We were lucky to catch up with Jess Patterson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jess, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?
For my Art Business, I decided to manage my own social media simply because I know exactly what types of postings I like to create. While I am rising as artist and business owner, I have not reached a point yet where I need to hire a team for my social media postings. I also figured that since my posts do not include many components, I could learn how to do it myself. I say, if you can learn it, do it yourself. For other business owners, I will say that managing social media can get overwhelming while trying to keep up with latest trends and pick the right songs. In times where I am overwhelmed, I like to take mini breaks from posting so I can figure out what I truly want to post. Also, when it comes to posting and managing your social media, just be yourself. Post what you like and not what you think others will like. Making sure you are consistently recording footage of yourself in action and/or your product to really showcase your work and speak for itself.
Jess, 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?
Hey! Hey All! My name is Jess Patterson and I am the Owner and Founder of JessTimeless L.L.C. My passion to create started when I was just a toddler. But get this, I have never been to an art school, nor have I taken an art class. Art, for me, was a way to relax during my years in college at Illinois State University. After graduating in 2017, I painted here and there, but it was not nearly as frequent as I wanted to. People around me told me that I should charge for the work that I do, but I was not ready yet. Or so I thought. You know life gets in the way of your passions sometimes. It was not until 2020, when I started to pick back up painting and starting participating in a few Pop-Ups around the city of Chicago to start showcasing my work again. Due to my immediate expansion into not only painting but hosting Paint and Sips, participating in Art showcases, and consistently posting my craft, I had the opportunity to paint my first mural and expand my following. In 2021, my business, JessTimeless became a Limited Liability Company (LLC). I am a self-taught artist that creates images of the emotions of women, while capturing the full story within the gaze of interpretation. JessTimeless L.L.C. desires to be the guidance that helps you see your vision in art form, while knowing, like ART, your choices in life are “Just Timeless”. Everyone is their own artist, and Jess/JessTimeless commits to providing creative opportunities to bring us all together. Since 2021, I have been blessed with wonderful community partnerships. My multifaceted business practice encompasses murals, paint parties and classes for all ages, studio painting, public art and custom-made wood work, grad caps, shoes and clothing. I have also expanded into being a Teaching Artist and offer face painting for all types of celebratory events. My commissions also include selling my art as prints and on keychains, notebooks, stickers’, handbags and fabrics.
Continuously providing a stress free environment for myself and my business is what sets me apart. Having set this energy for my art and my business, also having a business degree has allowed me to go in the directions that I need to go to market my work and business successfully. I feel that one of the most important things that I am proud of is having the opportunity to impact so many young people with art. I teach all grades from Kindergarten to High school. Art is not a popular subject in Chicago Public Schools and being able to provide this subject for my students has been the most rewarding aspect so far. Being able to see how they light up when they have the opportunity to create is what really speaks to me and about them.
For the people out there, JessTimeless L.L.C. is a Black-Owned, Woman-Owned and LGBT Friendly Business and we truly make it our passion to help your vision come to life.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
I feel that the most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been consistently posting on my social media pages. However, also not limiting myself when it comes to art. I like to tell people, anything you can think of with art, I love to do it and/or if I do not know how to, I will learn. Using the most original way of marketing has helped my business as well, which is “Word of Mouth”. When I am around other artists, art centers, students, parents etc., I am not afraid to network with other and let them know who I am and what I do. Not being scared to offer so many services and products when it comes to art has grown my clientele expeditiously. I find that not limiting yourself to just craft, just face painting, just murals etc., will expand your business because you have multiple areas of art to grow in, professionally and personally.
Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?
JessTimeless L.L.C. has multiple revenue streams. Those streams consist of but are not limited to, Face Painting
Murals
Theatre Makeup/Scenic Backdrops/Production Design
Paint Parties and Classes
Customized Clothing, Shoes, Handbags, Graduation Caps and Woodwork
Teaching Artist/All School Partnerships
Canvas Paintings/Prints
Keychains
Notebooks
Stickers
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/jesstimeless
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jesstimeless/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessiPatterson
- Other: Tiktok: @jesstimeless