No one person is the same. If we were, life would simply be boring. Therefore it is natural for us to want to express ourselves so we are able to show our own individuality. People express themselves in many different ways. For some it’s through their style, music or writing, but for sophomore Jae High she demonstrates her creativity through her art.
Inspired by post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh’s work, High has enjoyed creating art for as long as she can remember. However, like most of us who looked for new hobbies to dive into during the COVID-19 lockdown, High began taking painting more seriously. While most of us gave up on our pandemic hobbies, she was able to turn hers into a business.
“I was always an artist, but I really started getting going during COVID. It’s also when I originally started my small business,” said High. “I’ve always admired the colors and textures in [Van Gogh’s] work… he’s also a big inspiration of mine, especially for his color schemes because my work is very colorful.”
High explained that her mother is a big supporter of her art career, and that she even helped the young artist set up her website.
“My mom has always been a big part of my life. She is very confident and very inspirational. She has done a lot for paving the way for women in not just track and field but basically every area,” said High. “She is also a big computer person, so I had a lot of art and I didn’t know what to do with it, so my mom was like ‘I can make you a website and that way we can start promoting your paintings as well.”
In addition to her online website, High’s work has been featured in local shops around the Kansas City area. One of these locations includes KC Wineworks, which participates in the Crossroads First Fridays Event. For those who are unfamiliar, First Fridays is a huge art event held in the crossroads where local artists are able to display their work throughout the district. The creative works of art shown during First Fridays come in many different shapes, sizes and mediums. It is a beloved Kansas City tradition and a very cool experience to walk through. High’s art has also been displayed in Revocup, a coffee shop located in Overland Park.
“The first place I went to was this cute coffee shop called Revocup. It was actually a lot easier than I thought. I just went up there and asked if they had any spots for my art, they said there was a queue, but eventually I got my art up there and it was incredible,” said High. “ KC Wineworks was an even bigger deal than I thought, as when I was first asked by KC Wineworks if I wanted to hang up my art in their store I did not realize it was for First Fridays. I had two full walls to fill, and it was absolutely surreal because I’ve been going to First Fridays ever since my eighth grade year. Through KC Wineworks I was able to make a lot more connections through social media and the Kansas City Metro area with other local creators and curators. That opportunity has brought me so many other opportunities, plus it was really fun.”
Art is a fantastic way to express yourself. However a challenge most artists face is discovering your own art style.
“Looking through Pinterest at all the art styles made me stress about which one I really liked,” said High. “But eventually I was able to make it my own and make it comfortable for me so I can create something that is personal and I really enjoy.”
Born in California. High has always felt a connection to the ocean, and more specifically fish. This love for the gilled sea creature is reflected in most of her work. High specifically fell in love with the diversity of the deep blue while scuba diving when she was eight years old. The complexity and beauty of marine life inspired her, and even though the artist moved to Kansas City when she was very young, she continues to keep her dream of being a marine biologist alive by taking trips out to the west coast.
“I’ve always wanted to be a marine biologist,” High said. “To me the color and diversity of fish and other marine life is so beautiful.”
Even though High makes it look easy, running your own website does come with some come with its fair share of obstacles.
“Pricing is always difficult because you have to price it high due to the time and materials. Sometimes people aren’t going to buy a piece for as expensive as it should be,” High said. “Even though it doesn’t seem like it, marketing can also be a challenge because you really have to try and reel in your audience and you never know what’s going to be a hit or miss.”
Despite the challenges that come with pricing and marketing, and the hours it takes to produce the pieces themselves, High feels most in her zone while creating art. Her artwork has not only contributed to the culture of Sion but also the vibrance and culture of the greater Kansas City area.
“Art is the only thing I do where it feels like my brain is completely quiet,” High said “I also like seeing people’s reaction to my art, they are always really happy and that makes me happy.”
If you would like to see more of High’s beautiful artwork you can find her on instagram and on her website, https://jaelynhigh.com/. High will also be participating in the Sion art fair for the second year in a row, here you will also be able to purchase a few of her pieces.
“Fine arts week was really fun,” said High. “Setting up, and being able to share my art with the community is always a good time.”
