Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Hall.
Jessica, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I always loved music and wanted to act and sing and make art as a child. However, experience taught me to fear not being good enough. My childhood was pretty turbulent, and as a coping mechanism, I developed perfectionistic tendencies. No one explicitly tells a child this, you just kind of figure out that if I could just be good enough, it would make mommy happy, and she would be able to love me. If I were a more compliant and better daughter, then daddy would come back. Whatever the lie was, I believed it. I felt that I needed to make perfect grades, watch my younger siblings, clean the entire house, do the family’s laundry, be quiet, stay out of the way. Do better. Be better. Always striving, never making the mark. My life did not leave room for Art because Art takes time, failure, learning and growing. I did not have time to cultivate talents; I needed to be perfect now. I feared being seen because I was afraid the observer would see too much and find me lacking.
Nevertheless, there was something in me that yearned to be seen and known and loved. I needed an outlet. I needed a safe place to explore and express unquantifiable feelings and experiences that finite human utterances could not contain. I participated in band and theatre despite feelings of inadequacy and not knowing what to do with it after high school.
Then the time came to graduate, and the narrative society proclaims states that one is supposed to graduate and go to a good college so that one could attain a good job. They asked, “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” and I could not answer. I did not know. Everyone said, “Study what you want to study at university. The possibilities are endless.” And I was lost. My entire life I followed orders and did as I was told. Now all of a sudden I had a choice. However, I did not know what jobs were out there because my goal was survival. Sure on TV, there were doctors and lawyers, but I had no idea what a civil engineer was, or statistics, or journalism, or computer science, or academic advising or tax accountants. I knew I loved music and acting. So I sought the Lord and knew I was told to study theatre. Not why or how. Just that it was ok to study theatre.
While attaining my associates in theatre, I learned of this idea called the mimetic impulse. It is this idea that humans have the drive to imitate and form a perception of reality through art. Having worked with humans younger than I most of my life, I have seen this theory play out. Before children even acquire their words, they copy facial expressions their parents make, they dance, they sing, they explore; they create. I find this incredibly powerful and profound as a person of faith. In the beginning, God exists, and then God creates. I believe one of the greatest, fulfilling, transcendent things we as humans possess the ability to do is create and share in that aspect of God’s divine nature.
However, as I experienced in my own life, it is easy to stamp out that creativity and crush tiny minds, wills, and emotions with the cultural reality that everything has a grade and monetary value. That one day you will have to fit into this system. You will need to be a certain thing, do a certain thing and dress a certain way. If you do not possess the correct upbringing, skill set, connections, wealth, charisma, whatever, you will not be successful, and it will be your fault when you are not. We hear this lie, and we try to cope and line up with hegemony and “be” whatever it is that “they” want us to be.
The thing is, my life experience and my faith have shown this to be error. Sure it works for some people. The system ensures that it works for some so that “they” can say the system works. But I followed the rules and my life did not turn out as promised. My phenomenal grades and diligent effort did not lead to an amazing career. I have been laid off twice at the age of 27.
Interestingly enough, I learned in college that less than a third of Americans finish a bachelor’s degree. As of the midterm elections in 2018, I found this stat to still be accurate. Yet the narrative states one must go to college to be successful. The math simply does not add up.
So now as an adult, I am looking around, disheartened, abused, poor and confused. By God’s grace, I get by. But how did this happen? How long has this been going on? And I want to help. I look into the eyes of these precious children and think, how can we stop from crushing you with this lie? How do I help students who are being told they are nothing more than a mistake from the backseat of a car? What would I say to my younger self? How can I protect those like me growing up poor, mistreated and feeling alone?
It has taken some time to figure out how to articulate my goals and life vision but I have decided that I want to creatively empower current youth using any form of art including but not limited to: song, dance, spoken word, plays, videos, video games, instruments, photos, graphic design, pottery, paint or whatever medium it takes to bring them from death to life spiritually, emotionally and physically in order to help them connect to other humans deeply and genuinely so that we will overcome and solve global issues together in innovative manners.
It is not necessarily my goal to create artists. It is my goal to give young, hurting people an outlet. I want to train them to find rest and beauty in a world that is not always kind or pretty and to share it with others. Even statisticians and engineers and tax accountants could be better at their jobs with the transferrable skills found in developing a creative hobby.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am currently focusing on developing my skills as a digital photographer because my bachelor’s degree is in Film and Digital Media, it is easier to monetize, and because of the value, I believe it gives people. I am capable of creating corporate and actor headshots, capturing graduations, engagements, sports, weddings and other events. I enjoy shooting senior grad sessions, action and dance poses, glamour portraits, couples, maternity portraits, families and bridal portraits
I do this utilizing my Canon 5D Mark III, a couple of lenses, a flash, and diligent work ethic. I then hand edit every delivered shot with Photoshop 6.
I do this because I want to help others build worthy monuments for themselves in the form of pixels. I want to enable others to pass down awe instilling mementos to their descendants. My grandmother’s father died when she was three. All she had of her father was photos and stories. I want others to be able to own quality mementos to celebrate anything worth celebrating because I want to rejoice and mourn with you as you rejoice and mourn in your life.
For me, the message is that everyone has a story and every story matters. I also believe everyone is a part of the bigger interactive story of Jesus. I hope that people can learn that it is important to stop and reflect and express gratitude. Sometimes it is harder to find the silver lining than others. However, it can be a great thing to do, and I think an accessible way to do that is with portraits.
I guess the thing to know about my artwork is that while my goal is to capture you in a genuine and unique way that honors you, as with the nature of all art, some of me will be expressed, too. How I choose to present and capture the moment is going to be influenced by my personality and style just like any photographer or artist would affect it. There is a scientific theory that one cannot measure something without altering the outcome. I think it is similar with any artistic medium. The story will be slightly different depending on how and by whom it is told.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
I do not think the role of an artist has changed much. From my knowledge, there has always been tension between the two major schools of thought concerning art. The Romans used athletics as entertainment to be a way of escapism known as “bread crumbs and circus.” They distracted the masses from some of the yucky things going on in governments and foreign affairs with gladiator fights, lions and small amounts of free food. We saw vaudeville explode in the ’20s during the depression for similar reasons. People wanted to be distracted. Simultaneously there have been artists like Bertolt Brecht who did not want you to be engrossed by the play. They believed art should imitate life and expose and challenge the yucky things and provoke thought and a call to action. I believe you still have this tension today. You see it in movies, in music, in books and other media. It is very interesting to me. As much as the ideas appear mutually exclusive, I believe the two are mixed to varying degrees among artists today whether they realize it or not. I think it is simply the nature of art and I do not believe it will change much if left uncensored.
Laws limit the freedoms of photography in certain aspects. Some laws are justified in limiting those freedoms because another person’s liberty is concerned with regards to privacy, protecting minors, et cetera. However, some laws are based on social morality. As is it currently in America, certain parts of women are not allowed to be seen in public, while the same part can be seen on a man. This changes how the storyteller tells the story. I can shoot a man in whatever shirt, fabric or lighting I want but may not be able to shoot a woman in the same manner because of nudity laws. It is a constant battle to portray the female body as art when social construct and laws dictate that it is inherently sexual. It is a blessing and a curse that art is interactive and subject to interpretation. Something meant to be a simple portrayal of something natural and innocent could be perverted and seen as something it was not intended to be by the artist. It is a struggle because I as a resident of Richardson could have a stunning vision of a concept that would offend no one in a European country but would be immodest here. You see this tension on Instagram a lot where the majority of accounts are users from countries other than the United States. Their social standards are different, and it comes through in how art is presented. We are also seeing pushes for change with a more socially connected world and awareness of certain inequalities. Nations are influencing and pressuring each other to be more fair and equal in certain aspects. This affects the culture and what is socially acceptable and therefore affects how art is portrayed. The connotation of art is constantly changing.
Also, there is a lot of political pressure on art and artists, especially during election season, to be aware of things like cultural appropriation and unfair stereotypes and prejudices. With the cultural diversity of our planet, and seemingly fewer and fewer people seeking to understand, it is easier and easier to say the wrong thing and cross the line with irrevocable consequence. Especially considering that intent is silent and art is subject to interpretation. Nationally, there are many who would like us to believe that there is no way to create or do anything without alienating a people group in some way. It is reminiscent of choosing your clique in high school. However, I believe this to be based in fear and division. There will always be things that make us different and unique. We could be open to discussion simply to learn and without expecting the other to change something that has no inherent morality like hair or clothing. We could gain wisdom and understanding of who people are and why they are themselves.
For me personally, sometimes I am afraid of postproduction because different ethnicities have different standards of beauty and most everyone wants their portrait to be beautiful. Some people want to look tan while others want lighter skin. My personal preference is to make it as true to life as possible, but certain adjustments may make the picture look darker or lighter overall, and therefore it can appear as if their skin was altered. Some people simply do not have a realistic idea of how their skin appears and may say their skin was altered when in fact it is true to life. It can be tricky, and I could see how an artist could be overwhelmed by it. I simply ask the client what they like and dislike and try to tell their story in an authentic way that honors them.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
People can view my work digitally on Facebook and Instagram. Instagram is updated the most, followed by Facebook. I also have a website that I try to keep up to date as I strive to develop my talents. I endeavor to ensure I have the most recent portraits up to indicate what my style is and how it is progressing. People can also see my work in their homes by purchasing prints and hanging them on their walls. I also do random crafts. I have never been paid a commission for any of my work as all my projects have been gifts. However, I am open to discussing that possibility. I have never exhibited my work in a gallery, but I am open to that as well.
People can support all artists by educating themselves. People can specifically support my work by paying my rate. Do your research and know the value of what it is you are requesting. I do not charge this, but the national average for high school senior portraits is $1,200. That is average, meaning some pay more and some pay less. Knowing that, please do not ask me to do your wedding for $100. I want everyone to be able to have quality photos. As a photographer, I am not simply a picture taker, and I am not overlaying the same Instagram filter on your entire session. I love picture takers and love that photos are easily accessible. However, I am providing a quality product to be printed and intentionally controlling certain aspects of the medium to give the client something beyond a selfie. So decide if you want a picture taker or a photographer. It is ok if all you need is a picture taker. I simply ask that the public try to understand the difference and understand that I am a photographer. I am also happy to work with your budget and requests, but research first. Know industry standards. Keep in mind that if you ask for 50 edits, that is the time I cannot be with other clients, so it is not unfair of me to ask to be compensated for my time. Most often I make less than minimum wage per hour of work after taxes and because it takes longer to process photos than one would guess. Also, if you receive a quote that is out of your range and decide to utilize someone else, let me know so that I do not waste your time following up. Keep in mind that a quote is time sensitive. Just as most employers give their employees raises to keep up with the standard of living, and for increased job performance, photographers’ rates increase over time. This is a good thing. It means we are skilled and have more experience and better equipment.
Also, it is helpful to know what you want or at least enough about yourself to help me figure out what you want. I want to tell your story, so for me, it is a little stressful to be told, “Oh just do whatever; I trust you.” What I like and prefer may not be what you have in mind unless, of course, you did your research and choose me because you like my style. This is not always the case, and I would prefer to get the shot right in camera and not spend 10 hours editing your session to fix something.
Another way you can support my art is to hire me then share your experience by word of mouth. If you like me as a human and know someone who needs my services, tell them about me. Show them your photos. Buy a print. Share my posts. Leave a positive review. Follow me on social media and interact with my posts. Give credit to me as an artist when you publish my work on your site or social media. In addition, if you are a fellow artist and want to collaborate and exchange talents, that is a way to support. Networking is vital to any industry. If you know someone with a similar passion, life mission or ministry partner who should meet me, let me know! I am in the beginning stages of figuring out what I want to do and am just scratching at the surface of how to do it.
If all else fails and you do not need a product, but you believe in me as a human or artist, you can make a donation. You can give cash, buy me groceries, donate equipment or donate medical services if you feel compelled. Prayer offerings are greatly appreciated as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: jbombarts.com
- Email: thejbombartist@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jbombarts, @thewomaninpurpleframes, @jbombmonochrome
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbomb.arts/
- Twitter: @J_Hall139
- Other: https://www.behance.net/halljessic9854
Image Credit:
Personal Photo taken by Ron Jenkins.
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