I’ve been painting since I was in college. I majored in Fine Arts Studio at UC San Diego and was reasonably prolific as an undergrad. After I graduated I hardly painted at all. When I started painting again, I didn’t expect my style to resemble these early works, but I’m discovering it still does. I’m more mature, I think about the world differently, but the art is still coming out in the same colors and using some of the same techniques. I think that’s kinda cool.
![The Triptych by Jessyca Wallace](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="420" height="197"><rect width="100%" height="100%"><animate attributeName="fill" values="rgba(153,153,153,0.5);rgba(153,153,153,0.1);rgba(153,153,153,0.5)" dur="2s" repeatCount="indefinite" /></rect></svg>)
While an undergrad at UC San Diego, I was given an assignment by the completely awesome artist and my professor, Faith Ringgold. My recollection is we were to imagine a journey to the center of the Earth. I drew a sketch and then turned it into this triptych. And my love of painting was ignited. …
![One Foot on the Platform by Jessyca Wallace](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="420" height="315"><rect width="100%" height="100%"><animate attributeName="fill" values="rgba(153,153,153,0.5);rgba(153,153,153,0.1);rgba(153,153,153,0.5)" dur="2s" repeatCount="indefinite" /></rect></svg>)
This was the second important painting I did, also while at UC San Diego. I was deeply inspired by the song “The House of the Rising Sun” and feeling rather like an anonymous person at the time. Also, I’d purchased a sample set of Golden Acrylics which had 5 colors in it (as I recall). …
![Three Muses by Jessyca Wallace](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="360" height="339"><rect width="100%" height="100%"><animate attributeName="fill" values="rgba(153,153,153,0.5);rgba(153,153,153,0.1);rgba(153,153,153,0.5)" dur="2s" repeatCount="indefinite" /></rect></svg>)
Still experimenting with that magic box of Golden paints, I was inspired by a beautiful photo by Annie Leibovitz on the cover of Vogue magazine. It was the first time I’d seen one of these “20-something famous people in a gorgeous photo” photos and I loved it. Pictured here are Kate Winslet, Claire Danes, and …
![The Big Apple by Jessyca Wallace](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="439" height="238"><rect width="100%" height="100%"><animate attributeName="fill" values="rgba(153,153,153,0.5);rgba(153,153,153,0.1);rgba(153,153,153,0.5)" dur="2s" repeatCount="indefinite" /></rect></svg>)
My first commission, this painting hung in my generous Aunt Carol’s office (she had a very important job at a well-known magazine) until she retired. I always wonder who has seen it! It’s been so long since I’ve seen it myself that I’m grateful to have a photo of it!