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

Hi Jess, what do you attribute your success to?
My paintings honor the wedding gown designers, florists, hair stylists and makeup artists who create the look for the brides, by painting them as beautifully as they are on their wedding day. After many years of study, practice and dedication, the couples who hire me are given a museum quality painting they can hang in their homes. I paint in oil on gallery wrapped canvas in a variety of sizes. Gallery wrapped canvas is when the background scene is continued on the sides of the thick canvas, so a frame isn’t required.

With my artistic input, couples choose their poses and background. I offer my services 2 ways- The 1st is I do live wedding paintings so guests can watch and enjoy the painting come to life. The 2nd is after their wedding day they can email me photo reference to create a painting in my studio. The studio art ordering option is chosen either because I’m already booked or to receive the discount offered. Either way, the customer will be shipped the same top-quality art on archival materials for generations to enjoy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My painting style is heavily influenced by Renaissance art and romance novel covers. I work from photo reference to ensure accuracy; however, I take it much further and add artistic enhancements to make every element beautiful. When I originally researched this field, I saw a need for paintings that convey the beautiful romantic feeling of a wedding day by showing the couples chemistry with each other, their love and excitement. This feeling can’t be captured without the basics of accurate bodily proportions, facial features, graceful poses, harmonious attractive colors, proper background perspective and well positioned compositions. Okay, enough art lingo – I’ve literally seen many wedding paintings with blank faces and no facial features!

Art should astound and entertain. The feedback I most often get from the finished art is that it is better than they expected. The way I got here is by focusing on every area of my art that needed improvement and hammering away at it until I figured out how to get it right. My younger years were filled with frustrations followed by overcoming artistic obstacles. I like to joke that it’s just a matter of putting the colors in the right places! However, I’m never satisfied and a wee bit obsessed! I believe art speaks for itself. Please visit my website to my latest artwork!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them on a Carlsbad beach picnic and on another day to roam around Coronado. If they wanted a boat ride Catalina is always fun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Growing up there were many times I became frustrated when my pictures weren’t coming out right. I’d hide under our living room coffee table and stew in my angst. My mother Judy would encourage me to try again and assured me that I could get it right if just kept practicing. She’d kindly give me pointers and say things like, “Honey, look at the length of my arms and try it again. Elbows are a bit lower down!” Some of my childhood friends were also interested in becoming artists but didn’t have the encouragement I had from my mom. I’m certain I would not be where I am, doing what I love if not for her. I also learned a lot from my great Aunt Julia Greenwood who was an accomplished oil painter. As a soldier in World War 2, she painted advertising art to help in the war effort. Later in life she guided me to higher levels in my skills. She told me to never be satisfied or I would stop improving. I listened to her and am grateful for the advice.

Website: https://JessPernaFineArt.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesspernafineart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessPernaFineArt/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAG-MA2xFPI_OxdPasIJs2A

Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiqALnLl4J22qJ8ea2Z0Jsg
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcuLm-c9hhvVLJtJem71BMw

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.