Meet Veronica Jean | Creative Director & Artist

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

Hi Veronica Jean, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I never considered being an artist as a career: It was just who I was. Even as a kid my imagination ran wild, and that never really changed as I got older. Art was both my way of seeing new things and my way of communicating that to others. It was a permanent part of my expression, and how could such a personal expression turn into a cold, cut and dry business?

Then, June 25th of 2020, I was on the road trip of a lifetime the skoolie bus I was traveling in overturned on a mountain road and rolled 72 feet down a cliff into a ravine. I was standing in the back, completely unprotected, and the biggest thing I remember in the moment I knew I was going to die?
Disappointment.

I realized art was my passion, and I had let it take a back seat. Fear of rejection, fear of the spotlight: It all stopped me from doing what I felt I was really meant to do. The next day, standing over the rubble, struggling to walk, thousands of miles from home and with most of my belongings gone, all i could think about was how i never wanted to feel that disappointment again. I was going to pursue my dream of being an artist full time, but not for fame or money: For the things that really mattered to me: Making the world a better place than I found.

I have a second chance that i don’t plan on wasting, because when you’re rolling down a cliff, money really doesn’t matter, but knowing you lived your life to the fullest and making it better for the people you leave behind does.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I definitely had a rocky start. First, the accident left me in a lot of pain, and because of the complexities with insurance, I was unable to get solid medical care for almost two years. I often had to take off of work for a long-awaited appointment, only to be told I needed to go home because they could not get in touch with the insurance company.

Worse, I struggled horribly with post-concussion and TBI symptoms. At work I would miss meetings, forget entire conversations, and stutter while presenting to clients. I flooded the house, left the stove on regularly, and even the car running a few times.

Trying to start a new business in the midst of all this was definitely challenging, but I was and still am determined.

The hardest hurdle was after finalizing my brand, printing tons of marketing material, exhausting most of my savings and spending months designing products, I discovered the company I partnered with had greenwashed their products. I had a choice: sell products that only /seemed/ eco friendly so I could salvage the situation and get my artwork out there, or cut my losses and start over, seeking a new print partner. I chose the latter.

I still have a long way to go, but connecting with awesome charities and knowing I can do something to help them is so rewarding. I’ve learned that ‘perfect’ is a fantasy: the more afraid you are of doing it, the more it should be done. When it comes to art, authenticity is everything. If it isn’t real, if it isn’t’ raw, if it isn’t YOU, it misses the point, and therefore you shouldn’t cut any corners. There’s going to be rough times, but being able to stand behind your name and what you’ve built makes it all worth it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hunterdon County, NJ is the country gem of the Northeast, and what it lacks in city living it makes up for in a variety of historic towns and rolling hills.

We’d start with the finest coffee and chicken salad sandwiches this side of the Delaware at Homestead Coffee Roasters in Upper Black Eddy, PA. The relaxed, country atmosphere is loved by all ages, and is a favorite stop while biking or hiking along the canal.

Only a few miles away, Phillips Farmers Market offers farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, baked goods, and a host of the finest jammed and canned goods anywhere. Plus their greenhouses grow peaches so good, you’ll never be able to eat them anywhere else. Trust me.

From there you can’t head home without stopping at Ironbound Cidery, though you better call in advance. The farm-to-table food, live music, and firepits make this one of my favorite summer experiences, and flights of hard cider under the stars turn summer evenings into magic.

Not far away is the Columbia trail, close to High Bridge. You can bike or hike for miles on end under the trees. Just be ready to stop a thousand times to greet people. Hunterdon county may not be a small town, but it’s impossible to go out without meeting someone you know.

Don’t get too far out on the trail. After a long day of hiking, back in High Bridge where the trailhead starts is a little tucked away bar called Circa, which hosts open-mics and local bands. These poeple live and breathe music, and between the bartender whose minded the place for a decade and the fantastic food, you might fall in love.

We can’t forget about Clinton, a shopping strip set almost on top of a waterfall. The line of flowering trees along main street are stunning in the spring, and for the rest of the year are wrapped in twinkling lights that reflect on local shop windows and make the entire town glow. If you’re a regular, the shop owners will greet you by name. Don’t forget to stop at Fourchette for a slice of french cheese drizzled in fig balsamic. Clinton is definitely an experience all its own. If there’s a parade to be had or a holiday to celebrate, Clinton is the place to be.

You can’t experience my home though without going for a starlit paddle at Round Valley Reservoir. During the day, the crystal blue water boasts 30 ft visibility, and feels like a tropical island paradise. At night, the moon and stars reflect on still water, and the twinkling lights of night fisherman go out as far as the eye can see.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many people who helped me along the way: From my amazing family who has shown me the meaning of love, to the communities outside Managua, Nicaragua who welcomed me into their villiages during my missions work. Artist and philanthropist John Sodenberberg has been both my supporter and mentor in many ways, and i’m blessed to consider him a friend. My sister Alesha has been both my best friend and my rock. I couldn’t imagine ever having the courage to do any of this without her. I’d also not get very far without the support of my younger brother John, whose believed in me when i didn’t believe in myself, and my best friends Chris and Jennifer. As an artist, you need people around you willing to walk the tough roads with you and build you up when you’re down, and all of these people have gone out of there way to help me through this journey.

Website: VeronicaJean.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_by_veronicajean/