We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Werner recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
In late 2016, my husband passed away suddenly leaving me and my three-year-old daughter. I knew immediately that I had to leave my home state of Missouri. Our goal was to move to Oregon after honeymooning here in 2012. Packing up my house and moving across the country is the biggest risk and biggest accomplishment I have ever taken on. Seven years later, I have an amazing partner, home, and art studio in Portland. I have created an amazing life and am grateful for all the support I received to get here.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
In college, twenty years ago, I studied graphic arts technology and graphic design. I began working as a sign shop manager at an Anheuser-Busch distributor in Illinois and was there for five years. While a stay-at-home mom, I started exploring art and crafts during my free time. I discovered art journaling and dove into that art form for healing. I began taking online courses and teaching myself new art techniques. This led to my love of bookbinding, printmaking, and mixed media collage. I sell my art, books, and stickers at art markets, online, and art shows. I also teach book-making courses at my studio, ADX in Portland.
My art is weird, emotional, and sometimes dark.
I also offer creative assistant services to other creatives. This work includes online shop maintenance, record keeping for a stop-motion animator, and various other tasks.
The wide range of my skills and flexible schedule allow me to assist creatives while working on and developing my business and brand.
I am proud of the routine and workspace I have created with my partner, David. We work well with each other and often collaborate on projects. I am also proud of the amount of art I have created in the last 8 years and the progress I have made in my skills.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is sharing my life story and connecting with others through my art. It is often difficult for me to connect with other and my art has opened up the way to share the difficulties and successes in my life.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I have had to unlearn that there is a “right way” to do art and that there’s never bad art. Art is about the process of getting to the desired result and what emotions or events led to that art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jessicawerner.studio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesswernerartist
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-werner-691877130/
Image Credits
Jessica Werner