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North Vancouver, BC
How did you discover your talent? What got you started?
Ever since I can remember, I have always loved painting. I have paintings from when I was 4 years old, although they’re not great, my desire to create art at such a young age was a definite sign that I would end up with a career in art.
I started taking art more seriously in 2016, when I began painting portraits of rappers, musicians, and other pop culture icons. At first, I was doing this just as a hobby; but by 2018 there was enough demand for me to open my own website to sell prints and paintings. Now, 2021, I am a full-time artist and get to spend every day making art.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist! I remember telling my brother that I wanted to be an artist when I was 7 years old; he laughed at me and told me that “artist’s don’t make any money unless they’re dead”, which definitely deterred me from a career in art for a long time. When social media came along I realized that being an artist was not as hard as I thought. With Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest etc. there are so many ways to promote your work; so I decided to put my social media marketing skills to work and try to pursue my childhood dream - lucky for me it worked!
Who was your biggest inspiration?
Artistically, I always loved Andy Warhol’s pop art portraits, which definitely influenced my chosen subject of work.
What makes you keep innovating and pushing your craft to new heights? What’s the intrinsic driver or motivation?
I love challenging myself. Once I stop feeling challenged by my craft then I start doing more: bigger canvases, more complex concepts, new techniques etc. until I feel challenged again.
So far, what has been your favourite highlight of your career? An achievement? A collaboration?
My favourite highlight was when I got to paint for Russ!
In regards to your craft, where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years?
In 5 years I hope to have solidified my name/style in the art industry! Right now I’m still in the process of getting my name out there and finding my style.
Switching gears a bit… what do you think about the existing grab-and-go drink options out there? Are people ready for healthier alternatives? or will “Big Sugar” continue to dominate the landscape? (I.e. Energy Drinks, high caffeine, high sugar drinks)
I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that I’m so tired of the existing grab-and-go drink options. I hate having to choose between super sugary, high calorie, high caffeine drinks that make me feel terrible after I drink them. Wize tea is the perfect healthy alternative!
How does Wize iced tea fit into your current lifestyle? And why do you choose Wize?
I usually work around 12 hours a day, painting, packaging orders, and creating content. Wize iced tea is the perfect drink to keep me going throughout the day. The light caffeine gives me just enough of a boost without the sugar crash I get from other energy drinks. Not to mention Wize teas are so refreshing and only 10 calories so I don’t feel guilty drinking them.
What are your next projects coming down the pipeline?
Right now I’m working on painting Trippie Redd, which will hopefully be done by the end of the month.
What’s your favourite flavour of Wize? When do you typically drink it?
Although I love all the flavours, I would have to say that my favourite is Mango. On days when I spend my whole day in the studio I usually drink one when I wake up, one around 7, and another around 11! The light caffeine content is the perfect way to keep me focused.
Thanks for the interview! Where can our audience find out more about you?
https://www.instagram.com/jenavievelouie/
https://twitter.com/jenavievelouie
https://www.tiktok.com/@jenavievelouie
