Jessica Corujo

A snapshot of today’s creative brainstorming, and a behind the scenes look into my latest work 🤔💭

Mine and Annmarie’s Bedroom (2015) Digital painting

This piece was created late at night during 2015 while I was between homes. For nearly a 4 month period, I was living at a friend’s house with her parents while she was away at college. I had been kicked out of my home earlier that year, and these lovely people were kind enough to house me while I tried to find work and get back on my feet. I was very depressed during this part of my life and spent a lot of time locked away in solitude, writing and drawing, in a room lit up only by multicolored Christmas lights. 

Recently I’ve been doing a lot of self reflection in preparation for applying to art school. The way I see it, moving on to my bachelors degree is the next chapter in my life; and because of the way the applications are set up, I’ve needed to write about myself, a lot.

This process has brought up all sorts of questions like, why do I make art? What’s motivating me to create in the way that I do? What message am I trying to translate with my artistic voice? All sorts of questions that I probably am not fully equipped to answer, being that I’m only 21 and relatively speaking, just at the beginning of my artistic journey. Though I may not have all of the answers just yet, I have been contemplating all of these questions quite a bit, and many more aswell.

Ive come to the conclusion that I make art because it feels right. Plain and simple. I can not imagine a life where I do not create strange doodles on the backs of napkins or build snow sculptures on my front lawn just to have them melt away. I don’t just make art for other people or to be paid, I make it because it’s an impulse and I couldn’t live my own life without doing it.

The “what am I trying to say” question is a little bit more challenging to answer. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what I want to say. I know what’s influenced me and I’m sure my artwork will reflect my personal experiences as well as my environment but I’m not sure of the exact message I’ll convey.

I’m taking a class this semester based on portfolio development with Dr. Julie McWilliams, a painter and writer. She’s encouraged us to look back on our lives and reach into the moments that have made an impact on us. I’m not going to go into it all now, but a lot of the moments I’ve reflected on have been in reference to wealth vs. poverty, experiencing the collapse of a marriage and home, sexuality and being a woman, and mental health, specifically early onset depression and anxiety.

I’m not sure what this all means just yet and how it directly relates to what catches my eye, or what my brain impulsively creates when I let my mind wander. I’m not sure who I am just yet or how my art will be experienced by others, but I do know that what I create will be a reflection of self, a reflection of time, and a reflection of environment. More progress will be made on this thought trail then I’ll get back to you.

One of my watercolor sketches from back in the summer. I’m really missing the green grass and warm summer sunshine right about now.

Quick pencil sketch I did this evening feat. A girl from the sktchy app

“The flasks” by Jessica Corujo

“we all have to start somewhere” By Jessica Corujo

“Amanda on her cell phone” By Jessica Corujo

“do you mind, you're staring into my soul” By Jessica Corujo

“take 1” by Jessica Corujo