We were lucky to catch up with Jessie Reyna recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jessie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

It was 2016 and I had picked up a paintbrush for the first time in several years. At that time, I was still finding my voice and craft, so much of what I was painting was what I thought people wanted to see. A lot of florals and abstract messes. I was very unsure of myself and was practicing different methods to see what worked. I ended up painting a triptych – it was an abstract piece of the ocean waves. I was very proud of it and took my time with the three canvases.

During this time, I was working as a Direct Mail Assistant for a designer bag company in Connecticut and word got around that I was painting in my free time. I had a lovely coworker, we can call her Maura, and she had asked me to bring in the triptych because she was looking for artwork to hang in her house. After I brought it in, we came to an agreement on price and she paid in installments. She was absolutely thrilled and so was I! She was my very first customer outside of close family and friends, so it was the first time that I really felt like an artist. I was just starting out, and I don’t think I had a sale again for a few more years, but I still remember the feeling of hope I had when it went off to it’s forever home.

Jessie, 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’ve been painting most of my life, and after taking a long break during and after college, I decided to see what I could make of it in 2016. I moved to Charleston in 2017 to pursue it further as I had heard this city had a wonderful art community, and so far that has been true. I worked in a small art gallery downtown, taught in after school programs around North Charleston, and was also a painting instructor for a wine and paint bar. Between 2018 and 2021, I lived in New Hampshire and England while I was in the process of getting married, and we eventually moved back to Charleston in early 2021.

During my time in England, we hadn’t set our roots down yet and I was struggling with finding ways to create without investing in canvases and paint. My husband was the one to introduce me to digital illustration and gave me a digital drawing pad for Christmas. I eventually graduated to an iPad and I just love the convenience of creating on the go.

In April of 2021, I was hired as an assistant to Julia Deckman. She had opened her own studio in Riverland Terrace that included her studio space, a storefront, and a small gallery. I originally approached Julia about my artwork and the opportunity to become one of her vendors. During our meetup, she mentioned she was looking for an assistant and luckily, my schedule worked perfectly with hers and we’ve been working with each other ever since.

I currently create both digital illustrations and original acrylic paintings. I have collaborated with Julia Deckman to participate in various markets around Charleston where I can meet clients face-to-face as well as other artists within our community.

I’m most proud of my use of color – particularly pink! It’s my favorite process when creating because I love to see how far I can stretch color within reality.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I have found a lot of non-creatives don’t quite understand the process behind a piece of artwork. There is a lot of time, struggle, and money that goes into making something. I’ve come across some shoppers at markets who will treat local art as if it’s something mass produced that they can buy at corporations like Target or Home Goods. If you’re looking for something by a particular artist, be as specific and detailed as you can because it’s not something we can easily start over on.

Another big thing is artists have a certain craft and style, therefore, we can’t do it all. For example, I do not do pet portraits. I cannot paint or draw animals at all, so naturally that is not something you will find in my products. I’ve had several people reach out and ask about pet portraits and I’m always very honest in that it’s not a skill I have but I can refer other artists who are great at it. I will still have clients insist that the painting will be great and far better than anything they can do. At the end of the day, I would never feel comfortable charging hundreds of dollars on something I know will not be good. It would be a waste of time for both me and the client, and I always strive be fair and honest.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I’ve learned a lot over the last year and a half since moving back to Charleston. I remember my very first market in 2018 and all I had available were original paintings. Back then, I was not familiar with prints and greeting cards, which sell a lot faster than original paintings. I didn’t quite know what accessible art was or how I could provide it.

I wish I had known more about prints, where to buy them, and how to package them properly. I’ve also used social media as my resource for information. I follow many local artists, markets, and small businesses so that I’m always aware of submission requests and events to participate in. I apply to as many opportunities as I can because you never know who will accept you. It never hurts to apply if you think you can provide what they are looking for. I feel more connected with the art community now than I did in the past because of the wonderful people I’ve met in this industry. My biggest piece of advice is to chat with other makers and support each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jessiereyna.com
• Instagram: @jessiereyna_art