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

Hi Jess, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

There were a few moments in my life when I considered the possibility of pursuing art professionally. I had it once in high school when I finished up my first indoor mural, a couple of times in college when I made artwork for a few friends and family members, and a significant moment during a study abroad program in Australia where my plein air painting professor praised one of my oil paintings. However, I brushed those moments aside almost instantly.

The first time I truly knew I wanted to pursue a creative path was when I was traveling and living out of a van in Australia. I worked in a small coffee shop in Burleigh Heads, and when a couple of regulars overheard me talking about my art, they asked to see my sketchbook and then hired me on the spot for a few commissions. They entrusted me with these projects, giving me the creative freedom to explore.

I lost sleep from excitement, spent extra hours making sure every line was perfect, and even considered lowering my prices because I was just grateful for the opportunity. When I gave them their final pieces, they were stunned with awe. One person even paid me double because he couldn’t justify paying me anything less. I still remember seeing how wide their eyes became when I gave them their artwork. These people were essentially strangers, and seeing how big of a positive impact I had on them inspired me. It made me think, “If I have this ability to make people happy with my art, how far can I take this?”

Jess, 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?

Hi! I’m Jess, a mindful explorer and visual creator. Though I had an affinity for art, my primary longing was to belong. Growing up in a New Jersey suburb near NYC, I often felt out of place in a predominantly white and Korean community as a Filipino. I turned to sports to find my place but switched to art after repeatedly getting injured. My first mural in senior year was a breakthrough, allowing me to paint freely and connect with others. Despite initial discouragement from pursuing a creative profession, I continued to create art as a token of appreciation for others.

I went to Ithaca College for health science, but it wasn’t until I studied abroad in Australia during my senior year that I rediscovered my true passion for art. This transformative experience led me to create nature-inspired artwork and explore the Australian coastline. Filled with a renewed sense of purpose, I returned to upstate New York to graduate, and a year later, I moved back to Australia, continuing to explore its beautiful coastline, creating art for businesses, and living out of a van with my partner. This adventure led to my first professional commissions and a deep connection with others through my art.

I backpacked the Appalachian Mountains and explored the snowy peaks of Colorado before being accepted into the renowned science illustration graduate program at California State University at Monterey Bay. There, I finally combined my passions for science, art, and exploration.

While in the program, I started my business, Land Sea Studios. I later renamed it Jess Soriano Studio to foster a more personal, meaningful connection with my community. Right after I finished my studies, I flew to Maui, HI, to paint my first professional mural. Soon after, though, the pandemic began, and I lost my way. I found it again by getting hired by the Western Flyer Foundation (WFF) to teach science illustration workshops to kids at the end of 2020. In 2021, I found a place to belong in the art community by participating in the We Create Mural Festival in Sand City. From there, I discovered new opportunities, including being an art mentor for the Youth Arts Collective (YAC), teaching field sketching and marine science education with the WFF, and creating documentaries with the Arts Council for Monterey County.

Since starting my business, I’ve created original paintings, t-shirt designs, giclée prints, stickers, notebooks, greeting cards, and linocut relief prints. I’ve painted large-scale indoor and outdoor murals, live-painted at music festivals, produced art and social justice documentaries, and hosted printmaking workshops.

What sets me apart is that I approach projects not only with seriousness and professionalism but also with massive undertones of playfulness and excitement for collaboration. Life is short and should be celebrated. Funding the kind of projects I want to do can be very expensive, so through communication and play I gain the trust needed for our collaboration to be a memorable experience.

I’m most proud of the murals I painted and the connections I’ve forged through mentoring, filming, and printmaking. I gravitate towards public art more because I enjoy getting to know the community while I paint large-scale designs depicting nature and travel. I feel more like myself when I have a big wall to paint.

My art is my life’s work. Continuously inspired by nature, I aim to bridge educational gaps through visual arts, specializing in symbiotic relationships. I strive to offer a space where people can explore their passions without judgment, encouraging them to follow what makes them happy. By providing a safe space for anyone to feel like they belong, we can create meaningful connections not only with each other but also with our inner, childlike wonder.

Society wants people to fit into neat little boxes and niches where they can supposedly thrive, but I know boxes are limiting and discouraging. It can be overwhelming to realize the full breadth of potential in our lives, but I’m here to encourage others to explore what calls to them. If, during that time, something else calls to them, explore it. It’s important to follow what makes them smile.

Before creating change, one must learn, understand, and care enough to take action. I aim to give back to the community through my art, encourage others to connect with nature, and foster meaningful connections. I hope to continue building my art business and connecting with communities worldwide, sharing the beauty of unity and the joy of creative exploration.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

They may struggle to understand how much I had to unlearn to change. Growing up, I was conditioned to accept that a high paying career was the only way to be successful. Throughout my education, I was told that going against the grain would negatively alter my surroundings. College helped me realize that I had some control over my life, but moving to Australia made me understand that I am the leader of my life.

Stepping outside of my comfort zone and observing how a different culture navigates life altered the way I viewed my own. Being an artist isn’t about competing for the best position, the highest pay, or even a fancy title. A creative career challenges the status quo, and by challenging these preconceived social norms, we break free from them. We have to structure our lives based on our surroundings, opportunities, and abilities, much of which are decided by the employer in a traditional work setting. Creating artwork takes time, patience, observation, care, deliberation, and dedication.

I’m not saying traditional jobs don’t require these qualities. All I’m saying is that I like being the person to dictate how I live my life. I get to choose all the whos, whats, wheres, whens, and whys in my career. If a job doesn’t spark excitement within me, I consider my options and move forward from there. Nothing is set in stone, and I’m free to change and evolve.

There is a fine line to balance between creating artwork for myself and others, though. It takes an immense amount of effort to understand someone else’s vision, and it’s exceptionally complex to understand our own soul’s vision. Creatives need to be able to step into someone else’s shoes to see what lights them up. Not only is my reputation constantly being questioned, but also my integrity, soul, and worth. I put a piece of my soul into each project, and I continuously put myself on the line to connect with others on a more visceral level. It’s not easy to have people question your worth, but it’s completely worth it to see their faces light up when you show them what they’ve been envisioning. It feels incredible to create something from the heart and have others connect with it deeply.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society should prioritize funding programs that foster creativity! Much of my success stems from collaborations with nonprofits. These organizations rely on city, county, and state funding programs along with generous donors. Increasing access to creative arts would greatly benefit any community.

Despite years of credibility, artists still struggle to be taken seriously and face skepticism about the importance of their work in society’s evolution. The vital truth is that art is indispensable. As natural visual learners, art allows us to grasp conceptual ideas, express our imagination, and connect with our surroundings to find a sense of belonging.

Supporting artists through social media, shopping from small business brands, and advocating for creative spaces are crucial steps in nurturing a vibrant creative ecosystem :)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soriano.studio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soriano.studio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sorianojstudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sorianojstudio/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soriano.studio

Image Credits

Jess Soriano Studio, Grace Khieu Media & Jem San Pedro