Meet Jessica Vollrath | Artist & Mother

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

Hi Jessica, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from north Texas. I come from a very conservative, closed religious group that was pretty much separate from society. We lived simply, close to nature, without any external, cultural ideations and very much steeped in biblical rhetoric. It took me a long time to reconcile that past with my present. Making peace with all of the facets and chapters of my life has opened up a deep well of inspiration and narrative in my work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
“Artist” never felt like a career to follow, it always felt like who I was. I started drawing when I was 8 years old. I’m from a family of 12 and we were all homeschooled and lived without a TV, so to get away from the constant noise of a full household, I would disappear into my closet with a light and underneath the clothes I would create pictures. When I prayed at night before bed, I would ask god to let me be an artist, because it was the only thing that made my soul happy. I could write a book about the journey from those bedside prayers to where I am today. It was not easy. It was wild and unpredictable. It was lonely and terrifying. But it made me unstoppable and courageous, it humbled and healed me. I’ve grown massively over the years and each iteration of me has gotten me closer to the story my paintings are supposed to tell. Becoming a mother at 35, was the catalyst for the work I am doing today. Having children allowed me to build a bridge into my own childhood, heal relationships that I didn’t even know were broken (including with myself) and realize that I did not build myself from nothing, but am in fact, a tapestry of all of the threads I thought I had severed and forgotten. I am finally being about to honor all of it.

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.
Dallas is one of those places you really have to sink into in order to enjoy. I probably would never consider it a “destination” spot, unless you want to see massive highways and lots of traffic, but I’ve lived here for almost 9 years now and it definitely has its charm. WhiteRock lake is an awesome place to sit and watch the sunset, or ride around for some exercise out in nature. I’m definitely a coffee girl, so some of my favorite places to be are at a local coffee shop having a cappuccino. We live in East Dallas, so my favorite spot here is Cultivar and it just happens to be beside one of the best patio eating, GoodFriend. My sister owns Staycation coffee in Richardson that has an amazing backyard, so sitting out there an entire morning and afternoon feels just right. Weekend coffee in downtown will always be my first love because that is where I met my husband. We are plant lovers here and so a stroll through Waltons by the Dallas Arboretum is a favorite afternoon activity for me and my girls. And last but not least, my backyard is basically a little magical place all its own, so tea in my garden is something we do everyday.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My late mentor, artist Dr Marilyn Todd- Daniels, is my reason for pursuing art as a career. She took me under her wing when I was 15 and believed in my talent and my ability to achieve something great with it. I learned to oil paint in her studio. She helped me get into college and was my first art professor. Throughout the 23 years that I had the honor of knowing her, she was the sounding board for my fears and perceived inadequacies. She believed in me more than I believed in myself. I will forever be grateful for who she was in my life.

Website: jessicavollrath.com

Instagram: @jessicavollrathart

Image Credits
Hillary Bridgeman