Check Out Jessica Csanky’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Csanky.

Hi Jessica, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It is my mission as an artist to add vibrant color to this world. I see art as a medium for connecting to consciousness, spirituality, community, and the world at large.

To tell you how I arrived here, I would like to share one of many stories that shaped my artistic path.

I first entered the Sumi-E room when I was 22 studying abroad in Japan. The room was filled with bright yet soft light on the second story of our exchange program. It offered a view of the town of Hirakata, Japan.

Low-to-the-earth tables rested on top of tatami mats as the earthy smell of ink grounded the room. Tables were arranged in a U-shape position so that students faced one another while painting. The sound of delicate clinks chimed musically while painters rinsed their brushes. Red pots of ink glistened, ready to garnish our handmade stamps – marking the completion of a work of art.

Here in this sanctuary of a classroom, we learned how to grind a carefully crafted Sumi stick against a stone basin. This ritual would yield beautiful ink for our paintings.

We studied the way in which ink and color interacted with rice paper and observed nature’s gifts: cherry blossoms, bamboo shoots, rocky coasts, and the moon over misty mountains. We learned how to mark the paper with intention, grace, and harmony.

Having been a dancer much of my life, I relished in the opportunity to incorporate movement and gesture into brush strokes and to see the composition form before my eyes, almost like the choreography of ink upon paper.

It was as though we were observing life blossom on the paper, one brush stroke at a time. As the seasons outside changed, I often painted for hours-sometimes in silence, sometimes with music on, but always deeply focused on the process and losing track of time.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I lost my radiant, free-spirited, and bright mother, Amy, to cancer in 2008.

Studying abroad in 2010 and focusing on brush painting brought me spiritually closer to her, closer to myself, and further away from the grief I had been processing since her passing.

Painting class became a ritual that I looked forward to very much. Observing ink flow gracefully, I also learned how to be more flexible, meditative, and in-the-moment. Walking upstairs to the Sumi-E room and engaging in an artistic practice kept me moving forward literally and metaphorically. I became aware of the power of healing that art and creative expression can offer.

When I returned home from studying abroad in Japan, I never could re-create the exact magic from that Sumi-E room. It was a specific experience to that time and place of life, but the imprint that it left propelled forward my pursuit of art.

I was able to bring home with me the greatest gift: the practice of painting with meditative awareness and in a broader sense, the practice of staying present.

Though I had been a student and creator of art most of my life, I was newly invigorated as an artist.

I have been an abstract painter now for 12 years. As part of this practice, I approach art through a lens of curiosity, tuning into the seasons of life.

Note: The following is not so much about obstacles and challenges but rather a few points relating to my path toward becoming a professional artist following studying abroad in Japan.

For years, I studied abstract painting with an amazing teacher, David Lloyd. He helped me stay focused on art, even while managing other professional responsibilities, ensuring that dedicated time was carved out each week for creativity through his classes.

Simultaneously, my interest in painting aligned with my profession of working for an art gallery right out of undergrad. After six years working there full-time and participating in the art business—connecting with collectors, colleagues, and people also passionate about art, I chose to pursue my path as a visual artist. I went to graduate school to get an MFA in art. This experience gave me time to dive into my practice with a focus alongside a wonderful community and cohort.

I devoted two years of full-time study at Claremont Graduate University (which was a fantastic program), and since obtaining my degree in 2020 have been a working artist with a regular studio practice.

During my graduate studies, I had a wonderful experience making art abroad, attending the Budapest Art Factory as a resident artist. Most recently, it is an honor to say that I had the opportunity to create a large-scale installation for the Ontario International Airport in Southern California. Additionally, my work has been placed in a number of homes of amazing and kind people who care about the arts.

For all of the above, I am deeply grateful.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
It is my intention to breathe life into colorful works that create a sense of vibrant atmosphere, harmony, and exuberance.

My work explores the psychology of color but also focuses on the soul’s relationship to art, small details that make up the larger whole, and a connection to the world around me.

Knowing that our time on earth is precious and limited, I strive to make as much art as possible while spending time amongst the people and activities that make life more meaningful.

I create art for a number of environments, whether for exhibitions, someone’s home, public spaces, or organizations in need of art. I also create for the sole purpose of making.

I offer paintings, prints, and commissions for those who are looking to collect art. I also provide a number of design services, ranging from murals to graphic design and print projects.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think as artists, it is necessary for us to find things that fascinate and light us up–to make time for the activities and people that do the same.

I try to stay curious about the world and to appreciate how life is blooming all around us.

My art is about the precious gift that is life– all of its beauty, interconnectedness, and complexity.

Contact Info:

• Website: csankyart.com
• Instagram: @csankyart