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

Jessica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I genuinely love being an artist and building a creative career on my own terms. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about being my own boss—setting my own schedule, making my own rules, and steering my path with full autonomy. My days are fluid and flexible, which allows me to be present for both my work and my family. I get to create, dream, and bring my vision to life on a daily basis, and having full control over every aspect of my career is something I deeply value.

That said, the flip side of that freedom is that it’s incredibly hard to switch off. When your work is your passion—and your livelihood—it’s always lingering in the background. There’s always something that needs attention: new ideas waiting to be explored, an ever-growing to-do list, and the constant mental load of managing every single part of your business. That weight can feel heavy, especially because I’m not just an artist—I’m also a solo parent to two young kids. Balancing the creative hustle with the demands of parenting brings its own set of challenges, and I’d be lying if I said I never daydreamed about a steady job with predictable hours, a paycheck that arrives like clockwork, and the ability to truly “clock out” at the end of the day.

But in the end, the freedom, fulfillment, and purpose I find in being a creative entrepreneur make all the hard parts worth it. Despite the pressure, the juggling, and the constant motion, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. This is exactly where I want to be.

Jessica, 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?

I’m a painter, surface pattern and fabric designer, author, and online educator based in Portland, Oregon. I earned my BFA in oil painting from Ithaca College in upstate New York, and launched the first version of my creative business at just 23, selling my original paintings at juried fine art festivals across Colorado, where I grew up.

In 2007, I stumbled across the world of pattern design through the early design blog scene, and it was love at first sight. The only catch? I had no idea how to use design software and didn’t know anyone in the industry. But I was determined. So I began teaching myself—slowly, steadily—how to create digital designs. After about a year of learning, I built a portfolio of patterns and started showing, selling, and licensing my work. I was hooked. Since 2008, I’ve collaborated with a wide range of clients to bring my artwork to life on products like fabric, rugs, tech accessories, puzzles, books, and more. I’ve continued painting, building product collections, and since 2014, I’ve also been teaching others how to design patterns and pursue their own creative paths.

Then, in 2018, my life shifted dramatically when my husband died unexpectedly. I was pregnant at the time, with a toddler at home. Navigating the grief, shock, and responsibilities of solo parenting two young children (they’re now 6 and 9!) while running a creative business was incredibly hard. During that time, art became my lifeline. Making things helped me process everything happening both within and around me. That deeply personal creative practice ended up shaping the direction of my work in ways I never could’ve predicted.

Out of that experience came new classes, two books, and several collections of paintings and products—all centered around the healing power of creativity. Today, much of what I do is rooted in that calling: helping others use art as a tool for self-discovery, expression, and healing. My work is still evolving, but it all comes back to this core belief—creativity is one of the most powerful ways we can connect to ourselves and to the world around us.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Back in college, one of my painting professors firmly believed that all art needed to be deeply symbolic and personal to be meaningful. According to her, art that leaned toward the decorative—work that was beautiful, pattern-based, or rooted in aesthetics—lacked substance. As someone who’s always been drawn to color, pattern, and visual joy, that perspective shook me. For years after graduating, it lingered in my mind, making me question whether the kind of art I loved—and naturally created—was “good enough.”

It left me feeling like I was supposed to make something different than what came intuitively to me, as if my creative instincts were somehow less valid. It took a long time—and a lot of unlearning—to reclaim my voice and trust in the kind of work that brings me happiness. I’ve come to understand that there are no rules in art. That beauty, decoration, joy, and play are just as meaningful as symbolism and narrative. That my art matters because it’s mine, and because it resonates with me.

Most importantly, I’ve learned that other people’s opinions—no matter how authoritative they sound—are just that: opinions. No one outside of me has the right answers for my creative path. Only I get to decide what feels true and fulfilling in my work.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the heart of my creative journey is a deep belief that making art is truly transformative—it’s not just a form of expression, it’s a form of healing. There’s real science behind it: engaging in creative work has been shown to positively impact your physical and mental well-being. It can actually change your cells, calm your nervous system, and shift your brain into the same restorative state as meditation. It slows you down, centers you, and connects you to yourself in a powerful way.

My mission is to share that truth with as many people as possible. I want others to experience how life-giving and grounding creative practice can be—especially in a world that moves so fast and asks so much of us. Art isn’t just something you make; it’s something that makes you. And everyone deserves access to that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessicaswift.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaswift
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicagswift