Jessica Violetta

I realized something recently about my “ideal client”. Of course I’d love to do lavish things with my art like hang it in the Louvre or have it printed on a high end designer’s garment for a runway show. But I also feel so inspired when an “ordinary” person is excited to have me paint them. And I think part of it is because I don’t see them as ordinary, I see them as beautiful for what glows through from behind the surface. And the challenge to capture that for someone who lives a humble life and probably just feels “ordinary” is one of the most compelling reasons for me to paint. Thanks @ramerafranklin for approaching me over a year ago and asking to be painted. And to @miyamoto.natsumi who I recently met in Tokyo and communicated with entirely via @official.google.translate to get a painting started. Thank you both for your sheer enthusiasm for my work and for being so humbly beautiful and bold. I’m working on visualizing the idea that we don’t have to be famous to be significant. 🌸 (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwkmiYgBoch/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1eyfmv3yojj8h

⭐️🖤⛩I’m in Japan!!!⛩🖤⭐️ Having an amazing time so far and I had to share some of the beautiful vintage kimonos my husband and I found! I bought 3 of them 😉 We’ve only been here 4 (out of 16!) days and I’m already feeling so inspired by the style and beauty in Tokyo, mixing up the things I’m wearing and letting new ideas influence my art. Also thinking about getting a nouveau crane tattoo while I’m here. Travel = expansion ❤️ (at Tokyo, Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvoJK5yhQP0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xh0bgilxtt8g

I’m currently visiting Asia for the first time in my life and just so inspired by the beauty and sense of style in the people here! (Stay tuned for vintage kimono pics) 👘💥🌸⭐️ (at Shibuya, Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvli59chA78/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jxdsa8xg8ors

The other day I did some journaling about what I’m craving right now artistically. I noticed that I am wanting to use mark-making as an energy release, sort of like I do with dancing or some people do with sports and exercise. The actual act of throwing paint onto the canvas as a way to release emotions out of my body. I know this is something so common among artists but I have never really taken it seriously enough as something I need in my own practice. I plan to start layering it in to my existing work and I think it is going to add some depth to what I make. But at the very least, I will be getting that visceral moment for myself and, at the end of the day, I need to make for me. 🍊🍓🍇🥝 (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZ3k4WB86G/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13kgmw1ubs4cx

Doing a lot of little decorative works right now, including making some of my little paintings into repeat patterns. What do you think of this guy? 🖤 (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvUZNTqhOCp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7njk7a1n1fz6

“International Women’s Day”....hmm. Sometimes, as a woman, I feel strong and brave and proud. But sometimes I feel like I’m holding the ****ing weight of the world. So this is a quick drawing I did to illustrate both of those things. I see it in my mother, my sister, my friends, and strangers. This expectation we give ourselves to hold everyone and everything together. To constantly give and not even know what we’re looking for in return. And apologizing or being paralyzed with guilt when we take time for ourselves. And, still, I don’t see this as a terrible thing. Sometimes I see it as a gift we need to honor. The natural inclination to nurture and heal and support and STILL be brave and bold and run around in dresses as we please. Thank you to all the women I know for all that you give. You hold us all up more than you know. 🌎🌸 (at San Francisco Bay Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/Buw6U2-Bcp8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7q576aab9ete

This time last year I did a couple of summer sheet sets for @potterybarn and this one is my favorite 🚣🏼‍♂️ (at San Francisco Bay Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuuC1TfBPsc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qxc16fhxgtck

I’m a little upside down in a good way right now. Finished this series and then felt sort of lost for a few weeks. Self expression is one of my primary values in life, can’t explain why, it’s just part of me. And after I get out what I want to, I feel a little like an empty shell. But then I got a rush of inspiration, exciting to the point of insomnia. I basically just dove into thoughts and ideas that were already swimming in my mind and I’ll start turning them into art soon. In the meantime, enjoy this sideways process pic of one of my favorites. 🥀 (at Outside Lands) https://www.instagram.com/p/BupBSgnBlF0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xv62i8cub1kp

Finished my piece for the 🌟VENUS🌟 All Women art show at @labodegagallery in San Diego (11x14”) Opening March 9th! I’m calling this painting “Ritual” and it’s dedicated to my Mother-in-law Teresa who passed away unexpectedly this Christmas. Through supporting my husband in this incredibly hard time, I noticed the experience I was (and am still) having...feeling a void, and being so aware of death, but finding the most “real” way to get through it as “getting my hands dirty in it”. Letting myself feel all of it while using it as a reminder of the fleeting beauty of life and the magic of all of it. The woman in this scene is a hybrid of myself and Teresa. She had long black hair and a tattoo of a broken heart on her wrist. We’re letting our hands get dirty in the soil but noticing that flowers are growing from it. Letting the glow of the large full moon illuminate the stars and the sky to show that darkness can be magical too, or at the very least - cathartic. My husband and I had to sort through her belongings for longer than a week straight right after she passed and I had never needed to do that before. I think it was the beginning of this image forming in my mind. As far as the process goes, this was done almost entirely in gouache (with some oil and acrylic) and i LOVED how quick it made painting! Perfect because one of my goals this year is to make quicker work more often. Thanks for reading the story behind my work, it’s the most important thing in the world to me. 🌹 (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuUT2MNBA77/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13kecjau1130s

This is my best friend Nala. She is spoiled. Keeping her hairs off of my paintings is very hard but I giggle when I look closely at gallery shows and notice the same for a lot of other artists. What’s better than having a companion while you paint who won’t critique your work when you’re not yet ready for it? 😆 (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuKRMWqhb-L/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=l4w2ywzk2ney

SO EXCITED! I figured out how to use gouache on wood as a fixed base layer!!!! This could be the best day of my life. Jk. But it’s pretty much the highlight of my week aside from laughing myself to sleep from my husband’s jokes. 😄 Basically...I gessoed and sanded the wood then applied gouache almost opaquely to fill in all the shapes, then I let it dry and used spray fixative over top. Once that dried, I was able to paint with oils on top with no problem! Also, I can still add more gouache if I want. If you already knew this, then where were you when I needed the advice? Jk, again. Kinda. I just love this because the pull of the gouache feels better on the paintbrush and lays in flatter than acrylic. 🤯😘🎨 (at PIER 39) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuC3fC2BIZt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5zsyajwl0kte

The fourth (and my favorite) piece in this series! 🖤 “Emotional Decadence” is the indulgent experience of emotional sensitivity. Awakening to the idea that, instead of a burden or a weakness, an abundance of emotions is a sensory luxury and a beautiful part of the human journey. Here, we are in a deep and dark space but adorned by a crown of botanicals that reflect the humbling truth of life and that, just like emotions, it is fluid and fleeting. She is naked, vulnerable, but unafraid and catches streams of gold instead of tears. Her fingernails are red to symbolize the presence in her experience. She needs no consoling, this and every moment is a gift. Prints of these and a bunch of others are available via the link in my profile. 🌹 (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt_dXzLBRUM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=102gkr6qu0o5z

Both of these paintings are now available! (Doggie is already taken) If you’re interested, let me know directly. If you know any art collectors who might be, please tag them! Both are 18x24” signed original oil and acrylic on wood panel. (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsUoOUQhENT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lmqdikwiop7h

I had a lot of intentions for transitioning from 2018 to 2019 but, sadly, my vivacious mother-in-law Teresa passed away and our holiday plans were replaced with sadness and unexpected travel. After a week of sifting through her lifetime of belongings, a lot of thoughts have come up about human possessions and the space we occupy. We assign value to the things around us and work hard to create with purpose but once we’re gone, are they anything at all? I did an exercise the other night to list imagery and items that mean something to me, and I hope to expand these through drawings via the inspiration of Teresa, who I loved and honor still. ❤️ (at New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsLnVSfBOrs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=136i06mi3sjv7

In case you missed the tutorial in my story a little while ago, here is a full list of the oil painting supplies I use: 1: Pencils in a variety of weights (4B, H, HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B) 2: Erasers 3: Gesso (I mostly use clear) 4: Sandpaper 5: Blue Gloves 6: Palette Paper 7: Palette Knives 8: Paper Towels 9: (a pet for happiness) 10: OIL PAINT! 11: Linseed Oil 12: Odorless Mineral Spirits 13: (metal sealable oil well) 14: Galkyd Gel (for making paint dry faster) 15: Variety of paint brushes (I like @princetonbrush water media brushes) 16: glass mason jar for storing used oily rags 17: binder clips for hanging brushes to dry pointing down 18: brush cleaner 19: Canvas (@american_easel birch panels are what I use) Happy to answer any questions! Or also get feedback about your supply choices. Also, did you like the tutorial? In the next one I can show you how to start an oil painting! 😘 (at San Francisco Bay Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrqKhkYh3Mr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jme8700c6l7s