Meet Jessica Sonnenthal: J. Mona – Realism Artist

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

Hi Jessica, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The first time I picked up a paintbrush at age 11, I knew that painting was something that I was going to do for the rest of my life. Although I painted on and off into adulthood, it was never consistent and there were many years that I didn’t paint at all. Eventually I felt the void. Two years ago, my husband sat me down and said. “You need to get back to your art. You are neglecting a part of who you are.” That really hit me hard. From that moment, I was determined not only to get back into what I loved – painting, but also create my business. I developed a website, I began a social media campaign, and most importantly I went to the art studio consistantly and started producing my best work. It was the first time that I wanted to showcase my work to anyone who wanted to see. Overtime, people were begining to notice, my art was selling and it was a wonderful feeling. These past two years have been so fufilling and creative. I’m grateful.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I paint what I see. I usually have my camera with me so that I can snap photos throughout the day. Eventually I use these photos to paint a piece on canvas with my preferred medium; oil on canvas. It has definitely been a process to get to where I am today professionally and it wasn’t easy. I think a lot of the time I got in my own way. I would make excuses as to why I didn’t have time to invest in my work or that I wasn’t good enough of an artist. Yes, life gets busy. You have kids, responsibilities and it piles on and on but at some point you have to realize that life is also about doing the things you love. The things that make you smile, that make you want to fly! That was painting for me. The one thing I have learned during this period of time is that we can always make an excuse for why we shouldn’t do something and those excuses are usually not our heart talking to us but our minds. I’ve worked hard these part two years, I have created some of my best pieces without fear. I am proud to showcase these pieces to the world in the hopes that it can inspire creativity to someone else as I hope to continue to be inspired. Each painting is like a moment in time brought to life on canvas. You don’t need to see the photo to know that each painting has its own soul, its own song and its own story to tell.

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.
If my best friend was visiting I would take them to Malibu for a beach day and Malibu wines for wine tasting in the afternoon. Franklin Canyon is one of my favorite places for a good hike so that would be another option. LACMA, The Getty, or MOCA, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles would also be my go to options for a museum visit. Places that I enjoy eating at would be Olivettia for dinner and drinks, Spago, Elepante, or Wallys to name a few. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This Shoutout goes to my husband. He saw that a part of me was missing. He sat me down and said “go back to painting!”. Thanks to him, I’ve never looked back.

Website: https://www.jmona.art

Instagram: @jmona.art