So, how did I get here? It's a long story but I'll give you just the gist is; back in 2013 I had a minor snowboarding accident that, five years later saw me need two major knee surgeries. During this time I wasn't able to walk, drive, or work as an events coordinator. As you can imagine, it was very isolating and I found myself not feeling fulfilled and lonely. So I started painting again and what better inspiration to draw on than my gorgeous pugs. It didn't take long for friends and family to ask for their own paintings and it sort of built on from there. 

 

I now have two well functioning knees, thanks to the amazing Dr Maine and team at the QLD Limb Reconstruction Clinic and I have a side-hustle I love that really pulled me out of a painful time in my life. 

 

My art education. I love art, from the age of 7 I begged my mum to take me out of netball and let me do pottery and painting instead. I'd be drooped off at Campbelltown Art Gallery on a Saturday morning for classes and I'd spend hours creating. I prioritised art in High School, however went down the route of marketing and communications when I hit uni. I later did study part of a degree in fine arts but am happy where I am at my skill level. I'm now studying graphics design at Torrens University part-time to keep up-skilling. 

 

You'll see on my Instagram, I love to share my seeing other artist's work in galleries or online. I feel inspired by other's creativity and how beautifully they can tell a story through their work.

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My full-time career. It's pretty easy to see, just google 'Jessa Spry'. I'm a marketing and communications specialist who's worked on a wide-variety of projects. Over the last few years I've been proudly working to support areas of the Department of Defence. In a nut-shell, I love mapping out the little things to achieve the big things! There's a lot of project and change management involved but essentially I ensure the right message is reaching the right people at the right time, through the right channels. And I do this through active and creative storytelling.

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The side-hustle. It's ben a challenge but I don't want to give up on Spry Pet Portraits. It's a part of my life that brings me a lot of joy and really relaxes me. I continue to work full-time and grow my career, I study part-time and I use a couple of nights and usually one day on a weekend to paint for my clients. It can take up to 12 - 18 hours to paint a pet portrait with watercolour and detail and it's the main reason why I can't take on short-notice requests and I push for early orders around Christmas.

 

My clients. I've painted more than 100 beloved pets over the last few years! It's crazy to think but I'm so proud of the work I've produced and to even be considered a commissioned artist. I set out to create loving memories through hand-painted portraits for all people. It's why I love this side-hustle so much, I'm told beautiful stories of pets that have passed, have cried with clients and have been a part of their family journey with them.

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The commission process. Check it out in the link below!