Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Holt.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always been drawn to the arts… drawing painting sculpture whatever. Making something from something else is my thing. I started painting very young and raised by two entrepreneurs. I did not go to college, they let me pick either college or business when I graduated from high school… so I picked business, we open a flower shop when I was 20. I had that business for 12 years before I decided it wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore… I did nothing for about six months and I got a part-time job at another flower shop. I was there for about four years when I quit and opened up a little storefront, I sold furniture, vintage pieces, clothes, but really the only thing that was selling was my art. So, I close the storefront and I started doing shows… I had done shows with my mom before when we had our flower shop, she had filled the place with antiques, so we had a couple of different kinds of clientele coming in at the store. My mom was very good at teaching me how to draw on different client bases in order to facilitate what kind of income I needed. Now, I just schedule shows when I want to work and the rest of the time, I paint and play.
Has it been a smooth road?
Well, the struggles were definitely there, but by more mostly personal matters, I was married and divorced twice, that makes it hard to run your own business when your personal life is falling apart at the seams…
I guess my advice to any other women working on your own business… don’t get distracted… build your business, do what you love, the right one will eventually come along and be completely fine with you doing your thing.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a folk artist self-taught, of course, I paint on recycled vintage pieces. I prefer metal and wood, it can take the abuse that other things can’t.
I paint with very bright colors on old rusted things, so it has a very nice contrast and I mostly paint animals.
My most well-known animal is Jessipig. That was my nickname, I was branded with by my cousins growing up and it has served me well because the general public seems to love her, she’s cheerful and bright and makes people smile… her motto is to “choose happy.“
I don’t think a lot of people realize that it is a choice, it’s not an easy choice, but it is a choice.
Everybody has days that are hard horrible and other days that are easy, but on the hard days, deciding to be grateful and thankful for what you do have and choosing to put a smile on your face and remembering that you’re blessed are the days that make the other ones that much sweeter life is mostly about perspective… perspective is power.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
Joan of Arc
She inspired she rallied the troops she stood for truth and she paid with her life.
She didn’t let fear stop her, she let her Lord lead her.
Freda Kahlo
Love that she expressed herself in her own self-portraits, I try to do a self-portrait at least twice a year.
I’m doing more people portraits, now branching out from just animals.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 678-633-9591
- Email: junkstarlet@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junkstarlet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/junkstarlet/
Image Credit:
Jessica Holt 😀
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