Painting with the Becoming

Have you ever seen a painting that speaks to you or been inspired by a person to become the best person you can be? Jessica of the Becoming has created paintings and artwork as well as used it and her story to inspire others to find who they are and become the best you, you can be :). She’ll reveal to you how you can become the artist you dream of becoming, give you inspiration for growing as an artist and entrepreneur, and share some of her journey for how the Becoming started and so much more.

You can find out more about the Becoming and Jessica on her website, where you can also take a quiz to find out what you are struggling with in being the artist you want to be, behind the scenes and her latest projects can be found on her Instagram account and YouTube.

Painting with the Becoming

By Michele of VAMICreations and Jessica of the Becoming

What gave you the idea/inspiration to start The Becoming?

the Becoming didn’t start out as the Becoming. The earliest iteration of it was an online course I created for artists (and myself) back in 2014 called Keep Your Ass in the Studio. I had just finished a three-year long social practice project and needed to get back to work in my own studio and knew that I needed some accountability and structure. Around the same time I was working with various coaches to make changes in my own life and discovered how powerful it is to have a coach in your corner - someone who can ask great questions, hold space for the highest vision for our lives, and help us achieve results that feel beyond our current capacities. I created the Keep Your Ass in the Studio course, which led to me being a coach for other artists, because I realized that there are other artists out there like me, who were struggling to keep their asses in the studio. Years later, once I started thinking more about how we are all in a constant state of becoming, and discovered how the French philosopher Deleuze talked about what it means to become and the role that desire plays in it, I made the connection that art-making is about so much more than the objects we create, it’s about who we become in the process. For those of us who are called to make art, the creative process and the desire to give birth to something new are  powerful allies and catalysts in our own personal evolution… Which is why I refer to our work as the Becoming. 

How did you get started in painting?

I was always a kid who was making “stuff” - little crafty presents for family members, or handmade gift cards. I invested myself heartily in any art or aesthetic project I had in school. Without clearly knowing that I wanted to be an artist, I ended up studying art in college. I  started out studying graphic design and illustration, but quickly learned that I was less interested in producing illustrations (or art based on things that were already known or named) and more interested in fine art and painting because of where I sensed a more open-ended and discovery-based creative process could take me, both into new, unknown territory and further into myself. 

How did you get started with wanting to help other artists?

Before I became a coach I was doing social practice art projects that took me out of the studio and into different communities. I was curious to see what would happen if I created situations for connection and vulnerability between complete strangers. I took what was shared in these encounters back to the studio and used it to create paintings and objects. It was always clear to me that I didn’t just want to be in the studio, but wanted to use my art to engage with others and get a window into how they experienced life, the cities they lived in, their own feelings… That sort of thing. Through much trial and error, I eventually discovered that I’m most passionate about two things - the creative process itself and helping others use the creative process to become aware of how they think and feel so that from there, once the truth has been named, they can create something new. This is the work I now do with artists.

How do you choose the artists you work with? How can an artist apply to work with you?

Most of our group programs are open to anyone who has a sincere desire to make art and take their career to the next level. I don’t require portfolio submissions or base access to our entry-level programs on what a artist is currently producing. Anyone with a sincere desire to create is welcome to join. I’m not interested in being a gatekeeper. When I work with an artist one-on-one, or at a higher level, we usually have a conversation to discuss whether I am the right fit for them, and vice versa… More often than not, they have already gone through an entry-level program and I already know if we’re the right fit for each other. 

How do you choose the paintings you create – ie is there something that you take inspiration rom when you start a painting?

When I’m working on my own personal art (vs. a social practice project that is based on engaging with others) I don’t wait for inspiration to come, nor do I start a painting with anything more than a loose intention for what I’d like the painting to do or be. I let the inspiration come from the painting process itself, by showing up and being present with what I’m experiencing in the moment. That always proves to be much more inspiring and surprising than anything my brain can conceive of in advance. 

What is your favorite style of painting to create?

The ones I currently make, which are a mix of abstraction, figuration and collage. Because I’m not interested in representing known aspects of the world around us, I use the creative process to go into new or unnamed territory. The imagery that emerges straddles the line between what is known and not-yet-known and often feels quite surreal… Although for me what is represented in my paintings feels more real than what we often see around us. 

What would you tell a new painter or artist for encouragement?

Pay attention to the seemingly insignificant desires and impulses. Then follow them. Your most authentic art requires you to be fiercely honest about who you are, what you love, and what you don’t. 

What is something you are passionate about and why?

People feeling seen and naming what’s true for us. I firmly believe that any change or transformation we want to create is dependent on us naming the raw, honest truth of how we feel and where we are, both for ourselves and for others. 

If you had one (or several) things to share with a woman entrepreneur, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?

Similar to the advice I gave above to a new artist or painter: Pay attention to what YOU feel called to do. And do it. Running a business is also a creative act and is best, and most aligned, when treated as such. In the end, others can offer advice or pass on their expertise, but the truth of what you need to do and where you need to go is within YOU. Get good at listening to yourself. 

What is a lesson learned for being a woman entrepreneur that you wish someone had told you when you first started?

That things take time. And should take time if you’re committed to creating something real and impactful. Don’t rush the process. Taking the time to build a solid foundation - with your product, service, team, systems and all of it. will pay off in the long run. 

If you had one (or several) things to share with a woman entrepreneur who was also a mother, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?

My journey into motherhood only started 6 weeks ago so it’s still early days… But, I’m already seeing how limited the existing narratives are about being a Mom in general, and about being a mom and having a career. Don’t buy into the narratives that feel shitty and don’t serve you. Create your own. Let motherhood be the source of incredible power that it is and allow it to transform you into more of the entrepreneur you choose to be. Write your own version of the story you want to live.

How has COVID changed or impacted your vision/strategy?

It hasn’t much. My business was set up pre-COVID to operate in a way that thrived during the pandemic and meant that we could continue to serve people online during a global pandemic.

What is something that has helped you get through during this global pandemic? Something encouraging or positive?

I’ve been able to continue using the same strategies I used pre-pandemic to keep me inspired and on point - regular exercise, visioning and daily gratitude to name a few. Honestly, for a highly-sensitive introvert, having to stay at home and minimize interactions with the outside world has been nourishing. 

Fun question – if you could meet one person in history or present, who would it be and why?

My maternal grandmother who I never got to meet. Understanding my lineage and the people and forces that have shaped my life has been powerful beyond measure for me. I’d love to know more about who she was and how she experienced life. 

What is your dream for The Becoming to be (where do you see The Becoming in 5+ years)?

Great question…. and one I’m currently asking myself! I don’t have a clear answer for this yet. It’s only recently that my feet are firmly planted on solid financial ground and I’m no longer operating from fear or survival. (Creating financial stability and getting out of the starving artist mindset has been a long journey). I’m taking some time to re-envision what I want to create and contribute next from this new territory I’m in. 

How can I and my readers help you with your dream for The Becoming? 

Believe that you can create anything you desire, and then don’t stop until you do! 

Thank you for joining us for this interview with Jessica of The Becoming and thank you to Jessica for doing the interview with us!!! I’d love to hear from you about what you’ve gotten from the Becoming and how Jessica has inspired you! :) Please let me know by commenting below or sending me an email. I’d also love to hear from you about what types of resources you want more information on as well as Makers you would like to nominate for a Maker Feature/interview! Please email me or leave a comment on this article! Looking forward to hearing from you and have a great day!