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

Justine, appreciate you joining 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?

In high school, a friend’s mother asked me to assist painting murals, sparking confidence that my skill could become a trade and I gained a mentor. The odd jobs the muralist declined started my journey into being paid for my passion. This experience became a foundation throughout art school, post-graduation, and in my personal art work. I found solace painting alone with a wall and allowed glimpses into others’ living spaces and lives in NYC. After graduating from Pratt Institute I worked hard to find illustration freelance jobs, with a few volunteered projects while working at a cafe. My early work of all the odd jobs allowed constant learning of new skills, from building, painting, networking, designing, silkscreening, to zoom calls with clients and presenting decks. Following an authentic flow over monetary gain is rewarding and more fun. Showing in smaller spaces with great collaborators and inspiring peers drives my personal artwork. I explored illustration, teaching art classes, merchandising, window displays, graphic design, and marketing while running an Etsy shop and drawing hundreds of custom family portraits. The business side I’ve had to learn through experience. I’m still understanding how to approach galleries or navigate grants and funding for projects. I envision larger colorful work for public art sculptures, and feel a new beginning, now with all the tools in my belt.

In 2019, I moved with my family from Austin, TX to NorthWest Arkansas for a slower pace, taller trees, and a growing small town vibe with great museums and public arts funding. During COVID, my art became a tool for internal exploration and meditation. Releasing the burden of overthinking to creatively interpret ideas for clients, I embraced movement and color, freeing my mind, body, and soul. This shift allowed me to rediscover the essence of my creativity, delving into the depths where the creative process becomes an escape into the void of color, sound, music, and connection to a collective consciousness, reflected in my work.

In 2021 I co-created an artists studio and residency program, with visual artists, musicians, with a space for performance, movement, and dance. I worked tirelessly to create my work and also support many artists and creative endeavors in as many ways as I could. It had been the most rewarding times so far in my career. I was involved with a beautiful and moving performance Sun & Sea, an award-winning opera performance by Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė, Vaiva Grainytė, and Lina Lapelytė. Having stunned audiences at the 2019 Venice Biennale, earning its all-female creative team the Golden Lion, this cutting-edge performance made its way to the American heartland for four-day-only run at the Momentary. I was challenged in all ways as foods and set props manager and set director while also having to be in this performance, breaking far away from a canvas I was thrilled in new ways. The people I met through this forever changed my life. Sun & Sea was a slice-of-life glimpse into the lives of its characters and their connections (or lack thereof) to the struggling planet around them. I’ve enjoyed being involved with the contemporary performance scene taking workshops  through the Momentary Museum and feel incredibly lucky.

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

I was born in NY in 1981, and grew up going to a ton of music shows in my painted van with creative friends in New England in the nineties. My parents were photographer/ musicians, my mother still plays in a band in Austin and my sister is an incredibly talented writer and executive producer of Radiotopia through PRX in the podcast world. I learned that through self expression, art could capture beautiful moments of life.

 I attended a pre-college program at Maine College of Art and found more of my community and mediums to learn. I fell in love with figure drawing classes and murals, sculpture, and photography.  I knew I was destined for art school. I attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY from 1999-2003 for BFA in communications design.  The campus is a beautiful and full of history. During our years at Pratt Institute, we ALL collectively experienced a massive trauma. My professors and classmates grew deep roots in my soul and the events directly affected our artwork and purpose, direction, life paths, and mental health. I may have repressed a lot and through my work over many years and series, I started to dig it out.

I firmly believe that creativity serves as a catalyst to inspire others. This drives my passion for collaboration, creative strategies, and consulting in marketing for experience groups. My goal is to continue engaging in projects that ignite my inspiration, prioritizing intrinsic motivation over financial gain, and have integrity and sustainability as the North Star. I am continuing to pursue funding and focus my practice. While monetary compensation is rewarding, creating art that aligns with one’s true calling has a profound ripple effect. I am committed to producing work that resonates with my beliefs and maintaining my artistic vision while contributing to the visions of others in collaboration with performance art, movement and sound.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Non-creatives might find it challenging to grasp the intricate balance required to translate abstract thoughts into tangible expressions. To translate a creative vision you must try to remain tethered to reality while dipping deeper into a void. The transformative power of creativity on mental health and its potential impact on diverse perspectives is crucial to a balance in community. In addition to the intricate nature of my creative journey, being a female artist has brought its own set of challenges in the pursuit of recognition. Despite significant strides in gender equality, breaking through artistic barriers often requires navigating a landscape where female voices may face unequal opportunities, but those times are rapidly evolving. Art History often leaves out the balance of the female artists within the art movements and their influence. I enjoy reading about some of my favorite artists who happen to be women like Sally Mann, Gego, Käthe Kollwitz, Helen Frankenthaler, Grace Hartigan, Annie Leibovitz , I could go on and on listing talented female artists and don’t even get me started on musicians. Art is also romance, meditation, and enlightenment. The more open you are vulnerably the better the work and the more you will enjoy creating it.

Moreover, the artistic path comes with its share of mental health challenges. The intensity of being struck by creativity can lead to a transformative yet isolating experience, It’s a journey of highs and lows, where the pursuit of artistic expression intersects with the complexities of personal and professional life, creating a delicate tapestry of challenges and triumphs. Sharing these aspects offers a glimpse into the multifaceted reality of the creative process, shedding light on the resilience required to navigate this intricate terrain. The challenges intensify as a mother and a freelance artist in a major city, where the constant juggling act of nurturing creativity, meeting deadlines, and managing familial responsibilities takes a toll. The struggle to establish oneself as an artist while maintaining a work-life balance is a demanding feat.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Authenticity.

Translating an experience of the meaning of life, highlighting environmentalism, sustainability, and healing. The act of art is a form of love.

At the core of my creative journey is a profound mission that emerged from a deep exploration of my subconscious, driven by a need to heal a lifetime of traumatic experiences. My art, often influenced by deep meditation and rhythmic music, is a visual dance. I aspire to create outdoor sculptures, merging vibrant colors with natural landscapes, and establish a mission encapsulated in two words: Preserve Wonder. Through my artistic endeavors, collaborations, and community initiatives, I aim to inspire others to face their darkness, embrace creativity, and collectively contribute to a more wonder-filled world.

My creative path has been a transformative process, marked by a full circle awakening and a journey of self-discovery. Opening myself to vulnerability, I hope to inspire others to do the same and to see if these values could spread like wildfire in the sun. These experiences fueled my commitment to instigate change from within, transcending conventional boundaries to create a meaningful impact on those who, like myself, seek solace and inspiration in the realm of art and music. Now the mission is intention and ease, the money will follow if one is true to their authentic selves and show up everyday. My next project called Azolla & the Ram unites art and experience, with creative consulting, and a culinary experience with my Chef husband, Jeff Beech. I’m thrilled for all the future work there is left to create. My hope is that you all feel inspired to go do that thing you have been thinking about creating, the world needs it, and hopefully we get compensated, but the pay off of real artwork is seldom about the financial gain, but following your passion to gain experience and knowledge.

Contact Info:

• Website: JustineBeech.com
• Instagram: Justine_Beech
• Linkedin: Justine Beech
• Other: AzollaandtheRam.com

Image Credits
The photo headshot of me in black and white dress is by my studio mate Kat Wilson @KatWilsonArtist on IG, https://katwilsonartist.com/home.html Permission to use