Jessica Medeiros may have not known it at the time, but getting laid off from her job as was a blessing in disguise.
After working as a photographer for a company that went out of business, Medeiros was at a crossroads. She could go find another job, or she could pursue a career in art, a passion she had always held but had been detoured from its prospects by the fear of not being able to make a living in the field.
鈥淚 have always had to have a creative output. I did photography for a while and even created sculpted cakes, but it never seemed like enough for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y decision to obtain a bachelor鈥檚 degree and study art was derived from that need for creativity, but spurned on even more so by my desire to learn and better myself.鈥�
鈥淚 decided that making a living as an artist is possible. I researched and discovered
a variety of different careers that would allow me to thrive as a creator, while still
being able to afford a living,鈥� she added.
With that in mind, Medeiros made the leap and enrolled in the studio art program at the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith in 2013.
Five years later, Medeiros says it鈥檚 one of the best decisions she鈥檚 ever made, after AV抖阴 has helped give her an education to become a flourishing local artist.
鈥淭he professors are all extremely engaging, and now that we have the Windgate [Art & Design] building, we have access to our space and supplies and have more space to work, so we can expand on what we鈥檙e doing,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he program has expanded my horizons as an artist. There鈥檚 different things you have to learn, like how to curate a show, and I鈥檝e been involved in almost every student show/exhibition that has been on campus for the past four years. Then I鈥檝e also got to help install visiting artists鈥� work and meet the artists. It鈥檚 just been amazing.鈥�
Medeiros鈥� opportunities at AV抖阴 included painting a mural alongside other art students as part of The Unexpected, exhibiting her work in downtown Fort Smith, and practicing printmaking in the university鈥檚 letterpress studio. Through her work in the studio, she earned a scholarship to go to the Penland School of Arts and Crafts for a two-week printmaking course.
Her time in letterpress studios has led her to want to buy her own letterpress.
鈥淲ords have such a profound meaning to people, because that鈥檚 how we associate and
communicate,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he old-school way of printing has more meaning with it.
Combining it with imagery makes it visually more interesting.鈥�
And even though she does worry about the feasibility of being a career artist, the studio art program has taught her how to market herself. Her capstone course tasked her with creating an electronic portfolio, an artist website, and business cards. Not only that, but she was also able to showcase art recently in the 鈥淧aint/Draw鈥� pop-up exhibition at The Bakery District in Fort Smith.
鈥淚 received a good foundation for what to do after graduation, like how to market myself and applying to art shows,鈥� she said. 鈥淐oming to school, not only have I gotten to explore more about art, I鈥檝e gotten to learn a lot more about the business aspects of it. This program has propelled me forward. I definitely think I can make money now with the prints and different art that I do.鈥�
For more information on Medeiros鈥� art, visit or follow her on Instagram @artistjlMedeiros.