**[Jessica](https://www.cohart.com/csankyart/profile)**'s art celebrates life through her use of vibrant colors, wide-ranging textures, and flowing lines. Knowing that our time on earth is precious and limited, Jessica explores the beauty and complexity of the human experience through making art.

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##### Can you describe your artistic process? 

My artistic practice is about making space for creativity and introversion in our fast-paced, interconnected, and technological world. Over the years, painting for me has become a physical way of meditating. As an artist, my goal is to be a vessel for creative energy, allowing it to flow through me. To reach a state of focus and flow, I work best in an environment where I feel comfortable and relaxed. I like the space to be calm, clean, free of distractions, with great music playing. Once the studio is set, I let intuition guide the painting process while also making time to pause, discern, and refine the composition. Typically, I begin my paintings flat rather than upright, treating the canvas or paper as the center of my universe for the day—orbiting around it like the Earth around the Sun, exploring the composition from every angle.

Color is my primary language, with each hue carrying a tone, much like a note in a melody. Whether using the contemplative depth of blues or the warmth of sunlit yellows, I see color as a tool to communicate beyond words. Growing up dancing, I developed a strong connection to music, which remains essential to my creative process. As I paint, I immerse myself in a wide range of sounds, allowing rhythm and movement to shape the work. I hope these influences can be felt by the viewer.

##### What message or emotion do you hope to convey through your art?

Art has always been a refuge for me, both in times of joy and challenge. From a young age, I felt most at home in art class, but it wasn’t until my undergraduate years—after the passing of my mother, Amy—that I fully connected with its healing and transformative power.

My mother was a profound influence in my life, exposing me to art, music, language, and travel from an early age. She was a gifted artist herself, and while she leaned into her talents later in life, her responsibilities as a parent often took precedence. Still, she always encouraged me to explore the arts and to see the world, leading by example and nurturing my interests. Following the non-traditional path of an artist is in many ways, a tribute to my mother as much as it is my own calling. 

Establishing oneself in the art world is not without its challenges, but it is also a gift—to create, to express, and to contribute. I walk this path not only for myself but also for my mother, in honor of my brilliant grandmother and aunt, and the many talented artists before me who paved the way. 

##### What role does spontaneity versus planning play in your creative process?

Spontaneity leads my artistic process. Outside of the studio, I tend to be more practical and task oriented, but in my creative space, I allow myself complete freedom where my dreamy side has a place to expand. The studio is my place of independence—where endless possibilities are waiting to unfold.

Once a spontaneous initial composition takes shape—whether in minutes or over days—I transition into a more intentional phase of refinement. At this stage, I apply the skills I have cultivated over years of practice, enhancing the piece with texture, balance, and unique details. This process often involves stepping back, reassessing, and adjusting the work until it captures the tone I want to convey.

##### Can you discuss a piece that challenged you technically or conceptually?

A project that challenged my creative problem-solving skills was a large-scale installation for [Ontario International Airport in California (2022)](https://www.csankyart.com/public-art). I had a clear vision for the piece, but the original artwork was on paper—which would not hold up in a public, high-traffic environment. I needed a medium that could withstand light exposure and interaction while maintaining the integrity of the piece. I decided to work with vinyl, which required precisely photographing and digitally stitching together sections of my large scroll painting before printing. 

Fortunately, the airport connected me with a skilled printer who also handled the installation. The result was exciting, and I was proud of how the work translated in a new format.

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##### How do you handle feedback on your work?

I welcome feedback! In a professional sense, feedback is quite necessary for collaboration and moving toward a shared vision and end goal. It is an important tool for growth. The feedback I have received over the years—from professors, teachers, family, friends, colleagues, and clients—has shaped and guided me, helping me arrive at my practice as it is today.

However, learning to quiet external noise—and even the internal critic—is an ongoing practice. Creativity thrives when given the space to shine, the freedom to breathe, and the room to blossom! Ultimately, I am continually learning to trust and tune into my inner voice and vision.

##### How important is physical space to the presentation of your work? Do you adapt your pieces for different venues or spaces?

I absolutely adapt my work to different spaces. When creating for larger environments—whether through installations, large-scale canvases, or site-specific works—I take the surrounding space into careful consideration. My MFA years (2018-2020) were heavily focused on installation, which deepened my understanding of site-specific and immersive work. 

That foundation continues to influence my approach today—I see each project as an opportunity to engage differently with scale, composition, and atmosphere, ensuring that the work harmonizes with its surroundings.

##### Can you share a specific project or piece that holds special significance for you?

Over several years, on and off, I worked on a piece called _Flutter Dreamstate_—a work that, for me, represents hope and renewal. This large-scale piece on paper, incorporating collage, blooms with movement, color, and texture.

Throughout the making of this piece, numerous cutouts gradually took form as butterflies. As the collage evolved, I noticed a symbolic pattern emerging—each time something was cut away and reintroduced into the composition, it added complexity, balance, beauty, and dimension, reinforcing the transformative nature of the process itself.

Similarly, I came to see how loss, though it leaves a void, is interwoven into the larger experience of life, shaping who we are and revealing to us what is most important. Just as the cutouts in my artwork create depth and dimension, life too, holds space for absence and remembrance, while still remaining beautiful, vibrant, and full of color.

I think of butterflies as effervescent symbols of transformation, reincarnation, lightness, and even as connections to the ancestral world. 

So, this piece means very much to me. I keep it hanging in our home to remember what is possible when the process organically unfolds. It is a journey where answers emerge along the way.

##### Do you incorporate any cultural or historical references into your work?

With over 12 years of experience with a contemporary art gallery and an MFA background, I’ve been exposed to the work of many artists, whose dedication has been a profound source of inspiration. One of the most striking lessons I’ve learned from them is the power of unwavering commitment to one’s vision.

Beyond historical influences, my work is shaped by cultural experiences, with travel playing a significant role in how I approach color, texture, and space. At the same time, my surroundings have been just as impactful. My hometown, Salt Lake City, instilled in me a deep appreciation for natural beauty, while California—where I now live—continues to influence my work. Its endless horizons and sun-soaked landscapes often find their way into my compositions.

I don’t reference history in a literal sense; instead, I carry its influences with me, allowing them to surface organically in my creative process. Whether it’s a color relationship inspired by nature, a gesture reminiscent of an artist I admire, or a sense of movement that echoes dance or music, my work is in constant conversation with culture and memory while remaining rooted in the present.

##### What impact do you hope your art has on the community or society at large, if any?

I am constantly inspired by artists across many disciplines—musicians, filmmakers, writers, dancers, fellow painters, and the list goes on. Their work offers a window into the human experience, each expressing the soul’s journey in a unique and powerful way.

Art has the power to document, bridge gaps, heal, take a stand, build community, and transcend the everyday—while also deepening our understanding of it. I see myself as part of a much larger artistic community—one that spans generations and continents, made up of those who are committed, aspiring, and hopeful artists. To be part of that larger tapestry is meaningful to me.

Creating art is both an introverted act—for myself—and simultaneously about something greater than myself, connecting me to the spiritual universe, to community, and to light itself in its many colorful forms. It is not just a personal experience but one rooted in our collective consciousness—a language with the power to transform, reaching beyond words.

While everyone experiences life and art differently, I believe that our humanity unites us. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my perspective with the world and hope it resonates with others in a meaningful way.

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Jessica Csanky on celebrating time on Earth and meaningful human experiences via the language of color.


Spotlight: Jessica Csanky on The Language of Color and the Rhythm of Creation

Photo Credit: John Metalf, @johnnymetphoto · johnmetcalfphotography.com

Photo Credit: Jessica Csanky · https://www.csankyart.com/public-art

Photo Credit: John Metalf, @johnnymetphoto · johnmetcalfphotography.com

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