Pupil artist Jessica Nguyen takes likelihood on future in artwork

Leaving the push of school life in America, a visit throughout the Atlantic Ocean led Jessica Nguyen to expertise the leisure of Aix-en-Provence, France. Throughout her semester overseas, Nguyen spent her days people-watching, out of doors portray and finding out the work of artists earlier than her, which fueled her ardour for creativity and reaffirmed her determination to pursue artwork. 

“Earlier than, it was like artwork and me had been two separate identities,” studio artwork senior Nguyen mentioned. “However now I really feel prefer it’s merging into one. In France, I discovered the inspiration that I didn’t know I wanted for portray.” 

After gaining confidence in her work from her time overseas, Nguyen started her artwork TikTok, @jessicanguyenart, when she returned to campus. Since its inception in November 2022, the account has gained over 85,000 followers. Nguyen’s most seen content material — which she calls “Day 1” movies — options her progress on a bit after in the future of portray, with the most well-liked of those movies amassing nearly 8 million views.

“I’m actually blissful that my ‘Day 1’ movies have been getting very talked-about as a result of it’s essentially the most thrilling stage for me, too,” Nguyen mentioned. “There’s a contemporary clean canvas to make one thing out of nothing (and) actually imprint your picture that you’ve got in your thoughts onto the canvas.” 

Nguyen mentioned TikTok works as a option to meet new folks and develop connections within the creative house.

“I’ve truly had some folks attain out to me, even some that I regarded as much as, and it’s fairly thrilling,” Nguyen mentioned. “Now it’s rising right into a group of artists, which I’m all for.”

Beforehand seeing artwork as a aspect mission quite than her predominant focus, Nguyen first got here to UT with the intention of going into medication as a biochemistry main, impressed by her expertise as a deaf and onerous of listening to individual. 

“Regardless of altering the course of my profession path, my intention stays the identical: to hook up with folks,” Nguyen mentioned. “Via portray, I’ve seen that I can connect with folks, whether or not it’s the folks I paint, who sees my artwork and even the individuals who study via my TikToks.”

There to assist Nguyen via the transition from pre-med to artwork, Nguyen’s greatest good friend, Divya Kashyap, noticed the individuality of Nguyen’s creative eye. Kashyap mentioned she inspired Nguyen to change to studio artwork.

“She was taking pre-med courses, and it simply appeared like she wasn’t as in contact with artwork as she was once,” vitamin senior Kashyap mentioned. “She didn’t have time to make artwork. It was unhappy to see that aspect of her going away.”

The uncertainty of artwork was initially a consider Nguyen’s determination. Artwork and artwork historical past professor Dan Sutherland works with many college students dealing with the identical conundrum. Sutherland mentioned his recommendation for college kids stays the identical.

“For those who work onerous, and also you’re all for your work and within the arts, you will discover a distinct segment and make a residing,” Sutherland mentioned. 

With the purpose of residing life with no regrets, Nguyen mentioned she needs to discover the place her artwork will go.

“I realized that saying no might be limiting,” Nguyen mentioned. “Having a hard and fast picture might be limiting. I don’t need to say any noes to something.”