We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
All my life I have loved making art. I worked a lot of jobs not related to the art field but always found a way to make it creative. Be it by decorating store fronts, hand painting back drops for bar crawls, painting during slow days in gas stations, really any way to sneak creativity in I did it. Once 2020 hit and the bars all closed, my job of 10 years disappeared overnight. It was shell shock. My whole life I was told tending bar was a forever gig, people will drink to celebrate or wallow. Luckily for me, that was truly the catalyst for filling my soul instead of pint glasses. Currently I am the events director at Cottonwood Center for the Arts as well as a professional artist. Being able to be involved with our creative community while working on my skillset is such a fulfilling experience. I’m doing my best to model for my daughters that they can be whatever they dream of being and achieve success while they do it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Cottonwood is a two story, seventy studio, art gallery, school, and community center where every day is an adventure. We have a tiny staff considering the size and importance of our organization, but we are a mighty team. On any given day, we could start with planning exhibition schedules for the upcoming year and pivot to building shelves or patching holes in our parking lot. As the events director for our venue I genuinely enjoy helping others make the best of their event and I can proudly say our gallery provides. a beautiful ever-changing backdrop for any sort of gathering. Being a people person I love to help make the most of every gathering…that part came very naturally to me, The surprising part has been how much support I get in return–something I had never experienced in my years in the service industry. Being a part of Cottonwood has let me grow professionally into this position, while making sure my family is my priority, and allowing space for staying inspired for my own art making and teaching.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The very first place we would stop is Olde Town Coffee by my house in Fountain! They have delicious coffees and the most beautiful flights. It’s a really fun treat to energize the day. Of course Cottonwood would be at the top of the list for sites to see, not just for looking at art, but for sharing creative time in my studio. If it is farmer market season sending them home with hatch green chilis would be a must and I would make sure they got a King Chef and Western Omelette breakfast. Pick up lunch at Roll up and head to a Switchbacks soccer game or Vibes baseball game. As an artist of course I love strolling downtown and the westside touring public art while ping ponging in and out of our art galleries… but I really appreciate having sports stadiums and music venues without going to Denver. I have my favorite Denver venues for concerts but nothing beats catching a good show at The Black Sheep and being home before midnight these days.
Sunday tea at Glen Eryie Castle then a field trip through Garden of the Gods. Really would a week be long enough? I think I covered the important bits.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to take the time to thank my family, my mother, siblings, husband, daughters, nephews and nieces. They are my greatest support, my motivation and I would not be who I am today without every one of you.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/pensivej

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica.jones.art/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-jones-858576265/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pensivej

Image Credits
Jessica Jones

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