Meet Jeanetta Gonzales | Designer, Illustrator & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeanetta Gonzales and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeanetta, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think that taking risks is necessary for growth in your business. If you have specific dreams and goals there will be a time when taking an uncomfortable step will help get them accomplished. Investing your money on a project that isn’t guaranteed to work out, taking on a partner that could help you meet your goal, pivoting from one direction to another to help your business growth are all ways you can take risks. How would you know if you can accomplish something unless you try? When I was laid off from my corporate job many years ago I decided to bet on myself and work as a freelancer. It was a scary move but I needed to try being on my own to see what it was like, to see if I could do it and fulfill my dreams. If it was easy everyone would do it right? There’s a lot of reward on the other side of fear.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I create art and designs for products, publications and brands. I create uplifting, bold and colorful work that captures moments and moods. I work in paint and digitally and love drawing women, flowers, natural elements, patterns and inspirational quotes. I have a long, varied career and have degrees in both fine art and graphic design. I went to school for fine art at UCLA and then a few years after graduating I went to a small design school for graphic design. I worked as a designer in corporate and boutique firms for 10 years and along the way I kept taking art classes and learned about surface design. I started exhibiting and starting a new career as an artist, something that I felt I was missing. Making art had taken a backseat to my design work and I needed to reconnect to it. I found that making patterns and surface designs for products was a great marriage of my graphic design and art skills. I loved that I can design products, create art for them and set up all the files for production easily. Licensing my art is a great way to generate passive income and is very rewarding seeing your art on products sold in major retail stores. It wasn’t easy and I was hesitant to exhibit and invest in trade shows but knew it was necessary for me to enter into that industry. I was also scared to go on my own but getting laid off helped me take the leap. I have planted a lot of seeds over the years, put myself out there and tried a lot of different things. I stuck it out when it got hard and have started to see things come together, my seeds sprout and have more confidence in trying new things and taking risks. I am not as hesitant or scared as I used to be and have the experience to be able to move through my business ebbs and flows better.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Los Angeles and there’s SOOO much to do! I think I would give them an overview of Cali life. I would take them to the beach towns, walk around Venice Beach, bike on the beach path, visit the shops along the way, eat some great sushi and catch one of LA’s iconic sunsets. Outdoor activity is big here so hiking in Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon is a must. I’d take them to some amazing restaurants and see every corner of the city from the west-side, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, the beach towns, mid-city, downtown and the east side. Unfortunately a lot of things like outdoor concerts, museums, bars and restaurants and malls aren’t open but just being in nature, getting great take out and walking around iconic neighborhoods would fill our calendar.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents. They are no longer with us and are always with me. I appreciate how they encouraged my creativity as a child and supported me going to art school and pursing my creative dreams.

Website: jeanettagonzales.com
Instagram: @nettdesigns
Linkedin: Jeanetta Gonzales
Facebook: @nettdesigns
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JeanettaGonzalesArtDesign
Other: shop: shopnettdesigns.com