Check Out Jessica Michelle’s Story

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

Hi Jessica Michelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always knew I wanted to create and be an Artist, a maker, a photographer, a designer. I began making my own clothes at a young age, began painting very early, always taking photographs, stuck at the piano and/ or collecting random trinkets found places. There was always fascination to capture a moment, or create it somehow. After taking leap of faith and leaving the cubicle office life, I decided to go back to school and got accepted into Art Center College of Design, a prestigious and rigorous Art School in Pasadena. I attended for a Bachelors of Fine Arts and studied Studio Arts under a lot of great Professors and really started to expand my practice, creative voice, and fine tuned some of the multidisciplinary studies I was already doing all along growing up. I also been very open to the notion of when walking the way, the steps will appear, as long as I was following my inner compass and giving my energy and effort to my vision. From fashion runway shows, to making textiles, painting & sculptures, ceramics and installations I wanted to do it all and still continue a strong desire to do it all. I literally take on multiple projects at a time, I have notebooks upon notebooks of thoughts and projects on the back burner, or multiple projects in process in the studio. It has always been my nature to create, fast forward to being an Artist and making a living, I aligned with the opportunity to work in a Jewelry Store that manufactured Fine Jewelry. I soaked up everything I could learn under a wonderful mentor in the custom jewelry design department, plus my thirst to overachieve, research and learn beyond. Next thing you know I was running that division. I believe that the alignment you seek will manifest if you believe, and thankfully I am able to make a living creating that I now have my own business, “Atelier LA”, the specializes in creating custom jewelry pieces using precious metal such as gold, silver and platinum with diamonds & precious gemstones. We can use your existing jewelry pieces that may be broken or outdated to create something entirely new using the stones and metal.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Out of High School and into College, I almost went into studying in the medical industry as a career, seeking to become a forensic pathologist (coroner) or the doctor route. I began taking tons of art classes in community college and strayed away from the sciences, because I was always creating and doing some type of curious project. Plus, it was what ultimately made me happy and the Arts do have the same level rigor and technical nature, believe it or not. I later changed majors and decided to follow my creative passion vs. what society and parents told me a should do just do, thinking I would become a “starving Artist.” Although, being a “Starving Artist” is partly true, I survived off 50 cent coffee refills from Starbucks from saving my cup and worked part time in the retail industry that didn’t pay much during community college years. Once I transfer to Art Center College of Design, I pretty much worked to cover all my more supplies and art projects and my time was divided. I lived on my own at the time, so I was taking care of pets, maintaining a household, working, and had so many many sleepless nights writing papers and doing projects. Towards the end of my Art Center College years I decided to move back home with my parents, endured some bad break ups, began a caregiver for my elderly grandmother, took on more units as a above average college workload, meanwhile working a Museum in Los Angeles. I never had the luxury of just using all of my time to create and paint, although at times I envied Artists that did or had the means for large studios I could only dream of. As for my Studio Practice and Painting, I’m sure some people though I was crazy, having to work wherever I could, out of a garage or in the living room after working all day and driving half way across town in rush hour traffic. So to answer the question, no it has not been easy, there have been many challenges and many that I will not mention as well, lol. Thankfully my heart is too big and too full to give up on my dreams, I have had moments that the universe has showed that alignment and I am going to continue without pause. Now I have a humble small Hermosa Beachside Studio for Studio Painting and Multidisciplinary Arts to Custom Jewelry. Sometimes the roughest road creates the most polished people. You cannot create diamonds without pressure, or pearls without agitation.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in different modes of expression, including Oil Painting, Sculpture, Print Making, Ceramics, Photography, Collage, Video & Installation. I am also known for making beautiful fine custom jewelry as well. I am currently working on a series of Paintings inspired by beauty and nature, on the search for a sensorial experience, with bouts of realism and intuitive automatic
painting elements.

“My paintings explore a combination of experimental technological painting processes & an echoing back to tradition painting. I like the combination of these two methodologies: the idea of mechanical reproduction & processes, meeting an intuitiveness of automatic painting and painterly impulse; creating this dichotomy of style, meaning & subject matter.”

As for Custom Jewelry, I am proud to have created some pieces for celebrities and everyday people who have trusted me with some amazing projects. If you ever need anything, send me an email or visit the website and I am happy to assist you with any creative vision you have.

Every Artist is uniquely different based on their own unique path. Coming from the South Bay Beach Cities and attending a strict College Prep All-Girls Catholic School in the inner city Los Angeles, I have come to terms that I am a literal embodiment of Americana culture and truly a California Girl at heart. They say you cannot separate the Artist from the work, so I’ll just create what captives and compels me from the inner city grit, to diamonds and gold, to moments in nature: waves & roses, I love it all!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I think in life everyone plays a role, to my cats I miss so much, to the Prince Charming husband I love. Most especially grateful for my family, I am such a family oriented person. They have supported my dreams and aspirations without judgment and was always there whenever I wanted to “come back home.” My mom always described me as a cat, she said growing up I would leave and was somewhat feral but she knew I would always come home. I am so grateful for my parents, grandparents, husband, pets, and family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessmichelle.my.canva.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessmichellestudio/
• Other: https://atelierla.shop