Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessi Mortensen.
Jessi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began my professional career as a freelance artist and illustrator. I had graduated from University of Delaware in 2000 with my BA in Art and Illustration. I had begun painting murals for local businesses and private homes in the beach town I am from but quickly realized that I wanted to experience more adventure in my life. I made a plan to move to San Diego, sight unseen and with no real connections, at the end of the summer of 2000.
Within six months, I had developed a flourishing mural business and continued to create art and mural for the next seven years full time. While I was working as a muralist freelancer, I began to teach art part-time for private and charter schools. I come from a family of educators, but never imagined that it would be part of my path. In 2007, I decided that teaching was a true passion as well as being an artist and I enrolled at SDSU in their teaching credential program. The following summer, I had been offered a full-time position at a charter school teaching math (yes, math!). I took a chance on a small district and applied for a part-time art teacher position split between Canyon Crest and Torrey Pines. Luckily I was offered the position and after a year, became full-time staff and program coordinator at CCA for the Envision Visual Arts program. I have never regretted my decision to go into teaching. High school students are so brilliant to work with and I feel I have one of the best jobs possible here. I still create art and show/sell work professionally, just on a smaller scale than prior to teaching.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has not always been smooth. When I was in college, my near retirement illustration professor would gather the female students and tell them that they should not expect to be successful or respected in this field. That only men can be professional illustrators, women can sometimes make it as mere children’s illustrators. My best advice is to not listen to outdated words and persevere. You CAN be whatever you put your mind and effort to. It may not be as easy in certain fields, but times are changing and opportunity is what you make it. Don’t be afraid of making a plan A and sticking to it. When I moved to San Diego, I had no connections, no apartment, no job. I had come prepared with enough savings to get me through my first few months, and I spent that time creating and executing a business plan. I did not make a plan B. I wanted to be successful with my goal to be an artist and not fall back on secondary things for safety. Believe in yourself even when it seems that others do not. You matter and you can make a difference in this world.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with EVA (Envision Visual Arts) at Canyon Crest Academy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
In my teaching, I am most proud of my students and their accomplishments. I can only hope that I helped foster an environment where they could be fearless and learn to acknowledge their own talent and artistic worth. I have tried to encourage them to pursue careers that bring them happiness. What is the point of a great paycheck if you spend 8-10 hours a day being miserable? You get one life, don’t live it for others’ expectations. If you find joy, that is success. I see many smiling alumni every year return to share their experiences.
In my own personal art, I work in almost every media and in an illustrative and photo-realistic style. I am greatly inspired by nature and the world around us, so my subjects typically reflect this. In a vastly digital world, I am proud of the fact that I can master new technologies and still play around in the mud with ceramics.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
The art world is starting to change from when I was a student. There is much less of “male dominated art”. We can thank trailblazers like the Guerilla Girls for keeping activism alive with their efforts to level the playing field. I truly feel that we are at a tipping point in our world right now. I hope that we can reflect upon this time in history and see great change and not where we revert backwards. I feel that young women are in a perfect time to push for activism and for equality. We do not have to sit back and be silent with our voices or with our art. The best opportunities are the ones you push for and create yourself. Blaze your own path through with no excuses!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jessimatthes.com
- Instagram: @art.of.the.phoenix
Image Credit:
Jessi Mortensen
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