(Hand Painted Necklaces for sale here)
Friends, get ready to fall in love with this maker. I am blown away by her talent, knack for color and branding, not to mention her ability to come up with the world’s cutest puns. On top of all that, she hustles like no other and is a complete #GIRLBOSS. Okay, okay, enough of me gushing– here’s jesiiii!
1. Tell us a little about yourself!
Hi! I’m Jesi and I am an illustrator, painter, maker of colorful happy art and things. My shop is just called jesiiii (thats four i’s for my four eyes). I currently live in Columbus, Ohio – but grew up in south Louisiana.
2. Have you always been a maker or did you pursue other careers first?
Definitely have always been a maker – but it took me a long time to be able to turn my passion into my job. I attended college for a year and half before deciding it wasn’t right for me. The only classes I enjoyed were my art classes, but it wasn’t an art school – so the other classes dragged me down. I had to regroup and settle for a job in retail until I could figure out what to do with myself.
(I Love You to the Core Painting for sale here)
3. What made you decide to start selling your work?
I started painting a lot more regularly about 12 years ago when I was still in high school. It was just something that I always did when I had free time. After my failed college attempt, I started really honing my style of art. I would post pictures of my art on social media here and there. Someone on Facebook asked me if I wanted to be a part of a local art show. I was completely terrified, but decided to take the leap since I had stacks of paintings just gathering dust. I sold almost every painting in one night and it finally hit me that I needed to paint more and actually try to get my name out there.
4. Who or what inspires you?
I’m inspired by tattoo art, bright colors, and clever puns. I honestly look for inspiration in lots of little things on a daily basis…I am a generally happy person, so I just want to make things that I love and hopefully it will put a smile on someone’s face.
5. Any advice for people just starting their own Etsy shop?
If you want to do this full time, make sure your whole heart is in it! It takes a lot of work and a lot of late nights. Know what you know what you want your brand to represent and keep things cohesive! Also, social media can be your best friend.
(Seek Adventure Print for sale here)
6. One fun fact about yourself?
This took me so long to think of an answer – but here is something random about me! I have gotten to be a background extra in a few movies and tv shows. If you want to have a scavenger hunt you can find tiny glimpses of me in Year One, Bending the Rules (which you probably have never heard of), 21 Jump Street, anepisode of American Horror Story and an episode of…wait for it…The Young and the Restless. CLASSIC!
**Be sure to visit Jesi’s Shop and see more behind the scenes on Instagram!