About Me
Artist Statement
I left social work about five years ago due to excessive job-induced stress. I didn’t want to say goodbye to social work’s mission of helping people through challenging times, but instead, figure out how to combine my formal training in social work with my creativity and life experiences. I wanted to find a way to thrive rather than just survive. That’s when my art blog, My Life Thrival Kit, was born.
Nature has inspired me throughout my life. I have been able to grow and learn about myself by observing nature. This has helped me to work through the darkest events in my life. I use abstract and sometimes surreal elements as well as gold and silver paint to portray plants and animals in a way that best exhibits the message they carry, not to mention the magic and magnificence I see when observing them. Whether it be the peacock proudly telling us to accept ourselves, flaws and all, the butterfly teaching us about the process of change through its transition from its caterpillar stage, or the cherry blossom trees reminding us to seek out and embrace the new beginnings they bring us each Spring, nature and all her inhabitants have a lot to say, and that is what I enjoy exploring in my artwork.
As I figure out how to thrive in my own life, perhaps using my artwork to discuss topics such as grief, anxiety, and processing life changes can help others thrive during their own challenges. It would be an honor to know that I was able to reach others through my artistic impressions.
Artist Biography
Jessie grew up in Clearfield, Pennsylvania where she took art classes from a local artist during elementary school and early middle school. She pursued a career in healthcare by getting her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania before realizing that social work would be a better fit for her. She received her Masters of Social Work degree from California University of Pennsylvania and proceeded to work as a social worker in various healthcare facilities for five years. It wasn’t until she took a tour of the Castle Gallery in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a close friend that she decided to start painting again.
Jessie is a self-taught artist at the beginning of her art career. She looks forward to sharing her art, creativity, and passion for helping others through her blog, “My Life Thrival Kit,” where she uses art to explore emotional and spiritual topics.