Meet Jennifer Hooks of I Think With Art in Carlsbad

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Hooks.

Jennifer, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Since the age of five my father always told me I look at the world differently. Always as an artist…..

I have lived in San Diego my whole 23 years of existence. Growing up in Vista, CA there is a different take of art on every corner. From a young age, I have always yearned for more creativity in my veins. I remember sitting as a little girl carefully tracing Dr. Seuss’s drawings and acting out movies with my closest friends.

I grew up a dancer. An animal lover. A painter. I never did well in school. But if you asked my parents they would tell you instead of homework, I would be dancing around the house or hiding out in my room reading a good poetry book. And eventually, when I got into the working world, I loved making a name for myself, even if it was “Jenn the Carhop at Sonic Drive-In”.

I took my first art class in high school (at the time just to fill the credit). Back to basics, even though the class was easy, I loved it. 

Moving on to college, I attended Mira Costa Community college and enrolled in a drawing class. Even though I loved sitting in the grass, drawing buildings for three hours, I craved more.

Taking a break from art, I looked at other ways I could make a living (a good one). After getting my hair done for the first time at a professional salon, I remember staying up late researching beauty schools. I fell in love.

I enrolled at Palomar Institute Of Cosmetology in the winter of 2015, after convincing my parents that this could make me a living AND a way to release my creativity. Towards the end of my schooling there, I found out I was pregnant. As a 19-year-old, I was scared. Luckily I had an amazing support team and was able to start my own business as a hairdresser by the summer of 2016.

As a mom of a now two-year-old, I need a steady income. I continue to do hair to this day but still always go back to my art. Since last year I have presented some pieces in group art shows at Backfence Society in Vista, Ca. I also shared a booth and sold my art among many talented artists in the Alley Art Festival in Vista, Ca this summer.

I finally got the nerve to start selling my art online and create an Instagram to showcase my art on different platforms. I wouldn’t say I am where I want to be today with my business. I think that is what makes good success, never accepting defeat, but also never accepting an end. To constantly push and do what you love. If you have to take a break for a couple years, there is nothing wrong with that. But please, do not give up. There are too many people in the world that settle. If you do settle, settle for something that makes you happy. Then you will be successful no matter what else comes your way.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my biggest struggles and I continue to struggle with this, is stylizing my art. I tend to do a lot of different styles but can feel lost in the process- an artist’s identity crisis. I tend to do a lot more studies because of this.

I try to tell myself that recreating pictures into paintings all the time does not mean you are not an artist.

A second struggle every artist has is “what should I draw today?” One thing that really helped with this, I experienced quite recently. I attended Brian Kesinger’s art exhibition at the Oceanside Museum. Not only being inspired by the creativity but also the quotes that are places among the walls of the exhibit. There was one that simply stated to just create what you love. The simplest words, but the best truth. That lead me to start painting more animals, but who knows what my topic of art will be next….that is one of the best things about it.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I have been doing art my whole life but I would say professionally for two years now. Most of my art are ink works or watercolors. I just recently voyaged into gouache paints- which are almost a mix of watercolor and acrylics that leave a matte finish. I think I am known for the fact that I do not specialize in one medium of art. I tend to use many different ones throughout my creative journey.

Just recently I opened an Etsy account. I was nervous about it looking through all the posts of gift boxes and handcrafted luxuries. I think that is what sets me apart from others. I do not make prints unless requested and most of my art are originals. One of a kind. I do not create for the consumers, I create for myself and the consumers happen to enjoy it in a different way.

I am most proud of the amount of practice and time I have put into my artwork. Every day I put aside an hour for practice art and an hour to start a new project. Also, the responding, social media and shop maintenance are no easy defeat. I am also proud that I have been able to make this business come alive while being a working mom at the same time.

Lastly, I am proud to have the support system I do. I would not be where I am. I sold my very first piece to my parents, and I am very thankful to have friends and a future husband that do not give up on my dream either.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
This is a very easy answer. The proudest moment of my art was having my 2-year-old son, who has had a delay with speech go up to one of my pieces and brighten up with a big smile and say “wow mommy!”. To this day he always does that when I finish a new piece, and it reminds me why I am doing what I am. To show him that you can’t give up when it gets hard or you feel you have no time. It blended being a mother and an artist into one for me. And reminded me that I can do this.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ithinkwithartshop
• Email: ithinkwithart@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ithinkwithart/

Image Credit:
Jenn Hooks

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