We recently connected with Jessica Sonnenthal and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I started painting when I was very young; around 11 years old. While I started my creative journey at a young age, I didn’t believe in my capabilites as an artist until much later in life. It was a constant battle. I would paint and then I would stop, sometimes for years at a time. It took me while to understand that being an artist isn’t so much about the opinion of others, but the opportunity to express oneself and be free with it. My career started taking off in 2019 which is later than I would have liked but I am happy with where I am. It’s my journey.

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.

When I was 11, I won a raffle ticket to an art class. I had never painted before but I immediately fell in love with it. I continued to paint more seriously over the years but focused more on getting into the art world. I began my career in the contemporary art scene as the Marketing Coordinator for MOCA, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. I also joined a PR firm and worked on the LA Art Show in Downtown LA. Soon after, I decided to switch gears and step into my own light as an artist. Initially drawing inspiration from Rembrandt and Renoir, I knew I wanted to pay homage to the art of realism. With oil on canvas being my primary medium, I started to paint again. I started taking pictures of where ever I was in the world and then bringing these images to life on my canvas. My artistic journey so far has been full of ups and downs but I am extremely proud of where it has brought me to today.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

It is very easy to get discouraged as an artist. So many people along the way will give you their opinion. They will tell you that your style of work won’t sell in today’s market. Or you should make smaller pieces or use diferent colors. I have been told all of these things and more. What I have learned is you can either be the artist you are 100% and do what you love or you can change who you are and how you express yourself artistically to please those around you. I choose me, and I have been much happier ever since. Ever since I decided to continue painting the way I want to with complete certainty, my pieces have been selling more frequently. This was such a huge lesson for me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Every time I finish a painting and sign my name, it’s like a surge of electricity goes through me. I get the same feeling when a client buys one of my pieces and puts it on their wall. It is such a gift to be able to paint and do what I love but it is also a beautiful feeling to see someone else enjoy what I have created, I hope to continue doing this for as long as I can.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jmona.art
• Instagram: @jmona.art