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

Jessica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

I was 20 something working at a job that had so many artists all around me but I was working in a department that had noting to do with art. I started in customer service and as soon as I could moved to the back office. The building had a space for the core art team upstairs and I would sneak up there as often as possible to peak at the works of the head artist, Eric Johnson. He was so talented and I just wanted to know how he got there. The art being created by the majority of the staff was digital and designing of headwear. Eric was the only artist there that didn’t have a computer in his office. He was not creating the same designs the rest of the staff was instructed to do. He was creating hand curated designs, characters, unique paintings and drawings and other concept art for future projects. It was mind blowing to me that someone in my area had found such a dream job. I decided to be bold and ask Eric to critique some of my watercolor and acrylic paintings. I personally felt that I was at a crossroads with my craft and was feeling like I was never going to be able to create art as anything more than a hobby. To my surprise Eric told me I was actually good. We had a long talk about art and digital art and what it meant to me and my perception of the future. Eric told me that day to never ever worry about art. Art would always be needed and be around and there would always be a place for artists like us in the world. That conversation changed my whole world. I started to create more art and I even participated in a group show at the end of the year. Eric attended with his lovely wife and the praise they gave all of us artists filled the room with light. I feel to lucky or have crossed paths with Eric and to have been able to break through the fear of art not being something I can be apart of.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I always knew I loved to create. My earliest memory is sewing napkins together to make little pouches for my toys and keeps sakes. I would color them and line them up on the window ledge of my bedroom. I was always creating something as a child. My dad would doodle and draw while on the phone or at a restaurant and I would color all of his little drawings. It was something we shared. We both like to do art and create and cook. So we always did those things together while I was growing up. We moved a lot when I was young and I struggled in school but art class was always there and felt consistent from state to state. We moved back to Colorado for what seemed to be the 100th when I was in 4th grade. I was attending Garfield Elementary in Loveland Co. At parent teacher conferences that year my parents met my art teacher Lia Devine. I remember her telling my parents I was extremely talented in art and to feed that passion in all ways possible. In middle school I attended Bill Reed Middle school and was once again taken in by my art teacher Mrs.Burrell. She also identified that I was filled with potential and would help me take advantage of all the extra art classes available. Even in the summer I would be at the school doing art programs. My 8th grade year the school introduced a photography program and my family couldn’t afford it and Bill, the instructor allowed me to be his dark room assistant, in developing film for the class as a way to pay for the course. I learned so much about film photography that year and fell in love with the entire process. At the end of the year we had a class photography show at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Bill gave me my first 35mm film camera as a gift for completing the course. Once again at the end of 8th grade during parent teacher “end of year transition” conferences where teachers at the jr high prepare parents for the transition to high school, my art teacher Mrs.Burrell told my parents to change what district I was in and send me back to Lia Devine at the high school across town. She had already called Lia and told her to expect me. I started attending Thompson Valley High in 2006 and it forever changed my relationship with art.

I started doing art on a more serious and professional level after high school. I started curating and participating in group shows at the Art Lab in Fort Collins. I have continued to grow and curate a group of artist who I regularly connect with and have an annual group show with. We call ourselves the NoCo Creators Circle.

I realized during that process that not only do I love to create art but I also love to create experiences. Hosting events and planning all the details for our collective show has brought so much energy to my life. I also found a love to instructor while working at Studio Vino in Loveland for a few years. I now have a dream to open my own craft workshop and instruct different craft works such as, wood burning, water color, acrylic canvas paintings, card making, and more. Currently I have paintings hanging at a local Hookah and Kava Lounge in Evans called Absolem Lounge.

If I was to try and describe what sets me apart from others when it comes to my creative life I would say that my persistence is what sets me apart. I have never given up and I never will. Covid tried to test me but I feel that I’m coming out of the other side of this ready to continue pursuing my passions in not only art but instructing and event planning.

I work a full time job in finance and I have no idea when art will be able to be my full time job but I hold onto hope that one day I’ll find a way to bring it all together.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think the hardest part about being an artist is pricing your work. A lot of people will criticize your pricing for being too low or too high. I was told once by another artist that I wasn’t doing the art community any favors by selling my work cheap. That really made me realize to get to a level with my art that makes it sustainable I have to sell it at the appropriate price that reflects the cost behind it.

I think as a community the most important thing anyone can do is support when you can as often as you can. Buy local, shop local, trade local. Make sure we teach our kids that all jobs are important and that all crafts have a place in the world. And above all else make sure art programs in our area are not suffering cuts. All people need art. Its a huge staple in culture for the world.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think art is a special gift to the owner. It only makes sense to them why they love and had to own the work. Its such a personal item and deserves to be cherished.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jessicachristineart

Image Credits
AJ Swank Photography