered because of their art. I honestly believe some of the most successful and fulfilling artists don’t suffer because of their art. My art does the opposite. When I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I am often drawn to it. I call it my “compulsion to create something with my hands,” because sometimes I feel like I can’t do anything else until I make something. Similar to how our bodies tell us we need to slow down and rest when needed, I often feel like my art calls me when I need it most.

Jaime, 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’m Jaime Arlene, a studio artist who paints in watercolor, gouache, and oil paint. I’m also a crafter, and you can often find me sewing clothes and toys for my little girls, including felt fairytale interactive books that I make from scratch! I’ve recently dove into the world of pattern making and am beginning to sell my patterns so other creatives can make their own creations. Over the past 8 years of running my own business, I’ve released 7 different original painting collections with prints, created and sold reusable Christmas wrapping paper, designed backdrops and hand-painted wallpaper for professional photographer studios, hosted private art shows in the middle of a field, and made dozens of gifts and treasures for my children. My most recent passion is a collection of gouache illustration paintings, each releasing one by one alongside a fairytale story that I wrote.

I’m deeply interested in having my artwork tell my own story—my thoughts, passions, frustrations, and, most of all, my journey as a woman in this world. I’m also in the process of creating more felt book patterns for people to create at home! I firmly believe that creativity is the building block we all need in our lives, and if I can bring that to others, I’ll feel like I’ve given a great gift. You can find all of these creations—prints, patterns, and more of my story—on my website at Jaimearlene.com.

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

I always joke that we need to stop using the phrase “I can’t even draw a stick figure.” This phrase is so ridiculous because everyone can actually draw a stick figure. But I think it subliminally speaks to how we view art. We either think we’re born into the “club” of artists or we’re not. While it’s true that some people might be more inclined to pick up a pencil and draw at a young age, creativity should be fully integrated into our society.

If we talked about solving a math problem in a new way as “creative,” or making a new recipe as “creative,” and openly discussed how creativity isn’t just about paint on paper, I think we wouldn’t gawk at artists and treat them like aliens. This kind of treatment has led to their craft and hard work not being taken for what it truly is: a legitimate career that deserves a paycheck, just like everyone else.

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

Even though you’re selling your work, you can’t create art just to sell it. When you’re a self-employed artist, you have to wear two hats and make sure they stay separate! When you’re creating art, you can’t think about how it will be received, who will like it, or if it meets certain criteria—you JUST have to create. Once the work is finished, then you can put on your business/marketing hat and focus on selling it.

Strangely, I learned this lesson years ago in college. I had a professor who always had a hidden agenda and wanted the paintings to look a certain way. During our final in my last semester, our assignment was to paint a small collection of paintings with no parameters. We had to paint WHATEVER we wanted! I did exactly that, painting landscapes from a recent study abroad trip to Italy. When we brought our paintings in for critique, he berated my work. To this day, I don’t even remember what he said, but I left the class in tears.

I ended up meeting with him in his office and demanded that he give me an A for the assignment when he was trying to give me a C. We settled on a B, and I swore I would never let anyone’s opinion of my art affect me again. If I was going to create something, it would be because I wanted to make it. I am the artist, and this is my art—my signature, my stamp, my expression, me. That mindset has given me so much freedom over the years to just create for the joy of it, rather than for the views or likes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jaimearlene.com
• Instagram: @jaimearlene
• Other: tiktok: @jaimearlene

Image Credits

Anna Killian-Photographer