Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Maret. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Making art intended to honor an important moment in my collector’s lives brings me a lot of joy. One of my favorite recurring projects is creating a custom painting based on a couple’s wedding florals. These paintings makes such a special keepsake or gift for anniversaries or newlywed couples. I believe art has a very powerful way of capturing these important milestones, so special moments can be remembered and honored in a unique way. I also enjoy working on commissions to bring color and joy to a special space in people’s homes. Some recent commissions include: celebrating a new baby with a custom painting for their nursery, or partnering with collectors to make art that compliments a well-loved space in their home. I really enjoy working together with my customers to make something truly special to share joy through color and bring more happy into their lives. I believe the happy, free, creative feeling of a painting can be shared with the viewer to create a sense of joy and peace. That is what I love most about the creative process.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve always been drawn to the creative arts since I was a young child and knew I wanted visual design to be a big part of my professional career. I studied Advertising at the University of Missouri Journalism School with a minor in studio art. It was there at Mizzou that I saw a glimpse of a possible future as a full-time artist. I was surrounded by so many talented artists in that program and wonderful instructors who taught me so much about living a fearlessly creative professional life.
I’ve always been so inspired by the wonder of nature, particularly flowers and landscapes with a beautiful sense of light. One of my other lifelong aspirations is to write and illustrate a children’s book. I’ve written two children’s books over the years and am currently working on illustrating the first one. While I’ve created lots of art my entire life, my earlier work was more technical in nature and centered in portraiture. Life got busy and I stopped creating art consistently after college and focused on my corporate career in marketing and advertising. It wasn’t until I had children that I fell back in love with painting in a loose, vibrant and free style to de-stress and focus on a project just for me. I found a community of like-minded artists on Instagram who inspired me to begin creating again. I founded Summer Grace Studios in 2020 during maternity leave with my second daughter. At this time, I began creating artwork for friends and family after developing a new style of abstract florals. My artwork incorporates a mix of alcohol inks, metallic gold accents, and acrylic paint combined to create a dreamy, abstract design. When my daughters asked to “wear mommy’s flowers,” I began digitizing my artwork to create product surface patterns. Summer Grace Studios is my storefront, where I use my floral patterns on various products such as swimming suits, yoga mats, makeup bags, and beach totes.
A collection of my floral artwork is currently featured at Pizazz 2 Interiors located inside the Rusted Chandelier in Kirkwood, Mo. I recently participated in an art show at the Rusted Chandelier and it was such an amazing event. I really enjoyed connecting with collectors and discussing my artwork and the reason behind all my creations. All the artwork featured at this show was based on my travels through Europe in France, Italy, England and the Netherlands. The remaining pieces from my “Florals of Europe” collection are now available in my Etsy shop.
Finding time for art is always challenging, but I have learned to recognize that I am the best version of myself when prioritizing time to create. I wake up very early each day to recharge, focus on my faith, and then paint. Because my faith is of the utmost importance in my life, I intend for all of my art to be an expression of God’s love, honoring this beautiful world we live in. The metallic gold ink found throughout my paintings is intended to symbolize God’s light in the world and creative presence in all things.
“How my kids see me” is my biggest driver as I reach for new goals and push myself to try new things with my art business. I want to be a living example to them that their bright futures are only limited by their ability to believe in themselves. My kiddos are my biggest supporters and love to create with me in my studio.
I am so grateful to supporters who have reached out to me over the years to express their admiration for my artwork and request custom pieces for their homes or purchase items from my online stores. I hope that collectors with a piece of my art in their homes or an item with a Summer Grace Studios floral pattern can feel the love that went into every piece. The world needs more joy, more color and more people creating art to remind us of the beauty that is all around us every day.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the joy you can bring to viewers of your art. The biggest compliment I can receive about my art is when someone tells me “this painting makes me happy.” I focus on vibrant, cheery, or calming themes in my paintings because I truly believe that art can uplift viewers in a very meaningful way. Beautiful art helps us to admire the beauty in both the world and in the artist’s process and technique.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Art is such an important part of my life and I believe it’s one of the most important things we can do to make the world a better place. In this modern world where we can be so focused on technology, our devices, or comparing ourselves to others on social media, creating art is a way to connect with your deeper self. Viewing art reminds us of the beauty of the world and the subjects in the painting, but also the beauty we can create as individuals with a unique view of the world. When I paint, I am rarely trying to capture a form or scene as it exists in reality, I am drawing upon my life experience and remembering a memory when I paint to try to capture a dreamy, joyful composition and pass that on to the viewer. That deeper layer and connection between the artist and the viewer is so magical.
I think supporting artistic programs, no matter the discipline – studio art, photography, theatre, music, dance – is so essential. Our world without any art would be a very gloomy place. Personally, I find it very rewarding to support and encourage other artists. That is one of my greatest joys – connecting with fellow artists and telling them what I love about their work. So, the most important thing you can do as someone who appreciates art, is tell an artist what you like about their art and support them with encouragement. It’s not always easy to create art and put it out there to be judged. You never know, your kind words may be the difference in someone continuing their creative journey or quitting altogether. Spread joy and light — not criticism.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/SummerGraceStudios
- Instagram: @summergracestudios
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SummerGraceStudios
- Linkedin: Jessica Maret Feldhaus
