Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaymie Leslie.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
This question is overwhelming for me because I don’t want to avoid it, but I also don’t want to answer it in the normal way. I can tell you my story is not very different from most artists’ stories — we tend to blossom from pain. My life has been the definition of unconditional love and all the glorious and dark avenues that takes us down.
At this point in my life I am focused on the duality of living. I want my story to be that my presence, my words, and my work resonates so deeply with people that it touches the part of them that is God. I want to make people recognize how marvelous they are. To make people realize that they are capable of a love so deep and unconditional that it soothes those parts of us that seem incurably diseased by hurt and disappointment. So, I want my story to be that I made people feel mortal and immortal all at once, because we are.
Please tell us about your art.
My art is primarily painting, but I also take on art direction and fashion design when I really need to get ideas out. All of my non-commissioned work focuses on the elements that make us human. Our rise and fall, the yin and yang of what makes us able to wake up every day and keep going. The work focuses on the duality of our spirits and how we manifest that in our thoughts and actions.
When I’m creating art around social issues the intention is to remind people that while their feelings are valid, the focus should remain on the human beings that are affected by these controversies. I love people and want to spread that in whatever ways I can. I think a lot of people are very brave in ways they don’t realize, so I like to focus on their determination to prosper.
When I’m creating art about spirituality, sensuality, and sex I like to think outside of the dogmas of theology. Especially as a woman, I love to challenge who we’ve been told that God is. I encourage the thought that God exists differently for everyone. This art I haven’t revealed as much because I’m waiting until I can properly present the historic and evolutionary context of my thoughts. For commissions, I do my own take of whatever the client wants. These pieces are usually custom clothes or shoes with a nod of current trends. So, I take their visions and inspirations and add my spin.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
Our biggest challenge is the evolution of sharing and connectivity. Social media has turned us into entertainers who need to maintain a program in order to successfully execute the formula of marketing and branding. Many of us are NOT performance artists; we need to disconnect and be organically inspired. A big downfall of remaining connected is that it overstimulates us. We can see one thing and make it better in our minds. So, when we’re in a position of having to be connected to our audience all the time we’re also exposed to millions of ideas a day which then sparks 80,000 more ideas on top of the ones we’ve already dreamed up. It makes deciding what to let out first a challenge.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
To see my work, I post much of my work on Instagram (@jaymieleslie). To support my work, I have an art show coming up in May of 2019 and can be commissioned via Instagram or email.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jaymieleslie.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaymieleslie
Image Credit:
Erika Orozco
Taelor
Rhianna Cooper
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