Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica “Jexxi” Padilla.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I remember really liking the arts and crafts segment of children’s TV shows as a child.
And I dealt with a lot, both at school and at home for as long as I can remember. Art for me was therapeutic and I tried to develop my skill from a young age. I went through phases of being obsessed with pencils, and then pens, and then pastels, and then sculpture, and currently paint. I love to work with anything I can get my hands on and I believe that if I ever somehow lost my arms, I’d paint with my feet!
In school, I had a few memorable teachers. My middle school yearbook teacher, Mr. Burke, suggested I should take an art class after seeing some of my doodles. At the time, I thought it was silly but I did it anyway freshman year. In doing so, I was able to meet Ms. Centeno, Ms. Marin, & Ms. Putman, all of which were the most amazing art teachers I could have had. They gave me the self-esteem I lacked, encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, and provided me with opportunities and information to pursue art as a career, respectively.
Has it been a smooth road?
Lack of money is usually a big problem for artists. I grew up in a low-income family in a not-so-great neighborhood. So money for supplies was definitely an issue. However, I thank God for the art teachers I had because most of them gave me a lot of free stuff. Ms. Putman, in particular, donated a ton of old canvases to me because she wanted me to be able to get through college. Galena Park ISD’s superintendent also gave me a really expensive set of pastels one Christmas and it enabled me to start doing commissions with archival quality.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I usually get commissioned for portraits of people or their pets, and I love doing it. I can do them in any medium: acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, pen, pyrography – you name it! But as of recently, I’ve been exploring marine life and aquatic themes. There’s something fascinating about water. It’s fertile, it gives life, it cleanses. But it’s also turbulent, it destroys, and it washes away. It’s powerful in both a good and bad way and I’m excited to illustrate these ideas in a new series soon.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Houston is an amazing place to be an artist. My only advice is to practice your craft every day and never give up.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 713.732.8337
- Email: art.jexxi@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Studio.Jexxi
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
