Today we’d like to introduce you to Jihanna Taylor.
Jihanna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey with art started at the age of five. I always loved to draw and doodle in class and got in a lot of trouble with teachers over the years for choosing to sketch over listening. It was something I always did for fun but never took seriously as a career path. I preferred medicine/sports studies at the time and majored in Athletic Training at FIU. Upon graduating, I quickly realized that it was not a field in which I would be happy with for the rest of my life and began teaching myself how to paint around 2017/2018. My first oil painting was sold for $50. My first acrylic painting was sold for about $300. Now my paintings range from $1,500 to $5,000 each and I have my work in the homes of some of the most successful people in the world. Art was definitely my calling all along and I’m glad I decided to take a chance on myself and start my business.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been quite a struggle to find my path in the art world. Learning what I can tolerate workload wise, what I can mentally handle, and what to charge (how much value to add to my work) has been a constant battle; however, I’m getting the hang of things now going into year three of painting. I think the biggest struggle was getting started. I created my webpage from scratch and the first product I sold was a print for around $80 each. I sold maybe 15 of them however, it gave me the confidence I needed to take myself seriously. I moved to la with about $600 in my account in hopes of furthering my career (like every other creative) and it wasn’t easy but it taught me a lot about what kind of artist I wanted to be, and I met a lot of great people as well. In 2020 I moved back to south Florida and now am dealing with the struggle of finding Inspiration and work among the coronavirus panic as I’m sure most creatives are as well.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
My business is mainly focused around a painting. However I also do design, logos, album covers, and sell merchandise on my website (clothing with my artwork on it). I’m mostly known for my realistic portraits and bright colors. I’m most proud of being able to say I’ve come this far. To be able to say I’ve been working for myself for almost three years is a big accomplishment for me. I’m also proud of the fact that people I’ve looked up to most of my life have complimented my work or given encouraging words. I think the coolest moment was when a mutual friend of Kanye West told me he liked my work. Coming from Chicago and loving his music that was big for me. My first art Basel showcase consisted of all women artists and Dj’s and took place on the SeaFair Yacht. That was pretty awesome.
Something that sets me apart from others in my field is my willingness to try anything. I don’t box myself into a certain style, label, or genre. I do what I want at all times, which makes the possibilities endless for me.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
The one thing I would have done differently is to have started sooner. I was so scared of failure in life that I kept my talent as a hobby instead of trusting that I was good enough to succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jihannataylor.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: JihannaTaylor
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