The Imperfectly Perfect Portraitist
* Sketch done by Amanda Lewis, inspired by Jessica Sebok Art
Artist: Jessica Sebok
Medium: Ink, Acrylic Paint, Watercolor Paint, Digital
Types of art you can buy: Custom Acrylic on Canvas, Custom Watercolor on Paper, Custom Ink on Paper, Custom Digital Illustrations
When I first found Jessica Sebok’s work and discovered what she was doing, the thought that came to mind was "Necessity is the mother of invention". I know that expression seems out of place but when you take a deeper dive into the world of Jessica Sebok Art, it is nothing short of perfect. Jessica is not just an amazingly talented portrait artist, she is also a provider to people in need. When she works on commissioned pieces she’s not just painting your late father, but capturing his essence, his livelihood, the things that made him him. When she’s painting a portrait of your kiddos, she’s not just pairing together some seemingly crazy colors, she’s giving you hope for a bright tomorrow based on your happy memories.
What really jumped out to me when starting my investigation was Jessica’s most recent venture, her collaboration work with her four year old. Simply put, she takes his scribbles and paints portraits on top. I was blown away. What better memory of your little one being little, than a portrait of them on top of a portrait by them?! If she wasn’t already brilliant, she struck gold with this one. Where else can you get a commissioned piece as pure and special as that?
Jessica and her work feel like a breath of fresh air. In a year with so much turmoil, she is the shining light of splattered paints we all need! In a time where everything is digital, you can always find something pure, unique, and real with Jessica. I urge you all to explore her page, it might give you some hope for a positive future.
Amanda: Where in the world do you create your work?
Jessica: I’m from middle America and have always enjoyed being a Midwesterner! I love visiting larger cities with art museums and crazy good food though too.
Amanda: How has 2020 impacted your work?
Jessica: I’ve grown more in 2020 as an artist than any other year in my career. My husband was laid off from his corporate job and he became our primary childcare parent while I spent more and more time in my home studio. We decided to full-time pursue my art career together (he helps run the back end of the business as my first employee) and it was the best decision we’ve ever made. 2020 has been a whirlwind and filled with a lot of anxiety and fear, but it did force me to slow down and really think about my path forward as an artist. I think being quarantined and forced to limit social activities benefited my artistic productivity and I’ve learned the importance of self-care and carving out time to recharge. When I feed my soul and care for my emotional needs its much easier to effortlessly access my artistic flow.
Amanda: If you can choose one thing for people to think or feel when viewing your art, what would that be?
Jessica: I want them to feel a familiarity with my work. I want people to feel the innocence and freedom of childhood that they may have forgotten in adulthood. I want my viewers to reflect on their own past and their own vulnerabilities by seeing some of mine. I want to share images of the parts of my life that hit me right in the heart.
Amanda: What has your work taught you (about art, life, people, anything!)?
Jessica: My work has taught me to let go of perfection. Life is always going to be far from perfect, but perfect was never the goal. Connection, support, love, smiles, belly laughter, tears, grief, fast heartbeats, these are some of the things that life is all about and I want my work to mirror those feelings and moments that make life what it is. An imperfect storm of connections and emotions that bond us to the people we love most. I’ve also learned a lot from my 4 year old, we do some art collaborations together and he has taught me so much about letting go and freely making marks, its beautiful to watch.
Amanda: What other forms of art, music, literature, etc. inspire your work?
Jessica: I am a HUGE movie buff. Falling into a good movie is one of my absolute favorite activities. I like big emotions and I can really get into the mental headspace of other characters and most of the time I end up jotting down painting ideas and art show ideas while I watch. I also really enjoy music, my husband is a musician and the emotional space that music can create is truly magic.
Amanda: What is one thing (if any) that you think people don't know or understand about your art?
Jessica: I think a lot of people think I have it all figured out, but I really don’t. I get a lot of DMs asking about mentoring and looking for advice and I’m happy to give it when I can, but I’m still figuring it all out myself! Also, I’m not sure if people realize that I work from my own photos (aside from commissions), I love to work from my camera roll, or old photos passed down through my family.
Amanda: Where can everyone find you?
Jessica: You can find me as @jessicasebok_portraits on Instagram and @jessicasebok_portraits on TikTok! My website is just my name, jessicasebok.com and there you can commission custom work, order originals, prints, and more!