Art Archive Featured Artist: Jeanne Bessette

"It would be cruel to my soul not to be an artist." — Jeanne Beset

Meet Jeanne Besset. It all started with purple crayon when she was four years old. Now she is collected all over the world, and her works adorn the homes of quite famous authors, chefs and actors. Jeanne's unique path to success was to take a step towards a bigger self. It was about staying true to your desire to express emotions through art. She tried taking pictures. Tried ceramics. But the important thing is that she kept trying, even when she was told that "artists can't make a living."

The artist uses her hands to create bold colors and abstract shapes, many of which are accompanied by inspirational quotes. She invests her time in helping other artists discover their true selves.

Zhanna talked to us about her creative process and shared her tips for building a business that supports her passion.

Want to see more of Jeanne's work? Visit her at the Artwork Archive.

"I call myself a bold colorist, which means that color is my language and I use it to convey my feelings." — Jeanne Beset

YOU USE A LOT OF TOOLS TO CREATE YOUR WORK, BUT MOSTLY USE YOUR HANDS. WHEN DID YOU START DOING IT AND WHY ARE YOUR HANDS YOUR FAVORITE TOOL?

Hihi. There is something very tactile in the art of creativity. I am deeply attached to my work. In a way, using my hands frees me from the rules. Finger painting is one of the first creative activities we try as children, so it also brings me back to the mind and heart of a child. I can create in this way without limits. It is enough just to get closer to the essence of what creativity really is.

WHY DO MANY OF YOUR ARTICLES CONTAIN INSPIRATING QUOTATIONS? HOW DO YOU CHOOSE QUOTATIONS?

All quotes are mine. They usually come to me when I'm painting, but not always. Sometimes the real thought comes first and I write it down on the big board in my studio. Titles come from the same process. It's all magic no matter how you look at it. It comes from somewhere deep inside each of us, and as an artist, I just filter it through my interpretation. As I paint life, the heart, emotions and us as spiritual beings and everything we bring to the table, I have an endless supply of inspiration.

"Love is easy when you forget to hide your heart" - Jeanne Besset.

YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD ARTISTS CANNOT DO LIVING ART. HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?

Blimey. There is not enough space in this interview to answer in all its fragments. But in short, since I've been financially successful as a working artist, I'm now teaching other artists how to be successful as well. The first thing I tell them is to stop letting other people steal their dreams. It's really up to us how we filter what we're told, and it's our responsibility as artists to get what we have to say to the world. It is necessary.

Artists are free thinkers in society. If we remain silent, we will drown and exacerbate the very problem that has kept us stuck in the idea that we cannot create a fulfilling life for ourselves from the start.

Creating art is like everything else when creating a business. It's about building something powerful first, then going into business, learning how to run a business, and then bringing them together. I know it sounds simple, but it's not, but that's the first step.

HOW DID YOU FIRST FEEL WITH GALLERIES IN WHICH YOUR WORK IS EXHIBITED AND HOW DID YOU BUILD SUCH A STRONG, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH IT?

I have a whole teaching on how to approach galleries, but for me it was a series of events that culminated in the creation of a good show. Some of my galleries opened me through . I was on the cover for a minute (wink), but there is a real step by step way to approach galleries and then make sure you understand they are your most important asset.

People run galleries. People come in all styles and trends. The artist must find and develop these relationships. Be professional and efficient. Be honest and trustworthy. Building gallery relationships is no different from building other relationships.

YOUR IS VERY ATTRACTIVE, WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO ARTISTS TRYING TO EXPRESS THEIR ART AND YOURSELF THROUGH WORDS?

Thanks! I'm lucky that I'm a pretty good communicator, so I think it seeps through my words in print. Artists are very obsessed with this particular task. It is difficult to talk about what is so close and dear to our hearts. I would say that finding out who you really are is a good start. People want to know what motivates an artist to move paint or clay. They like to know more because we do what they think is special, and that's the way it is. Expressing what you are doing in words is also an art form. It's really a different skill. But in the end, being yourself will serve you well.

WHAT IN YOUR OPINION WAS SOME KEY FACTORS IN ACHIEVING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION?

I'm assembled in six countries and I think there are more than six now, but I've honestly lost count. As for the key factors, I work hard. I work very, very hard. I am working on my craft. I work in my business and work deeply on my personal inner world. All this is packed into a big package.  

It was my dream and I set out to make it come true. It also hits a whole range too much for that space. Again, this is what I teach artists in my retreats and in my mentoring. Everything we do matters. It's in the details as well as the broad strokes. It is not a one-time thing and the work never ends, it only turns into a new kind of work as we grow. All of this matters.

Would you like to see Jeanne's work in person? visit.