We were lucky to catch up with Jess Johnsen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jess thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
As a happy creative artist I am extremely grateful to never have to wonder what a regular job would be like. I spent my childhood letting curiosity guide me through numerous artistic endeavors only to be told not to pursue it as a means of income. So I dug into my love of nature and natural green thumb. I studied plant & environmental sciences and sustainable agriculture in college. During my sophomore year my world changed with these words, “You have colitis & gastroparesis. You’ll never be able to work or finish school.” Being the stubborn person I am, I looked back to my artistic roots & began creating. First as a way to distract myself & find peace in my own life. Then as a way of reaching out to my community and making them feel good too. Henna had fallen into my lap after searching for natural temporary body art. I became instantly obsessed. I took all that focus and drive I had in college and applied it to learning everything I could about henna. Henna was all my favorite subjects: art, history, culture, sociology, plants, & science. But the more I adorned people in henna, the more I realized that something else was going on. Something magical. I wasn’t just putting art on people’s bodies. I was transforming them. I was helping them connect with something deep within themselves and that type of connection would never be if I was at a regular job.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I’ve been practicing and studying Henna art for the last 5 years. I reconnected with the magical plant after experimenting with henna in a high school chemistry class. I wanted to get my wedding band tattooed and wanted something temporary first. It didn’t take long to find bridal henna and I was hooked. I spent hours on YouTube and Instagram watching the henna masters at work. I ordered my first henna cone from Amazon. It said it was safe. When I opened the cone I immediately noticed a strong chemical smell. It wasn’t a paste, like I had seen all the masters use, but a gloopy gel. The stain was instant. I knew this wasn’t natural. I got back online and found a henna artist that would ship me fresh henna cones. I was mesmerized by the silky smooth paste. The smell of the essential oils put me into a relaxed state. This experience with real henna was a complete night and day difference compared to instant synthetic henna. Something clicked and I was in love. I couldn’t stop doodling on myself and any of my friends that would sit down long enough.
After a few years of solo practicing I finally made it to my first henna convention. I met so many amazing artists and learned how to mix my own henna. After the convention was over I decided I was ready to start doing henna on strangers and started a business. At first it was nice not having another henna artist in my area. Quickly I longed for an experienced henna artist to take me under their wing. It took a lot of blood sweat and tears, but I kept showing up for myself and didn’t quit. I kept practicing my henna skills and made connections with my local community.
Now I am a residential artist at The Quirky Lotus in Spartanburg. I am surrounded by like minded healers and creatives that support the ritualistic practices of body art adornment. I pour intention into every batch of henna paste I make, I.E. mixing it with moon water I collected from a full moon, mixing henna paste with the best music on, infusing mantras while the paste dye releases, or even just surrounding the henna bowl with amethyst, Rose Quartz, etc.
So when you come and get henna from me it is a complete experience. We could be meeting at a festival, a Sangeet night, my studio, or a birthday party. My job takes me to all these beautiful places. The transformative aroma of my henna paste will take you away to a state of peace. This might open up memories for you, or create new ones. All of my designs are created intuitively and freehand. So I can weave spells and deeply symbolic elements into your design. After our session is done you will be left with a beautiful henna stain that will last a few weeks.
I have always been an artist and henna gave me direction and a new purpose. Out of all the mediums I used throughout my life henna made people the most happy. I will always be a henna artist.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a henna artist is making people so very happy. I enjoy lifting people up and nothing brings me more joy than when a client looks up at the henna art on their skin with the biggest toothiest smile they can muster. I can quiet the mind and bring peace to someone sitting with me even if its just for 10 minutes and make self love materialize in a few days in the form of a dark pattern on their skin. I can be at a special life event & create symbolic art just for you on your skin and make your memory of that event last for days or even weeks. That’s magical & I’m happy to share my talents and knowledge in order to lift my community up.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
When I first started my henna journey my teacher was YouTube. I spent hours watching women with years of henna experience just doing henna. Eventually, I went to in-person henna conventions. I met so many henna artists and watching them work in person changed my henna game. The one experience that will stick with me forever is meeting Desi. It was my first time at the Henna Society. I had taken a class on cultural appropriation taught by Desi & it was the most honest history class I’ve ever taken. In the next class I just so happened to sit next to Desi. I noticed her staring at my henna stained finger tips. She took my hand up & put it next to her face, “Those are my mother’s hands!” she said. At first I thought she was offended, but instead I brought back precious memories for her. She told me a story of how her mother would smear henna on their hands by the fireplace before bed. Old traditions that were shared with her by her mother were now shared with me. I could see all these memories & emotions running across her face. All because I had my fingertips stained. Henna had bonded us in a way that would have never happened otherwise. This is one of the most powerful experiences/connection I’ve had with henna and I’m sure it wont be the last.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.upstatehenna.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upstatehenna/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upstatehenna/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-johnsen-23a1a9259/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpxWC3sPdk0FWBZ6NHh30SQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/upstate-henna-spartanburg-3
Image Credits
Molly childress of @wanderlustphotographysc